Puppy-opoly

Puppy-opoly - A simplified version for kids.

Are you working on simple math at home (adding and subtracting 1-5)? Puppy-Opoly is a fairly simple introductory version of Monopoly that doesn't take too long to play and does not require large number mental math to play. As a matter of fact, Late For the Sky sells a number of what they call "kid-themed games" including Fairy-Opoly, Pirate-Opoly, Pony-Opoly, Princess-Opoly, Zoo-Opoly and Pet-Opoly. I will provides links to the other games I have blogged about below.

Puppy-Opoly is flush with all kinds of puppies. The puppy themed game board is fun for animal lovers and pieces include plastic bones to mark your properties, puppy deed cards, and puppy game markers. Fun spaces on the board carry on the theme and include the doghouse, free treats, and obedience school. There are  spaces on each side of the board and the board measures 18 x 18". The board has 32 spaces total and features 16 dogs.

Buy puppies as you make your way around the board, or for a quick game, divide the deeds between all players before the game starts. Then mark the squares you own on the board by putting a plastic bone on each square. If someone lands on one of your puppy squares, collect the number of treats as shown on that square. The deed cards each depict one breed of dog on the front and some fun facts about that breed with training tips on the back.

This version doesn't take too long to play (maybe 30-45 minutes) and money (treats) come in denominations of 1 - 5. Set a time limit to play, or move around the board until someone runs out of money.

The obedience school cards may require physical movement, such as take a walk around the board on all fours, do your best dog trick, and sit up and beg.  The die is made like the typical white die but is extra large, about 1" X 1".

Game in play.

 

If you like this game, check out a dozen Little Kid Monopoly games I have posted about.

Object:

Be the person with the most treats when the game ends. The game ends when any one person owes more treats than he can pay.

Set up:

Place the board between the players. Each player chooses one dog pawn, places it in the small stand and places it on the START square on the board. Each player chooses one color of bones (red, yellow, green or blue) and takes all 12 bones of that color. Choose one person to be the banker. That person gives each person a certain amount of money (dog treats), per the instructions. Shuffle the deed cards and give each person the same number of cards (per the instructions). Players look on the board to find the dogs on the cards they were dealt and then place one of their bones on the boarder at the top of the square for each dog they own. Shuffle the obedience school cards and place them in a face-down deck where indicated on the board.

Play:

Players take turns. Throw the die and move your pawn forward that many square on the game board. Here are the instructions for how to proceed after landing on space on the board.

• Puppy space without a bone - The player looks at the amount of treats listed on the bottom of the space, pays that amount to the bank, receives the deed card, and places one of his colorful bones at the top of the space. That player now owns that dog/space.
• Puppy space with a bone - The owner of the space is paid the number of treats shown at the bottom of the space. If the player happens to own both spaces with the same color border, that owner is paid twice the number of treats at the bottom of the space.
• Play - A player collect 2 treats from the banker any time he lands on or passes this space.
• Go to the doghouse - The player immediately moves to the doghouse. If the player passes play, he does not collect two treats. The player must pay the banker five treats. The player will move forward as usual on his next turn.
• Doghouse - If a player lands on doghouse as he advances around the board, by the roll of the die, he is just napping and moves forward as usual on his next turn.
• Command spaces - These are the four spaces on the board with a black silhouette. If you land on one of these spaces, place two treats on the free treats square on the board.
• Free treats - If you land here you can take any/all treats on this space.
• Obedience school - A player must draw a card and follow the instructions on that card.

Continue advancing around the board until someone is required to pay an amount and does not have enough money. That player is out of the game. Remaining players count how many treats they have. the player with the most is the winner.

Try this:

• Assign the person who is working on counting or making change to be the banker.
• Gather a small stack of mixed bills and ask the individual to separate them and sort them into the correct denominational piles. Hold the pile of bills in the non-dominant hand and push the top bill off with the thumb to separate.
• Hold the deck of property cards in the non-dominant hand and use the thumb to push each card off, one at a time, to deal.
• Stand up all of the bones that will be used for the game by holding 2 or 3 in the palm and moving them, one at a time, to the fingertips to rotate and stand. 
• Make a bone yard next to the board by standing up all the bones that won't be used in the game. Pick them up one at a time and rotate in the fingers to orient them upright and place. Make sure the bones are lying down to start to require manipulation.
• Cup the hand with the fingers together and hold in that position for several seconds while shaking the die. If the individual has difficulty cupping the hand, first shape the player's palm by putting a small ball or round object in the hand and forming the hand around it. Remove the ball while keeping the hand in the shape. Sing a quick dittie while the person shakes the die to keep the hand in that position longer. For example - "How much is that doggie in the window, I do hope that doggie's for sale". Then throw.
• Sort the bones by color. 
• Put the bones away after the game by asking the individual to cup one (or two) hands and hold tight. Slowly drop the bones into the individual's palm, one at a time. How many can he hold? Go again and try for more. Switch hands.
• Follow up by baking dog treats for your dog or edible dog treats for people. Plenty of ideas for recipes on Pintrest.
• Work on visual discrimination, figure ground, spatial relations, following directions, motor planning, gross motor, manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, palmar arch development, play and leisure exploration and participation, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning skills, decision making, simple addition and subtraction

