Growing Down: Tools for Healing the Inner Child

Children's Games for Growing Down

Content:

What is it?
Materials needed
Activities
Games

What is it?

The inner child comes forth to play or replay games. The games are approached differently in that winning is no longer vital. The enjoyment of the process is most important. Rules may be bent to enjoy the game to its fullest. Use the rational perspective in the Child Play chapter to help you prepare your "inner child" to play with these games.

Materials needed

The games listed below can be used as well as those games you find yourselves

Activities

Play the games, whether they be designed for children or adults, to enjoy them not to always win.

Games

Aggravation, Milton Bradley, Ages 6+, Players 2-6, ($9.99). A classic marble race around the board from home to base.

Allies and Spies, Milton Bradley, Ages 12+, Players 2-5 ($27.99). Players decide the fate of a nation and the destiny of the world when they play this World War II strategy game.

Ants in the Pants, Milton Bradley, Ages 4+, Players 2-4 ($5.99). You will have fun making your ants jump into the pants.

Balderdash, Gameworks Creation, Inc., Ages 10+, Players 2-6 ($19.99). You will laugh, learn and lie. This is a game of questions and answers where you bluff phony definitions for some of the most unbelievable, zaniest words in the English language.

Battleship, Milton Bradley, Ages 8+, Players 2, ($9.99). You combine strategy and luck in this exciting naval action game.

Bonkers, Milton Bradley, Ages 8+, Players 2-4, ($9.99). This game is different every time you play it.

Candyland, Milton Bradley, Ages 3-6, Players 2-4, ($5.97). The goal is to reach King Kandy as fast as you can but be careful of the Molasses Swamp.

Chutes and Ladders, Milton Bradley, Ages 4-7, Players 2-4 ($5.99). Be the first to go from square 1 to 100 in this classic up and down game.

Charades, Pressman, Ages 10+, Players 4 or more, ($19.99). The players race around the game board competing against each other and against time. It's charades like it's never been played before.

Clue, Parker Brothers, Ages 8+, Players 2-6, ($11.99). This classic detective game is solved by using and eliminating clues.

Cookie Monster Popper Game, Lewco, Ages 3+, Players one or more, ($14.99). Don't be the one who makes the cookies pop.

Cootie, Milton Bradley, Ages 3+, Players 2-4, ($5.99). You build your own Cootie by rolling the cootie cube to collect the parts you need.

Crackers in my Bed, Parker Brothers, Ages 3B6, Players 2-4, ($9.99). This is a matching game where you find them, match them, and then feed them quick.

Double Trouble, Milton Bradley, Ages 5+, Players 2-4, ($11.99). This is a classic race and chase game of twists and turns.

Encore, Parker Brothers, Ages 2 teams of adults, Players 4, ($16.99). This is a musical party game where the lyrics are the important aspects.

Game of Life, Milton Bradley, Ages 9+, Players 2-4, ($11.99). This is a game of skill and chance just like life.

Guess Who, Milton Bradley, Ages 6+, Players 2, ($11.99). In this mystery game of matching, you try to match your opponent's faces by asking questions.

Hands Down, Milton Bradley, Ages 6+, Players 3-4, ($9.99). This is a classic game of slapdash fun.

Hide and Sneak, Worlds of Wonder, Ages 5+, Players 2-3, ($39.95). Play the ultimate game of hide and seek inside or outside. Take a hider unit and try to hide from the ultrasonic eye of the seeker device. Be the master tracker by using the super reconnaissance power of the seeker device to track down the hiding sneak.

Jeopardy, Pressman, Ages 12+, Players 3-5, ($14.99). The fast moving game of answers and questions.

Memory, Milton Bradley, Ages - various levels, Players 1-4, ($6.99 C $9.99). These games, at different age levels, test your matching and memory abilities.

Monopoly, Parker Brothers, Ages 8+, Players 2-8, ($10.99). This is the classic real estate trading game.

Mouse Trap, Milton Bradley, Ages 6+, Players 2-4, ($12.99). This is a game of zany action on a crazy contraption.

Outburst, Western Publishing, Ages - adults, Players 2 or more in teams, ($19.99). In this uproarious game, players "speak out'' on common knowledge topics.

Parcheesi, Milton Bradley, Ages 7+, Players 2-4, ($9.99). This classic race and chase game originated with the royalty in India.

Pictionary, Western Publishing, Ages - various levels, Players 3-16, ($19.99). This is a game of quick draw charades on paper. Players guess the identities of various words and phrases by sketching clues.

Puzzles, all ages, all prices, all kinds of pictures.

Risk, Parker Brothers, Ages 10+, Players 2-6, ($14.99). This is a classic game of strategy. It is general versus general; fierce attack against valiant defense; bold strikes and cunning traps. To win, you must capture every territory on the board. But victory depends on how you deploy your forces, where you fortify your frontiers, and when you attack your enemies.

Scattergories, Milton Bradley, Ages 12+, Players 2-6, ($19.99). In this game players must name various categories that begin with a designated letter.

Scrabble, Selchow and Righter, Ages 8+, Players 2-6, ($9.99). This is the classic family word game.

Simon, Milton Bradley, Ages 7+, Players 1 or more, ($29.95). This is a computer controlled game where you have to react quickly to Simon's flashing colored light and sound signals. You must repeat the randomly played sequence exactly.

Tip-It, Ideal, Ages 4+, Players 2-4 ($9.99). You must win it before you tip it.

Tripoley, Ladaw, Ages - adult, Players 2-8, ($10.99). This is the original game of Michigan Rummy, Hearts, and Poker.

Trivial Pursuit, Parker Brothers, Ages - all levels, Players 2-6, ($24.99). This game challenges the mind when you have to answer questions in various categories.

Trouble, Milton Bradley, Ages 5+, Players 2-4, ($8.99). This classic race and chase game moves forward with the click of the popper.

Twister, Milton Bradley, Ages 6+, Players 2-4, ($11.99). This is the game that ties you up in knots. You outmaneuver your opponents by placing your hands and feet on the colored circles.

Ungame, Tailcor, Ages - all, Players - any appropriate number, ($11.99). This is a wonderful game of self-expression.

Win, Lose or Draw, Milton Bradley, Ages 12+, Players 3 or more, ($14.99). You start sketching and guessing all kinds of things in this race against the clock.

Yahtzee, Milton Bradley, Ages 8+, Players 1 or more, ($4.99). This is a game of luck and strategy.

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