16 OF OUR FAVOURITE FAMILY GAMES!

If you follow our stories on Instagram, you’ll know by now that one of our family’s favourite thing to do together is play games. Our games cupboard sits prominently in our living room so the kids can easily access them at any time. Our kids are now 9 and 11 (the twins) and we’ve been playing games with them since they were toddlers. They often play games together independently, but we also play as a family and it’s become a weekly tradition for us that I hope continues throughout the years.

Below are the games that we love and play regularly and I’ll add the ones I’m tucking under the tree this year too!

1. SKIPBO

   I remembered playing this game at a friend’s house when I was a kid and bought it when my kids were toddlers. Once you have mastered Uno, this game is a great next step. We’ve brought this game on weekends away and even the park! The kids still love to play it.

2. RACKO

   Love this simple number ordering card game for kids. We didn’t discover it until last year but as soon as your little ones can count and order numbers to 20, 30, 40 and 50, this game is perfect. It’s quick and fun, a winning combo!

3. BLOKUS

   A game for 2-4 players that’s recommended for ages 7+. It’s a patterning game and I love that the youngest player can win as easily as the oldest once they get the hang of it. A great intro to strategy games.

4. SLEEPING QUEENS

   Kaia made sure I added this one to the list. She said it was her favourite a few years ago. It’s a simple concept that the kids seem to pick up quickly (and remember) but I feel liked tired Moms (that’s me!) need the rule book nearby to remember what each card does.

5. MONOPOLY

   The classic game from our youth; our 9 year old would play this game daily if someone would play with him! We have and love the bookshelf addition and I imagine our kids playing Monopoly for many years to come.

6. CLUE

   You likely remember this one from when you were a kid too and I had to buy the vintage edition for old times sake. Nothing like a game of mystery to keep little minds thinking! My twins especially love this game and play it often when friends come over.

7. SCRABBLE

   This beautiful wooden version is a perfect coffee table decor piece as well as a very functional take on this classic word game. When we started playing Scrabble with our kids, we quickly learned the value of a quality board that holds the letters in place after a standard board kept getting knocked and wrecked. I highly recommend investing in a quality game of this one if you and your family are avid Scrabble fans.

8. BANANAGRAMS

   This game was a gift and I love how it encourages flexible thinking with words. With simple letter tiles, you could use this game alongside learning to spell with younger kids. Although the concept is simple, this game requires quick thinking and is quite tricky to keep changing your words and thinking as the game progresses. In my opinion, it’s a step quicker (& harder!) than Scrabble or Lexicon.

9. CHINESE CHECKERS

   Simple and fun. With a little strategy, this game is fun to play with 2 players and so much more complicated once you add more players. We play this game at least 3 times a week!

10. CHESS / CHECKERS

    I have always dreamed of being an amazing Chess player, although I am not (ha!). Once we knew our family was a fan of games, we invested in this beautiful wooden game board and quality felted pieces.

11. CATAN

    I like this game, but my kids love it. Learn to trade, build and settle the island of Catan.

12. CARCASONNE

    By far my favourite game to play with our family! I’d say 8+ and this is a great first foray into strategy games. It’s a long game so you have to settle into this one for the evening, but it’s enjoyable and if you are like us, my husband and I can be competitive with each other while still playing with the kids.

13. CATCH PHRASE

    Fun for a wider group and easy to sit down and play a quick round. If you are into games with friends, this one is fun for adults and kids 8+. Younger kids may have a tricky time with the speed of it and some of the content.

14. TRIVIAL PURSUIT (KIDS VS. ADULTS)

    Fun fact: my kids almost always beat us adults! This game is great for learning random facts and testing your memory once you’ve played it multiple times. While my kids seem to remember everything they learn, they especially relish in the rounds where we’ve had the questions before and I forget the answer. Fun for the whole family.

15. YAHTZEE

    A good game list wouldn’t feel complete without Yahtzee. A simple game that can easily travel with you, this one is great for improving math skills and teaching kids the concept of probability.

16. TICKET TO RIDE

    This one is tucked under the tree and the reviews are great! Have never played, but can’t wait to try.

SHOP THE POST…

2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: BABIES!

Since having kids, the holiday time has truly become such a significant time of the year. The first year with a baby is a celebration in itself and when it comes to what a baby truly needs, it’s really just love! Here are our trusted and true favourite items that can be put into a stocking or tucked under the tree for a special start for what will inevitably become a magical time of year for your family.

1. STACKING CUPS

Somewhere between 12-24 months, most babies enjoy knocking down cups. These pretty stacking cups are a firm favourite and I love that they double as bath toys! Easy to stack away on the bathtub or even pop in your bag for trips to the park or holidays away.

2. FOLDABLE BABY BATH

One of the most practical baby baths for small spaces, this foldable bath was a life saver with our baby twins. I loved the modern design and the fact we could bring it along for road trips.

