RELATIONSHIPS – Page 2 – Whole Heartily

35 Books of Encouragement for your New Kindergartener!

Zoey starts kindergarten this year! She and I are both excited for her to learn new things and meet new friends, but she is also a little hesitant and that’s completely understandable; this is a new experience!

Besides talking about it and offering her my own words of encouragement, I’ve put together a list of 35 books about going to school that we have been reading to help her feel more comfortable with the idea.

A Place Called Kindergarten
Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten
All Are Welcome
Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten
Barnaby Never Forgets
Breathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries
Butterflies on the First Day of School
Chrysanthemum
Froggy Goes to School
Giant-Sized Butterflies On My First Day of School
How to Be Kind in Kindergarten: A Book for Your Backpack
How to Get Your Octopus to School
How to Get Your Teacher Ready
I Got the School Spirit
If You Take a Mouse to School
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
Junie B. Jones (series)
KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
Kindergarten, Here I Come!
Miss Bindergarten (series)
On the First Day of Kindergarten
Our Class is a Family
Our Classroom Rules!
School is Cool!
The Berenstain Bears Go to School
The Circles All Around Us
The King of Kindergarten (check out Queen too)
The Kissing Hand
The Night Before Kindergarten
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
The Smaller Spot of a Dot
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten
Time for School, Mouse!
Tomorrow, I’ll Be Kind
Wemberly Worried

What are your favorite books about school?

How to Play – Mancala

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is finding things that delight and educate her; I want to find fun, creative board games to play with her during our family game nights! This week we played one of my all-time favorites, Mancala!

Zoey needed a little guidance, but she was able to grasp this game even though she’s under the age recommendation of 6 and up! And she won! Go Zoey!

When I’m researching the rules for these games I’ve played since childhood, I am discovering that I’ve been playing them differently for years! For example, I had not put the “captured” stones in our stores, just continued playing with them! Either way is still fun though!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX

48 stones
A game board

INSTRUCTIONS

Place four stones in each of the 12 pockets on the game board.
Each player has a store (or Mancala) to the right, on their side of the Mancala board.
The game begins with one player picking up all of the stones in any one of the pockets on their side.
Moving counter-clockwise, the player deposits one of the stones in each pocket until the stones run out.
f you run into your own Mancala (store), deposit one stone in it. If you run into your opponent’s Mancala, skip it and continue moving to the next pocket.
If the last stone you drop is into your own Mancala, you take another turn.
If the last stone you drop is in an empty pocket on your side, you “capture” any stones in the pocket directly opposite. Place these captured stones into your Mancala.
The game ends when all six pockets on one side of the Mancala board are empty.
The player who still has stones on his/her side of the board when the game ends captures all of those stones into their Mancala.
Count all the stones in each Mancala, the player with the most stones wins!

ENJOY!

How to Play – The Fantasyland Game

This adorably nostalgic game was originally released in 1956, but I picked up the re-release in 2005 and now wish I had bought the whole set! There are also Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland and a straight Disneyland one! Zoey was a little under the age range for this one, but could still grasp the numbers and movement. It also helped to point out the artwork for the different rides she saw when we visited Disneyland!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX

5 game pieces
A game board
Star cards
Ticket cards

INSTRUCTIONS

Each player selects a game piece and places it on the “Start” space.
Shuffle the ticket cards and place them in a pile with the number sides down.
Shuffle the star cards and place them in a pile with the number sides down.
To start the game, the youngest player draws the top ticket card and moves the number of spaces indicated on it.
- This first ticket is a “free” ticket to begin the game, after each player has had their first turn, tickets can then only be obtained by landing on the spaces marked “ticket”.
Play then passes to the player on the left, and so on (a player may land on the same space occupied by another player).
On a player’s second turn and thereafter in the game, they move their piece as shown on the space on which their piece rests at the start of this turn. They do not draw a ticket or a star unless they land on a ticket or star space.
- The star and ticket spaces are special spaces. A player landing on one of these spaces draws a top ticket or star as indicated and immediately moves the number spaces shown. They continue to move in this manner as long as they land on either star or ticket spaces, and their turn does not end until they land on one of the regular numbered spaces.
- A player always keeps their tickets and stars, as they determine the winner of the game.
There are two places on the board where the player may follow the regular path or may turn off on a side track to collect extra stars which will give them additional points.
- Once a player has turned off the main track, they must continue on the turn off until they get a star, and then must return to the regular track by the same route.
- A player reaching the space which gives them two stars entitles them to move the total number shown on the two stars they draw.
The game ends when a player reaches the “Finish” space; the player with the highest number of stars and tickets wins!

ENJOY!

How to Play – Crazy 8’s

This specific Crazy 8’s game is designed for kids and does a great job at reminding Zoey of the shapes she’s already learned and introducing her to strategy! The graphics are adorable and gameplay is fun and engaging; very reminiscent of Uno!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX

40 cards

INSTRUCTIONS

Shuffle all the cards and deal 5 to each player.
Place the remaining cards face-down in a draw pile, turn over the top card and place face-up next to the draw pile (if it’s an 8 draw another card and put the 8 back in the middle of the deck).
Players take turns. On a turn, play a card face up on the card next to the draw pile (it must be the same number or shape).
If you can’t play a card from your hand, you must draw cards from the draw pile one at a time until you can play one. Any cards you pick up are now part of your hand.
All 8’s (unicorns) are wild and can be played on any card. If you play a unicorn, you then declare which shape the next player must play.
Once you play a card, your turn is over. The person on your left goes next.
If the draw pile runs out of cards, leave the top card and shuffle the cards from the common pile into a new draw pile.
The first player to get rid of all their cards is the winner!

*Bonus rules for a twist!

When a 4 is played, wave your magic wand and skip to the next player.
When a 6 is played, the monster has spooked you and the order of play reverses.

ENJOY!

How to Play – Go Fish

This specific Go Fish game is designed for kids and does a great job at reminding Zoey of the numbers she’s already learned and recognizing /collecting matching sets! I remember when I used to play this with regular playing cards, which could be fun to introduce her to at a later date! I remember we would sometimes combine two decks of playing cards so more people could play and/or we could play for longer! Good times!

So let’s play!

IN THE BOX

40 cards

INSTRUCTIONS

Players take turns trying to collect sets of 4 sea creatures and whomever collects the most sets, wins!
Shuffle the cards and deal 5 to each player.
Place the remaining cards face-down in a pile between the players. This is your “pool of aquatic animals”.
The youngest player goes first, then play continues clockwise.
On your turn, pick any player and ask them if they have a specific number card (it must be one you already have in your hand). If they do, they must give you all their cards with that number. You then get to take another turn! If they do not have that card, then they tell you to “Go Fish!” And you draw 1 card from the pool of aquatic animals. If you happen to draw a card with the number you asked for, show the card to the group, place it in your hand and you get another turn! Otherwise place the card in your hand and your turn is over.
When a player collects 4 of the same sea creatures, they place them face up in front of them.
If a player runs out of cards at any point, they draw one card from the pool of aquatic animals at the end of the current turn.
When the pool of aquatic animals is empty, the game is over. The player with the most set of matching cards wins!

ENJOY!

How to Play – Hungry, Hungry Hippos!

This game was a Christmas gift to Zoey from her aunt and uncle, and we love it! Zoey’s favorite color is yellow so I think she feels more drawn to the version where whomever chomps the yellow ball wins, rather than whoever chomps the most balls wins. Either way it’s a classic, fast-paced game we all can enjoy!

Let’s play!

IN THE BOX

A game tray
4 attachable hippos
4 attachable marble release levers
20 balls

INSTRUCTIONS

Each player selects a hippo and places 5 marbles into the marble release area near their hippo.

BEGINNER’S GAME

One player is chosen to release a marble by pressing the marble release lever. As soon as the marble is released, all players try to make their hippos gobble it by pressing the hippo tails until someone succeeds.
Moving clockwise, the next player releases a marble and the process is repeated.
After all the players have been gobbled, each player counts up the marbles in their marble collecting area.
Whomever has the most marbles wins the game!

ADVANCED

All players release their marbles at the same time and (once someone says “Go!”) attempt to gobble as many marbles with their hippos as they can!
After all the players have been gobbled, each player counts up the marbles in their marble collecting area.
Whomever has the most marbles wins the game!

*Another variation is to see who has the yellow/golden marble at the end of the game, and whoever does wins!

ENJOY!

How to Play – The Dr. Seuss Pattern Game

This game was a Christmas gift to Zoey from her great aunt and uncle, and we love it! Zoey has enjoyed most of the Dr. Seuss books we have read to her and the opportunity to play a game with all the characters she recognizes is an opportunity we can’t pass up! Especially when Dr. Seuss’s birthday is coming up on March 2nd!

Let’s play!

