Soooo obviously - I am NOT bored! As you probably read in my last Substack essay–Dispatch From the Road– I am the last thing from bored, and trust me the chaos has only boomeranged since then. However, I thought it was interesting to read this piece I wrote during the early weeks of the pandemic and remember how quickly our lives can change and that whatever overwhelm we are feeling now is fleeting when considering the the bigger picture.
Also, I hope this list of 21 (!!!) games can help you and your kids enjoy the holiday that much more. Or just save this list for when you really are bored. Okay, happy reading!
So we have been going at this home life thing for a few weeks now. I don’t know about you but we are getting a little stir crazy… For a lot of us we are going to be celebrating the holiday of Passover next week. Having a new toy on hand to change things up can really be a lifesaver!
I put together a list of some toys, games, and puzzles (there are not many books on the list as I am hoping to do a separate book list one of these days) that I really like. I think there is something for everybody on this list. Most of the things on the list are appropriate for the Jewish holiday observance. There are a few that aren’t, but being that kids aren’t going back to school anytime soon I included them as I’m sure they will always come in handy.
I like to keep a bunch of stuff in my closet that the kids don’t know I have, and pull them out when it’s most needed! I find having things on hand has saved me more times than I can count.
Gravitax — innovative marble run, super cool! They have a lot of different sets that you can add and build a collection. This is a great beginner set. Great for boys and girls, recommended age 8 & up.
Grimms — oh this company speaks to my soul. The most beautiful wooden toys ever! They have so many different options, it’s a whole world. This was the first set I started with and it’s so versatile and a great start to a collection I know you’re going to want to build. Amazing for all ages! Please check out what other Grimm options are available.
Quaggle — super fun, it’s like reverse Jenga with crazy shapes. Great family game, ages 5 & up.
Slapzi — I am really not a game person, like really not, I don’t find any pleasure in them at all 😳 But even I had fun playing this!
Squigz — these are a fun suction construction 😉 great for toddlers and even older kids get into it. Eight different versatile shapes, pieces connect easily and POP apart. Great bath toy as well!
Family puzzle — this is so cool! A family puzzle with different size puzzle shapes — all ages are able to participate and create a puzzle together. Pretty genius if you ask me 👍
Fidget puzzle — if you have some kids who don’t really play or who have ADHD like in my family 😉 this is a great fidget toy and puzzle in one. Once you get it into a crazy shape you have to figure out how to get it back into a square. Really popular with kids around 10 & up.
Axe Throwing — so I have a really active boy who loves to throw things… these are velcro so they won’t damage anything and you can do it indoors. I can’t wait to try these.
Dimpl Digits — audio, visual, and kinesthetic learning all in one. Perfect toddler experience 😉 (not for holiday).
Paper Airplane — I love Usborne! They have great books and activity books. I linked a few here but I could go on forever so please check out all the options, there are so many! I feel like this would keep my kids busy for a while.
All About Feelings — who couldn’t use this right now 😉 So important to be able to help facilitate our children identifying with feelings and emotions they might be having.
Science for Beginners — if you have kids that love information, this is the set for you.
Lift the Flap Adding & Subtracting — this is cool especially now when we are doing school from home (notice I didn’t say homeschooling 😏). Makes learning math somewhat fun. They also have ones for multiplication and division, fractions and decimals, so check it out!
Embroidery Kit — this is great for a rainy day, never hurts having it around. (I just hope my kids don’t ask me for help because I won’t be of any use 😏).
Paint by Sticker — my kids loved this, just took it with us on our recent trip. Extra bonus: doesn’t make a mess!
My Family Builders — I love these! Covers all skills: social emotional, cognitive, language, and physical. Great for a large age range. Comes with activity cards inside for added challenge and fun.
Shopkins — oldie but goodie 🙂 these keep one of my daughters busy for hours.
Crocodile Creek Puzzle (ages 2 & up) — by far my favorite puzzle company!
Crocodile Creek Puzzle (ages 5 & up) — again, love these. They have so many different options. I have a whole collection.
Pegs — just such a classic. I’m sure so many of us remember playing with these.
Gravity Maze by Think Fun — I had to add this. Different from the Gravitax I posted, but so cool and makes you use your brain.
Hope you enjoyed this list as much as I enjoyed putting it together! Also, don’t forget about the podcast episode we just released yesterday, a fascinating conversation I had with the acclaimed author and self proclaimed Chassidic feminist, Rivkah Slonim. You can find it on Spotify HERE, on Apple Podcasts HERE, and on YouTube HERE.
Happy prepping!
Love,
Chavie