3. ANIMAL HOUSE STACKER

Another stacking toy, but also worth it! I have no idea what exactly is so alluring about this toy, but babies (and early toddlers!) seem to be so drawn to it. It’s a great toy to start imaginative play with the animals and their houses.

4. HOODED TOWEL

There is nothing cuter than a baby in a hooded towel! Made from 100% cotton, this adorable lamb hooded towel is the sweetest cozy wrap for your post bath sweet baby.

5. BEST BEAR BOOK

Bear Stays up for Christmas is one of our most beloved holiday reads! I gifted this to my kids on their first Christmas and 12 years later, we still love it.

6. EVERYTHING BASKET

An absolute hold all, for laundry or blankets or toys or anything! A lidded basket is an essential for quick clean up and this one is pretty enough to put anywhere in your home.

7. NATURAL WOOD PLAY GYM

I did not have a play gym anything like this pretty, but if I were to do it over again, I’d buy this one!

8. CUDDLE & KIND SOFTIE

It’s never too early to teach kids to give back and that is why I love this company so much! Cuddle and Kind is a company I love to support and this cute bear is the perfect way to do that. For every doll sold, 10 meals are given to kids in need!

9. SWISH TOY

This toy is a top seller and has been for over a decade! All of our kids adored this toy and I would highly recommend it. It’s so easy for tiny fingers to grasp and hold and our twins used to pass it back and forth which was the cutest!

GIFT GUIDE: TOYS FOR KIDS

I’m a little late to the party this year, but first on the list in our Holiday Gift Guides is toys for the kids. This Christmas guide includes mainly items that our kids own and love, a couple that are on the list this year and the Milton and Goose play kitchen that I can’t get enough of!

Last year, the wooden dollhouse was a huge hit as a main gift for one of our twins, and it amazes me to watch toddlers as well as older friends come for play dates and spend hours playing with it. It was a Christmas gift that will last for years. For kids over 5, the Instax camera is a fun toy that will surely be a hit on Christmas Day and the little Jacob’s ladder toy reminds me of my own childhood (and will be making itself into at least one stocking this year).

While Keva looks like such a basic toy, it (along with Magnatiles) are two firm faves that will continue to last throughout the years.

I hope you find a little something that inspires your little one to play, which is exactly what this holiday guide is for.

01.// Smart Game; 02.// Solid Wood Kitchen; 03.// Superhero Mouse; 04.// Ice Magnatiles; 05.// Instax Camera; 06.// KROM Kendama; 07.// Jacob’s Ladder; 08.// Micro Scooter; 09.// Fresh Mart Store; 10.// Victorian Doll House; 11.// Metal Slinky; 12.// Maple Keva Planks.

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A HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE & GIVEAWAY WITH ETSY!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - Congrats to ja_cs_ on Instagram!!!

It's November!!! I know, Halloween has just finished. It's a little early to think about the next holiday season and to get you in the mood, I have partnered with my favourite handmade site, Etsy, to give away $100 gift certificate to spend on whatever you like on their site! Yipee!!! Head over to my Instagram, like, follow and leave me a comment here or there telling me what you'd buy if you win and you will be entered for the gift certificate.

I'm sure you already know it, but in case you don't, Etsy is an online marketplace for the hand crafted and vintage. It is a site that I get lost in regularly searching for amazing handmade things that creative people make all over the world. If this sounds like your kind of thing, read on.

I always hope that by getting gifts ready and wrapped early, it will allow the chance to fully enjoy the festive time with all the events December brings (Christmas train, lights shows, family events, etc.!!!). A year ago I shared my favourite garlands for kids rooms from the same site and I hope you love this selection as much as you loved that one! 

Giving handmade things feels a little extra special and to help you narrow down the vast number of options, I've rounded up my first gift guide of the season for the little ones in your life with 25 of my favourite gifts for kids from Etsy.

1.// Ceramic kids mug; 2.// Wood taxi car; 3.// Natural wood teether; 4.// Baby memory book; 5.// Ice cream stacker; 6.// Grey knot cushion; 7.// Mini ho ho ho banner; 8.// Wooden toy camera; 9.// Felt fire set; 10.// Owl soft toy; 11.// Wooden toy houses; 12.// Small star mobile; 13.// Grey cloud pillow; 14.// Children's bead necklace; 15.// Linen unicorn softie; 16.// Kids cat plate; 17.// Wooden toy car; 18.// Soft heart blanket; 19.// Gold star garland; 20.// Small storage bin; 21.// Personalized heart apron; 22.// Darling raccoon softie; 23.// Math learning set; 24.// Double pom hat; 25.// Pink heart pillow.

Etsy has also helped to make shopping for the holiday season a little simpler by creating their own gift guide, which you can find here. Happy shopping friends!

*This post and giveaway was created with Etsy. The giveaway closes on Sunday November 4th. Winner will be announced here on the blog and in my Instagram stories.