L C R

Subject: General
Category: Preschool
Ages: 5 and up
# of players: 3 or more
Time to play: 20 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: dice rolling

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 2
Gaming value: 1

Aesthetic value: 3
Price value: 3
Ease of play: 5
Younger adaptability: 4

My comments: Left Center Right is a game that requires each person to know the difference between their left and their right and that is precisely why I purchased it. While I don't think the game is intended for preschoolers, I categorized it that way because it is really great for anybody who needs practice figuring out their left from their right, like my 4yo who just received it in her Christmas stocking.

You can purchase this game in a tube or a tin although I have found the tube to be less expensive and even better, I'm sure you can figure out how to make a version of your very own for next to nothing. The components include 3 dice, each one with an L, an R, a C and 3 dots on the remaining three sides as well as about 20-25 small poker or bingo chips. There is absolutely no strategy involved in playing this game, it is merely rolling the dice and passing your chips either to the left, right or into the center pot. Again, good for the preschooler who needs directional practice and who just needs time playing something that requires him to follow instructions.

Because it is so compact and is quick to play, you can get it out while waiting at the doctor's office or the airport or while waiting for the next game to start.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game:http://boardgamegeek.com/game/3522

Sum Swamp

Subject: Math
Category: Addition, subtraction
Ages: 5 and up
# of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 20 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: roll and move

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 4
Gaming value: 2
Aesthetic value: 5
Price value: 5
Ease of play: 5
Younger adaptability: 5

My comments: This simple game is a great way to practice single-digit addition and subtraction. Kids are really attracted to this game because of the chunky, soft, colorful swamp critter playing pieces, the "unusual" dice, and the colorful board. Two of the dice have integers 1 to 6 while the third die has + and - on it; roll the three, make the equation, and move that many spaces. If you land on a space that says even or odd then you need to roll the appropriate number to continue on; if you land on a number, roll the operation die to see if you go forward or back that many spaces. The first player to the finish line wins.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/11585

Blokus Trigon

Subject: Math
Category: Geometry
Ages: 5 to adult
# of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 20 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: Abstract strategy

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 5
Gaming value: 5
Aesthetic value: 5
Price value: 4 (while board is sturdy and well made, it is still plastic, as well as the piece-holder)
Ease of play: 5
Younger adaptability: 5 (If a child knows same color and point vs. side, s/he can play!)

My comments: I'm starting out with one of my favorite games. Blokus Trigon consists of a hexagon game board into which fit 22 geometric shapes made out of triangles (see BGG link below for pictures.) You take turns placing pieces such that: 1. You must touch your own color, and 2. You must connect to your other pieces using the point of a triangle rather than the side. The object of the game is to place as many pieces as possible on the board. The two-player version requires each person play 2 colors; the three player version eliminates the outer-most ring of the hexagon.

This game builds spacial perception and thinking ahead. The game is easy to set up, easy to play, and the colors and pieces are visually appealing. This game is one that will be enjoyed for many years (so long as you don't lose the smaller pieces!)

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/21550