A Charlie Brown Christmas Family Bingo

A Charlie Brown Christmas Family Bingo - It's Snoopy approved!

Two of my favorite game themes come together in A Charlie Brown Christmas Family Bingo: Christmas and Charlie Brown. Is watching the TV show A Charlie Brown Christmas part of your holiday traditions? If it is, like me you might be able to look at the scenes from the show, on the cards, and actually recite what is being said. I can't wait to play.

The bingo card is a 4 X 4 grid with no free space. Each square has an actual scene from the show and a number in one of the corners. The scenes will take a little more description to call than the typical bingo cards that have either a number only or a single item. That is probably why they added the number. I have seen the show so many times that as I look at the scenes I can recall what characters are saying. That might be a fun way to call each square if you are playing with other super fans. The cards are smaller than typical bingo cards I have blogged about, measuring 4 1/2" x 7 1/16". The back of each card gives simple instructions on how to play and shows four different patterns that can be used for a win.

The calling cards are the size of a deck of playing cards. There are 48 cards and 48 scenes, one card to picture each scene/number from the bingo cards. 

The markers are a cute addition. They are small red ornaments, just like the one Charlie Brown hangs on his tree. There are 150 total and they will need to be punched out before you start.

As always, small inexpensive prizes or treats are traditional and appreciated by most when playing bingo games. However, not necessary and not included.

BTW - This is my second Charlie Brown bingo game. To read my post about the other game, sold by Oriental Trading, click here - Peanuts Christmas Bingo. I have also blogged about other Christmas bingo games as well as Christmas games in general. To check them out, click here - Christmas Games and Toys.

Object:
Be the first to get 4 in a row in any direction: horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Or use another pattern, maybe one from the back of the card.

Set up:
Give each person playing a bingo card and several ornament markers. Choose a person to be the caller. Mix the calling cards and place them in a face-down stack near the caller.

Play:
The caller will turn over one card at a time, describe the scene, and/or call the number. Show the card if it would be helpful. All players will put a marker on that square if they have it on their card. The caller repeats this until someone matches the winning pattern on his card and yells BINGO. Check the player's card for accuracy and reward the prize if there is one. Play again.

Try this:

• Practice recognizing a winning pattern before playing. Cover a pattern with markers on a card so the individual can see what it will look like. Then set up several cards with multiple markers and a win embedded on each one and ask the player to find it. Work until he is proficient at spotting the winning pattern.
• If the player has trouble seeing a bingo, check the card with them, using your finger in the air to draw a line in the direction you want them to check for each column or row.
• Watch for only one BINGO direction at a time until they are used to watching for it (horizontal, diagonal,  or vertical). Then watch for two directions, then for three. Finally go to a bingo in any direction.
• Stop occasionally and check the player's card. Ask them to point out places where they only need one more to win a bingo. Or point out possible bingos and ask how many more will be needed to win or which squares will need markers to win in that direction etc.
• Display a black and white card with the BINGO pattern for each game highlighted in yellow so the players can remember the pattern they are looking for. This can be done by just drawing a 4 X 4 square on white paper and fill in the pattern.
• Use other holiday things for markers like small Christmas erasers, red & green M&Ms or Hershey holiday kisses. You may have kids eliminate themselves from playing early on if they can't resist eating the candy.
• Ask player's to hold several marker pieces in their dominant hand as they play. Ask them to bring the pieces to the fingertips, one at a time, and place on the card as they play.
• Use letters as your patterns. You can play for O (border), X, N, L, P, C, G, U, and Z.
• Visualize the letter you are going for as a bingo and do not mark pictures that aren't part of the letter. 
• Pick the pieces off the card after each game, squirreling them into the palm. Try to hold them all without dropping any.
• Work on visual discrimination, figure ground, visual closure, spatial relations, visualization, fine motor, in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation.

In the box: 18 bingo cards, 48 calling cards, 150 markers

Blockbeard's Balance Boat Balancing Game

Blockbeard's Balance Boat Balancing Game

The ship is about to set sail. It's your job to get everything on board. On Blockbeard's Balance Boat it's not cheating if you stack the deck!

There are 16 stacking pieces including people, a treasure chest, compass, steering wheel and anchor. All of the 16 pieces are different and you can see them all in the image at the top of the page. The pieces are all solid wood and brightly painted. It seems like good quality. The ship will rock so you have to keep the two sides balanced as you are loading it. There are two flags that pop into holes on the sides of the ship.

I was surprised and disappointed when I saw the size and thickness of the Blockbeard's Balance Boat Balancing Game box when it arrived. It appeared much larger to me online. Here is a picture of a boy with this game, the picture I looked at when I ordered. It is not that big. The ship measures just under 7.5" across at the longest point and maybe 3.75" at the tallest point. Buying online without seeing something first does have its risks. 

I was able to stack all but one piece on the ship, first time out, without even coming close to it collapsing. I say all but one because as I was putting it back in the box I saw a piece that I had not unwrapped. But there is no doubt in my mind that I would have been able to stack it. This might seem too easy, so I added a few suggestions below under TRY THIS to make it more challenging. If you are working with someone that has difficulty grading a release, or a much younger child, you could try stacking pieces together that are stable together.

Try this:

• Let the individual play with the boat and see how the pieces balance on it before extending the challenge to play.
• Go for just one more piece each time if it is challenging, instead of expecting all at once and moving to frustration. Just one more piece each time you stack.
• Call pieces out by color to place. You call color for them and they call for you. Challenge them by calling shapes you think will be difficult to balance on their turn.
• Try placing two pieces at a time, one in each hand. Keep it balanced.
• Stack the whole thing, then take the pieces off one at a time without toppling it. Or two at a time.
• Put the pieces in a bag that you cannot see through. Each turn a person will pick one piece, without looking, and load it.
• Stack by order of importance. It might be more challenging since you are not trying to stack pieces by shapes that will go together. Should the life preserver go on first? Or the people? How about the steering wheel and the map? Maybe the treasure chest is your first priority. What is second? There is sure to be discussion.

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