Category Archives: Blog

School Days: Summer 2017 Release!

A CO-OPERATIVE TILE GAME™ School’s out but “School Days“ is in! A new Co-operative Tile Game™ for kids, 7 to adult! Buy It now in our on-store. INSPIRATION: When I drove the local school bus over country roads, my biggest challenge was to watch for the roads closed because of bad weather causing huge pot holes and sometimes sink holes. OBJECT: Pick up the students, … Learn More

Emergency Treatment Center

The Waiting Room is full! The Ambulance has arrived! Get a bed ready in Emergency, bring in the special treatment cart! Yes, just another day in the E.T.C. We are a team of Doctors and Nurses handling various patients with injuries who come into the Emergency Treatment Center. How many will we be able to treat within our 8-hour work shift? Everybody, if we work … Learn More

NOW Magazine’s NNNNN Score and Ecoholic Pick Award

NOW Magazine's NNNNN Score and Ecoholic Pick Award

Every year in December Toronto’s NOW magazine does their Green gift shop: the sustainable toy guide. It’s a survey of toys both good and bad, judged on their environments impact and educational value. We have only just learned that Family Pastimes Games were awarded NOW’s highest rating and their Ecoholics Pick Award in their last Xmas gift guide. Here’s what they had to say: FAMILY … Learn More

– October News: Seasonal Favourites & Halloween Games

Mr. Troll Click for a larger image Players work together to get the Goat Family safely to New Meadow and into the Barn before the Scary, Hairy Troll catches them. In a simple, exciting way, children will learn logic, consultation and decision making. We don't like the Troll catching any of the Goats. He captures them mainly to Eat and sometimes for a Pet. So, we'd better bring along the donuts, cookies, and other things much, much tastier than Goats! Includes: full color board , 2 special dice, 1 troll, 6 various food items, 6 goats, rules. © 2009

Where did September go? Canadian Thanksgiving in a few days. Gorgeous foliage everywhere. Gardens being harvested. Halloween around the corner. What’s this got to do with Family Pastimes games, you ask? FP has a Christmas game, but no Halloween game? Well, check out the following titles that qualify for mention at this wonderful time of year. FOR THE YOUNG – Seasonal Favourites Auntys Apples Berries … Learn More

– September News: Card Games

1 to 6 players, Ages 6 to Adult Click for a larger image The game begins with a Random Universe arrangement. Players, using their Wits, Imaginations and Control Cards, try to create an Ordered Universe of Life and Form. The beautifully illustrated cards represent various concepts that alone provide much to think and dream about. Play solitaire or with others, sharing ideas and strategies in a friendly, challenging way. This game also includes The Collection, a booklet of 40 more fun and easy-to-learn co-op card games for the same deck. For ages 5-9, try Memory, Swami, or Triples; for ages 7-12, try Peace, Zoot or Melds; for teens and adults, try Quota, Co-op Crib or Quilter's Delight. Whether used for socials, family evenings, educational purposes, workshops, stimulating mental challenges or just plain fun, The Collection greatly extends the play value of these cards. © 1984, 1996 Our customers say: "My wife and I are addicted to playing your co-operative cribbage." — Utah, USA

Looking over my own current favourite games to play with friends, I see that Card Games occupy the most space. Quick to explain. A variety of themes. Small enough to take on trips. And when on trips a fun way to meet new friends in a cordial atmosphere.Last month, we were vacationing near Georgian Bay and on my morning hike, I met two 12 yr … Learn More

– Home Schooling Resources

Why Co-operative games for Home Schooling? Games make learning fun. But competitive games pit learners against each other, so someone always ends up feeling bad, or left out. Play as friends, not as enemies! Our games foster the spirit of co-operation. Players help each other climb a mountain, make a community, bring in the harvest, complete a space exploration… They are never against each other. … Learn More

Back to school! August 2016

Choices - 4 to 24 players, Ages 12 to Adult Click for a larger image A values oriented, moral dilemma game of discussion and evaluation of challenges that an individual encounters from childhood to old age. The situations and questions appear on cards with choices to make. Players can create their own responses and more situations to enter into the game. Any group that gathers for some learning about living will find this game a useful tool to stimulate values discussion in a non-competitive framework. Includes: 14 x 18" play pad, 4 sets of questions, for childhood, adolescence, middle years and old age, mover, die, game, complete rules. © 1976

Would it be safe to say, in all of your games, there are no losers? And if so, why is that a good thing. My games are outside of the usual win/lose paradigm. There is usually an objective to be realized, but I don’t specify that if you achieve the objective, then you all win and if you don’t achieve the objective, then you all … Learn More

A World of Geographical Games

Somewhere in the Rockies - 2 to 4 Players (basic game) or 2 to 8 Players (advanced), Ages 9 to Adult Somewhere in the RockiesClick for a larger image We are Partners in the TK&RL Transport Business, with our own lines of Trains & Trucks for collecting & delivering various Goods to Mr. Big’s Coastal Warehouses. Mr. Big pays us well for everything we bring in plus Bonuses for filling each Warehouse. The Risks are great, what with the Roads and Rails getting wiped out by Snow Storms and Rock Slides, not to mention Government Cutbacks leaving the Infrastructure in dangerous shape. Only Partners with nerves of steel and alert brains need apply for the job. If you have what it takes, join us in a Railway & Trucking adventure! Includes rules for 2 games, a basic game for ages 9 to 12 years, and 12 years to adult. Includes: 17 x 17" board, 4 movers & color matched transport collector cards, 4 trucks, 4 trains, 6 events & their 50 markers, 3 stops, 4 fixups, die, 30 goods consisting of grain, lumber, ore, coal, cattle, fruit, paper, mail, 1 dispatcher chart, 2 sets of rules. © 2005

I am asked what do I mean by my geographical games. I am referring to those games of mine that have a specific location and also those have a map for the game board. There are three “geographical” themed titles: SOMEWHERE IN THE ROCKIES (9 TO ADULT) SOMEWHERE IN THE HONDURAS (12 TO ADULT) SOMEWHERE IN CHINA (12 TO ADULT) Then there are the “map” … Learn More

TAXI! hits the streets at a summer sale price!

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! We’ve got some extra TAXI! games, so we are putting on a Summer Sale! at $19.80 Canadian that’s just around $15US! In this exciting, fast-paced game there’s lots to do before the night is over besides just delivering fares to their destinations. Events are happening all over the city, while there are speeding tickets to deal with, grabbing that necessary cup of coffee … Learn More

Games for Rainy Summer Days

Birds of Summer - 2 to 6 players, Ages 7 to Adult Click for a larger image A Co-operative Card Game™. Players are parent Birds trying to save their Baby Birds from Predators such as Hawks and Cats. The cards provide 6 Places for Nests, 6 Birds, 6 Predators and 6 Kinds of Food. All the action takes place on the Neighborhood Chart. Predator Dangers are placed near the Neighborhood. Places to make Nests are played first, then Nests, then Food for each Nest, which attracts a Predator. Will we, the parent Birds, be able to chase away the Predator? Clever play will make all the difference, as we talk over our plans and make careful choices, with each player making an important contribution. This game is exciting and educational: memory, math and problem solving skills are nurtured as well. Includes: 35 cards, neighborhood chart, rules. © 2006

I am told that summer is here as I listen to the rain thundering down, watch the road being washed away, and me shivering in the cold room, temp 7 Celsius. The upside? Perfect weather for staying indoors and playing co-operative board games. What would I suggest? Something in keeping with the season? Something educational? I think we have all that, and games which are … Learn More