It’s that time of year again, As you make your way down your list, checking who’s been naughty or nice, you’ll want to have to some good gift ideas in your back pocket. For my part, I always try to strike the balance between something that’s fun and something that’s educational. At least for the kiddos. And that’s why I’m so glad to highlight some of these interactive games from Pressman for you today.
I had a hard time coming up with exactly the right term to describe this category of product, even though it’s a very popular category. I didn’t want to call these board games, because they’re not really board games. At the same time, they’re not video games either. And electronic games gives the impression that there’s a screen involved.
So, I settled on interactive games that are particularly well suited as rainy day activities. The weather is turning (it’s already snowing in some places), so we want some good indoor options.
This list is geared mostly toward preschoolers, as these games are ideal for three- and four-year-olds. That being said, you could easily expand that age range a couple years in either direction too. And better still, all these games are really affordable too. Ready to play?
Let’s Go Fishin’
I’m fairly certain I had something very similar when I was a kid. And that was 30 years ago. This is one of those timeless classics that really never gets old.
With Let’s Go Fishin’, the different color fish spin around on the lazy Susan-like platter. As they do, their mouths open and shut, popping in and out of their respective spots. The player then tries to “catch” the fish. You can make a game out of it, taking turns (multiple fishing rods are included) or targeting specific colors, or just play for fun.
From what I can recall, the one from my childhood used magnets; this one is purely mechanical. As a result, “catching” a fish isn’t quite so automatic and helps to teach the little one a bit more patience. That’s a good thing.
Let’s Go Fishin’ is available for as little as $6.69 (as an add-on item) on Amazon.
Lucky Ducks Game
When we sat down to play Lucky Ducks with Addie, we learned something very quickly: She’s not great with the idea of taking turns. I can see how this game would be a simple but effective introduction to fundamental game mechanics.
Similar to Let’s Go Fishin’, you’ve got animals moving around in a circle. Unlike Let’s Go Fishin’, you’ve got ducks (obviously) and you grab them by hand. Press the big orange button in the middle and the ducks will mosey around the lazy river. On the underside of each duck is a colored shape, like the red circle and blue star. To win, you nab three of your assigned shape.
At least that’s the idea. Addie decided to grab the ducks herself, one at a time, and sort them into the four shapes. She “assigned” a shape to each of us and said we “won” if she grabbed all of our shape, but the turn-taking could use some practice.
Lucky Ducks sells for a little over $16 online.
Domino Junior Friends: Deluxe
Remember how I was just talking about teaching patience with the Let’s Go Fishin’ game? You’ll really need some patience and care when you start stacking dominoes with a four-year-old.
The Domino Junior Friends set shown here is dinosaur-themed. The plastic dominoes have a slight wedge shape to them, so you and the child will have an easier time standing them up. The dinosaur props add to the enjoyment, because they are more interactive. You can align two of the dino tails to make a bridge, for example.
See that palm tree on the left? When a domino falls off the top of the orange dino’s head, it lands on one of the fronds. The leaf is actually a trigger, which pushes the coconut off the tree (on a tether) to knock down the next domino on the floor! I would recommend setting this up on a completely flat surface though, as even low pile carpet is uneven.
Domino Junior Friends: Deluxe is listed at $29.99 on Amazon.
Interactive Games for Interactive Minds
If you’ve got a preschooler on your “nice” list, and if he or she is as scatterbrains as my kid, then these interactive games from Pressman are just the ticket. They’re animated and colorful enough to capture their attention, but also intricate enough to focus that attention. She’s still catching fish and grabbing ducks days later. That says a lot.
Oh, and while you’re here, be sure to check out my list of Nintendo Switch games and accessories too. I’m sure you’ve got a gamer or two on your holiday shopping list, right?
Disclosure: Pressman Games provided me with these games at no cost to me. No other compensation was received. Opinions are wholly my own. This article contains Amazon affiliate links.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks