Family Recommedations

Question: How can we promote STEM concepts at home? 

Answer: Have fun and play games. 

Here are some recommendations of games that promote life skills such as critical thinking, abstract strategy, deductive reasoning, mental agility and spatial awareness.  But more importantly, theses games are fun!

 
 
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set

SET is one of the most awarded games of all time.  About the size of a 2 decks of cards SET is easy to to carry when traveling or visiting friends.  For ages 6 to adult, it falls in the 20 minutes to learn/lifetime to master category.  Further, parents will not need to "hold back" as the necessary mental agility is not age dependent.  About 20 minutes per game, best for 3-5 players.  Available at Amazon.com at Set.

 
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blokus

This MENSA and Teacher's Award winning, spatial-planning, abstract strategy game is a fast-paced family game for ages 7+.  Blokus falls in the 20 minutes to learn/lifetime to master category.  Incredibly high re-play factor.  Ideally for 4 players, 20 minutes per game.  Available at Amazon.com at Blokus.

 
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Rush hour

Single player (or pass and play for 2) ages 5 and up. Small enough to travel with or to take in the car instead of an iPad.  Several sets of brain teasing cards available at varying degrees of difficulty. Rush Hour promotes problem solving thorough an extremely durable platform.   Available at Amazon.com at Rush Hour

 

 

Quarto

Award winning, abstract strategy, ages 7+, 2 player, approx. 20-minute per game.  Using deductive reasoning, the object is to place the fourth piece in a row where all four pieces have at least one attribute in common.  Simple, yet complex.  Available at Amazon.com at Quarto.

 

Pylos

Another 20 minutes to learn/lifetime to master game for 2 players.  Ages 8+, about 20 minutes per game, Pylos has been recognized by Games Magazine's Top 100, Mensa's Top Five Best Games, the Parents' Choice Gold Awards, and France's Oscar du Jouet and As d'Or. At Amazon.com at Pylos.

 

 

tipover

Critical thinking, problem solving, and strategy for a single 8+ player.  Similar to Rush Hour (above) but 3-D.  Explore spatial relationships and cause & effect with Tipover at Amazon.com.

 

 

 

Othello

A classic 2-player strategy game that is easy to learn, but can take a lifetime to master. With a 7+ age recommendation, Othello instills planning, patience and visualization.  At Amazon.com at Othello.