Circuit Maze Board Game. This puzzle game teaches your kids all about how circuits and electricity work. It’s a well-made game with 60 different challenges to beat. They’ll need to move the pieces around and fit them in the right sequence to solve each puzzle. The challenges come in three different difficulty levels. It’s great for developing problem solving skills, and, more importantly, it’s fun for adults to play along with their kids. If you’re trying to cut down on screen time, this is a nice alternative. $30. www.target.com
Dinosaurs- Mystic Islands. Are these dinos friendly or foe? Separate the plant-eating dinosaurs from the carnivores in this new shape matching game. Compose the green islands on the blue surface as shown but make sure the 3 friendly dinos are separated from the 3 Tyrannosaurus rexes. Think carefully before each move! Ages 6-Adult. $21.99. www.smartgamesusa.com
HedBanz. Play Hedbanz, the quick question game of “What am I?” Ask “yes” or “no” questions to figure out if the cartoon on your head is an animal, food or man-made object. Be the first player to guess what you are and win! Hedbanz – the game where everybody knows but you! $9.99. www.spinmaster.com
Clue Master. Your goal: Help Tippy the dog return to his dog house! Young players use deductive reasoning to place Tippy’s chew bones, tennis balls, and food bowls in the correct order to unlock the secret door and send Tippy home. The more you play, the more deductive tricks and strategies you’ll learn as you reason logically from the clues you’re given! (Ages 8+). $12.99. www.thinkfun.com
Stack Up! Can you stack 12 blocks before the Stack Smasher gets to the tower and topples it? Spin a color and stack a block. Spin a Challenge and add a tricky task like stacking while singing “Happy Birthday!” Spin the Stack Smasher, and you’re one space closer to the big topple! Ages 3-5, 2-6 Players MSRP $19.99. http://www.peaceablekingdom.com/
Yoga Spinner. Simultaneously stimulate and calm the mind while encouraging teamwork and physical activity. Yoga Spinner players give the spinner a whirl, choose the corresponding card, and perform the pose pictured to win the pose card. To win the game, players need to collect a card from each of the four categories of yoga poses. Yoga Spinner was recently the recipient of an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award and a National Parenting Product Award (NAPPA) (Ages 5+). $14.99. www.thinkfun.com
Quick Cups Game. QUICK CUPS™ is the fast-paced family game of matching and stacking cups to a picture! Each player gets a set of five cups in five different colors. When a picture card is turned over, everyone races to line up or stack up their cups in the same color order as the picture. When the picture is horizontal, you line your cups up. When the picture is vertical, you stack them up. Finish first and ring the bell — you just won the card! Win the most cards after all have been played, and you win the game! QUICK CUPS is match e’m up, stack ’em up fun! $14. www.spinmaster.com
Anomia Party Edition. Anomia plays off the fact that our minds are positively brimming with all sorts of random information: things to eat, pop songs, websites, etc… Sure, under normal circumstances, it’s easy to give an example of a frozen food or a dog breed, but you’ll find that your brain works a little differently under pressure! $29.95. www.target.com
Balance Beans. This is a logic game and math game all in one. Use the Challenge Card to arrange the Red Beans. then carefully place the blue, yellow, or orange Beans on the Seesaw to keep it from teetering. When you balance the Seesaw, you are actually balancing an equation! This bean-filled logic game is a fun way to introduce young learners to elementary algebra. Balance Beans was recently named an ASTRA Award winner. (Ages 5+). $17.99. www.thinkfun.com
Hoot Owl Hoot! Players help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Play a color card and fly to that space. Draw a sun card, and you’re one step closer to the daylight. Play together to help all the owls get home before the sun rises and — everyone wins! Ages 4+, 2-4 Players, No Reading Required, $15.99. http://www.peaceablekingdom.com/
Moustache Smash! Look! Match! Smash! Moustache Smash is the stache smashing game that’s full of speedy, silly-looking fun! Each player holds a moustache up to their face. $9.99. www.spinmaster.com
Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game. Friends and Neighbors is a matching game that focuses on emotions. Can players help a little girl who’s sad because she’s standing out in the rain or a boy who’s afraid of the dark? Reach into the Helping Bag and pull out a token – can it help someone on the game board? If so, it’s a match! Ages 3+, 1-4 Players, No Reading Required, $15.99. www.amazon.com
Penguins Pool Party. Make a splash while sitting quietly in your seat with this pool party full of penguins and icebergs. This compact game holds 60 challenges! Place the penguins on the board game as shown in the challenge and then place the pieces with ice around them. A simple and clear concept using only 4 puzzle pieces, but – not so fast! Ages 6-Adult. $14.99. www.smartgamesusa.com
Walls & Warriors. Kids get to journey back to a time of castles and brave knights in this intriguing puzzle. Youngsters (and young adults) need to protect the blue warriors within the castle and to keep the red ones outside the walls. A 3D rock, an additional central tower building and gradual tips and hints make this puzzle game memorable again and again. Ages 6-Adult. $21.99 www.smartgamesusa.com