In the box: Board, money (treats), plastic bone markers (4 colors), die, board markers, obedience school (chance) cards

Ages 5-8, 2-4 Players

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below to go to Amazon.com.
 

Toasted or Roasted Card Game

Toasted or Roasted is based on a summer favorite - toasted marshmallows

Toasted or Roasted Card Game Set is a summer card game if I ever saw one. Be the first to start a fire, spear 3 marshmallows and toast them to win the game. Your opponents can hinder your progress by raining on your campfire, blowing out your fire, or burning your marshmallows. You can also hinder their progress using the same methods.

The cards come in the plastic, resealable, waterproof bag that you see above. Perfect to take camping or play out in the back yard on your picnic table. As a matter of fact, the game board, which measures 10" x 7.5", is designed to look like a picnic table top.

Your very first goal is to get your fire started. Once that is done you can commence to roasting marshmallows. Your opponent(s) will be doing the same. Therefore, to throw a monkey wrench in their plans (and them to throw one in yours), certain cards may be played to hinder the progress.

 

There are six different types of cards in Toasted to Roasted:

• 10 Fire starter
• 16 Marshmallow
• 16 Toasted
• 8 Roasted
• 2 Rain
• 2 Strong wind 

There are two different types of game discs:

• 4 disks have firewood on one side and a campfire on the other.
• 4 disks have a toasting stick - toast 1 marshmallow on one side and a toasting fork - toast 2 marshmallows on the other side.

Contents of bag

Education Outdoors has a number of outdoor/camping/fishing themed games. Click here to check them out.

Object:

Be the first player to start your campfire and toast three marshmallows.

Set up:

Give each player a fire starter disk and a toasting stick disk to place on the table in front of them. Shuffle the cards and deal four to each player, face down. Place the remaining cards in a stack, face down, on the game board.

Play:

You have several goals, in this order:

• Start a fire. You must draw a fire starter card and place it on your disk. This will allow you to flip your firewood disk so that the campfire side is showing. 
• Place a marshmallow card on your toasting stick disk.
• Place a toasted card on top of your marshmallow card to complete the set.

Players take turns. On each play you will draw a card from the pile or the tool box and play or discard a card. If you have a card in your hand that you don't want to discard, you may place it in the tool box to save for later. However, any player can pick that card up at any time, instead of drawing off the pile, and use it. Remember your goal is it toast three marshmallows while attempting to block your opponent from doing so. Here are the steps you will take for each card played:

• Fire starter - This card must be played on your firewood disk each time you want to toast a marshmallow. Once this is played you can add a marshmallow(s) to your stick.
• Strong Wind - Play this out of turn as soon as another player plays a fire starter card on his firewood. Then remove and discard both cards and the play jumps to your turn. The other player must draw another fire starter card to get his fire going again.
• Marshmallow - Once your fire is started, you can place a marshmallow on your marshmallow toasting stick disk. Once you have one completed toasted marshmallow you can flip this disk to the other side, the toasting fork side. If your disk is on the toasting fork side, you can play either one or two marshmallows.
• Toasted - Place this card on a marshmallow card to complete the toasting process. Take the toasting card and place it to the side to keep track of how many marshmallows you have toasted. Discard the marshmallow and fire starter card and start over.
• Roasted - Play this card on a marshmallow card. Sorry, your marshmallow has been burned to a crisp, discard both cards.
• Rain - Place this card on a player's campfire card so that he has to flip his card back to the firewood side. If he has a marshmallow(s) in play, he cannot play on it until he has placed a fire starter card back on his disk and flipped it back to the campfire side.

It seems like a lot to remember, but you will get the hang of it quickly.

Try this:

• Follow up by really toasting marshmallows. My cousin and I used to use forks and toast them over the fire on my aunt's stove.
• Work on visual discrimination, manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, in-hand manipulation, executive functioning skills, sequencing skills, strategy, process skills, social interaction skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the bag: A picnic table game board, 54 cards, 8 disks

 

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.