IN THE BOX

4 game spinners
A game board
Goal cards
Tiles

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the board in the center of the play area.
Each player chooses a color (blue, green, red, yellow) and then takes all the tiles of that color.
Starting with the youngest player, each player chooses a spinner and a goal card (if you are playing with fewer than four players, place the remaining spinners next the game board in front of pretend players, then leave the remaining tiles and goal cars in the box).
Each player places their goal card in front of them. Each goal card has a basic green side and an advanced pink side. When you set up the game, choose which side to use (you may want to choose a different side for each player, such as younger players using green sides and older players using pink sides).
On your turn, spin your spinner.
- If you spin a picture (character, color, shape or pattern) play one of your tiles on a matching space on the game board. If there are no matching spaces, you may play on an empty space. You cannot play on a space that already has a tile.
  - If you spin WILD!, play one of your tiles on any space on the game board. You can even play on another tile if your tile will fit – only four tiles may stack in each space.
    - If you spin SWAP!, everyone passes their spinner to the left. If you’re playing with fewer than four players, don’t forget to pass the pretend players’ spinners. Then spin again!
You can match squares on your goal card anywhere on the game board, even if they’re facing a different direction.
The first player with four of their tiles showing on the game board that match their goal card is the winner!

ENJOY!

Family Game Night: 25 Tabletop Game Ideas (Ages 4 and Up)

Weekly family game nights, now doesn’t that sound wonderful? Imagine it, gathering around a table and playing tabletop games, familiar or new. Or getting into pajamas and snuggling up on the couch or pillow-strewn floor, playing video games. There are many ways to create happy memories, and this is one of them!

We’ve already had seven family game nights this year and they were fun and relaxed. We played a mixture of board or tabletop games and video games. Our only personal rule (more-so for my husband and I) is no cell phone usage.

I’ve created a list of some fun starter tabletop games for children ages 4 and up to inspire your family game nights!

What games do you like to play with your family? We would love recommendations!

How to Play – Pete the Cat: The Missing Cupcakes Game

Zoey loves Pete the Cat and loves cupcakes so this game is a perfect fit for her! It’s also enjoyable to play a cooperative game that we all work together to complete rather than always be competitive. Competition is great, but teamwork is a valuable skill too!

Let’s play!

IN THE BOX

4 game pieces
14 colorful cupcakes
20 birthday present cards
A Game board
A Game spinner
A Grumpy Toad & cupcake tray

INSTRUCTIONS

Each player chooses a character pawn and places it on one of the four corners of the game board (it is ok for 2 players to share a space).
Place all the cupcakes onto Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray.
Shuffle the present cards and place them all, face down, next to Pete the Cat.
The youngest player goes first by spinning the spinner and moving clockwise around the board.
Players move around the board performing one of the following activities, based on the space landed on:
- Present spots-The player picks up one present card and performs one activity (playing like charades, but sounds are okay). If someone guesses successfully, then the player who performed the activity takes two cupcakes from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray and places them on two of the open slots (shaded circles) on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table on the game board.
- Activity spots-(animal, food, letters, music) If a player successfully completes one of the four activities, the player takes a cupcake from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray and places it on one of the open spots on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table:
  - Dog – Name an animal and say its sound (i.e. cow…moo!).
  - Apple – Name a yummy food.
  - ABC’s – Think of a letter and name something that starts with that letter (i.e. T…table).
  - Musical note – Sing a verse from a song (i.e. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) or make up a new song!
  - (Once something has been named by a player, other players cannot name the same thing. They must remember what others said and say something new.)
- Grumpy Toad spots – Grumpy Toad decides he’s still hungry and, if there is a cupcake on Pete the Cat’s birthday party table, takes one (any) cupcake off the table and back to his cupcake tray.
- Home spots – Relax, you’re home, not activity is performed.
After the player performs one of the above activities, his or her turn is over and play passes to the left.
When all the cupcakes have been taken from Grumpy Toad’s cupcake tray, the game ends and ALL the players celebrate the team victory by singing Happy Birthday to Pete the Cat!

ENJOY!

Family Movie Night: 90 Non-Disney Family Friendly Movies (Rated PG and Under)

Weekly family movie nights, now doesn’t that sound wonderful? Imagine it, getting into pajamas and snuggling up on the couch or pillow-strewn floor, munching on a special snack. There are many ways to create happy memories, and this is one of them!

We’ve already had three family movie nights this year and they were fun and relaxed. Our only rule is no screens except for the one the movie is featured on.

I’ve created a list of 90 non-Disney family movie ideas rated PG and under. I did not include many sequels for the sake of length, but most of the sequels are worth watching too! If you have any family favorite I did not include, please let us know!

If you’re looking for animated Disney movies, I’ve created a list of that too! Check it out here and enjoy!