Archives for 2019

It is important for adults to understand and recognize if a child shows signs of being a bully, or signs of being bullied, and how to appropriately intervene. But understanding the outward behavior and/or often-implied signals associated with either bullying or being bullied can be difficult and frustrating for parents, teachers, caregivers, etc. Ideally, a child being bullied or would share his/her concerns openly, but, too often, this is not the case.

Bullying in schools often takes place in unsupervised locations; such as bathrooms, busy hallways, lunchrooms, and school buses. The victim may feel that even if he speaks up, nothing may be done to help. This is why it is important for schools and parents to have policies in place and frequent discussions regarding bullying and its consequences. Discussions should include the definition of bullying and the difference between discussing/reporting an incident, vs. “getting someone in trouble,” or “tattling.”

While both parents and educators set goals to create safe spaces for children to grow and feel comfortable, many children do not send direct, verbal messages that they are being bullied. Factors involved are usually fears associated with feeling judged, rejected, being a “snitch,” and/or being misunderstood, all of which make matters worse for themselves and leads to feelings of isolation and a lack of support. This is why it is so important that parents and educators are aware of the less subtle signs that a child is being bullied or is bullying others.

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Signs of being bullied:

• Avoiding school or extracurricular activities that were once enjoyed; arriving home unusually late or early (by avoiding regular routes); no longer wanting to ride on the school bus
• Decreased/withdrawn time spent with friends; lack of friends
• Increase in anxiety/worry; appearing stressed; trouble sleeping, thus appearing more tired than usual; decrease in appetite
• Sudden decrease in academic performance
• Complaints of physical ailments (i.e. headaches, stomach aches); unexplained injuries
• Low self-esteem
• Loss of personal items

Signs of bullying others: 

• Physically or verbally aggressive behavior; appearing angry or edgy
• Lack of empathy
• Defiant, impulsive and insistence on getting her way
• Low self-esteem

Bullies are, more often than not, products of their own environment. For example, if a child is being bullied at home by another family member, he may repeat this behavior in school. The child may also adopt the negative assumption that aggressive behavior or language will lead to getting her way, resulting in feelings of power. This is a negative reward (reinforcing the negative behavior). It is important to be aware of how we conduct conversations in the home. Those young ears are always listening and learning from example. Effective communication skills/problem solving skills are pertinent to reducing fear or intimidation. Effective family communication means allowing all members of the family to express their emotions appropriately and be heard.

As a parent or teacher, it is important to recognize inappropriate behavior and set limits as to what is acceptable and unacceptable. Teach children about bullying at a young age and help them understand that they are accountable for their actions as they grow and learn. Challenge them to think critically about the act of bullying and how they can problem-solve effectively, instead of acting on impulse.

The parent/teacher should always aim to be a positive role model in the home and at school. Try to create safe spaces by promoting self-esteem and reassuring the child that you will always listen and help. Role-play scenarios and discuss conflict resolution skills. Discuss how they can diffuse a situation and walk away. Talk about how to be inclusive with other peers.

If you are concerned or suspect your child is being bullied, or is bullying others, either in school or in the community, speak with school teachers, administrators, and mental health professionals. Encourage your child to confide in a trusted adult or a mental health professional.  Remember that “consistency is key” and assure your child that there is always someone willing to listen and help.

By Lori Faicco, LMHC-licensed mental health counselor, Staten Island Mental Health Society, Inc.

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We got rid of our kids’ baby furniture today. More specifically, we sold it on eBay. Someone bid on it, won, and then came to my house and hauled it all away in a big black pickup truck.

I cried like a baby.

Not the kind of tears that roll quietly down the cheek as one is overcome with feelings of bittersweet nostalgia. Big, fat, sobby kinds of melancholic tears of sadness and disbelief.

I am in total disbelief that my babies aren’t babies anymore. I’m in disbelief that my babies need bigger furniture for their bigger bodies and their bigger needs. Bigger, bigger, bigger. Everything used to be so teeny tiny, and now it’s all about getting bigger.

So I watched as my children’s baby crib was taken apart, piece by piece, and then piled into the truck, rail by rail. We gave them the mattress too, as it was only gently used and easily cleaned, so they tossed that in the truck next. Then we handed over all of the nuts and bolts essential to putting it back together.

I remember the day we brought my baby girl home from the hospital and placed her in that crib for the first time, her tiny six pound body barely a spec on the horizon of pale pink linens. I leaned over the rail and watched as she napped peacefully, fixated on her beautiful newborn face, counting her endless little newborn breaths and feeling overwhelmed by indescribable emotions.

I remember one day my nephew slept over and he and my son hopped up and down on the crib mattress all morning like little crazy kangaroos, bouncing wildly until each child collapsed in a fit of unbearably adorable baby giggles.

When I was nine months pregnant with my daughter and nesting like a madwoman, I took on the task of raising the crib mattress myself while my husband was at work and my son was asleep on the couch. Determined, I yanked that crib away from the wall and heaved the mattress to the floor, then began screwing and unscrewing in the appropriate spots until the crib was ready for my baby girl. It took me all afternoon, probably two hours longer than it would have taken my husband (or anyone even the slightest bit mechanically inclined and/or not ten seconds away from going into labor). But, man oh man, was I one proud preggo.

After they lugged all the components of the crib aboard their truck, they moved on to the baby dresser.  More tears streaming down. I’d stored more than clothes in the drawers of that pale wooden dresser. The messy bibs worn during baby’s first solid food meal, the red and green Santa pajamas designated for baby’s first Christmas Eve, miniature socks and hats barely big enough for a Cabbage Patch doll, a different onesie for each color of the rainbow, and probably every dinosaur tee shirt ever created; those drawers were jam-packed with some of my fondest memories.

Then I watched as they carted the last piece off: our changing table. I laughed between sobs recalling how my son, at one week old, had peed on his own face while lying on that changing table. Caught somewhere between horror and amusement, I was unable to react quickly enough to stop the powerful stream of newborn urine from landing directly in his eye. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry then, so it seems fitting to be simultaneously doing both now.

What is it about these mementos, these pieces of our children’s lives, that is so difficult to let go? We needed to get rid of that furniture—we need both the space and the money. Logically, there was no alternative to selling it. But it breaks my heart to know my precious baby furniture is gone forever.

It brings me comfort to know that I’ll have memories of my children’s infant years forever, even if I no longer own the memorabilia itself. Those memories will bring me comfort as the years continue to pass and my babies continue to grow out of clothes and toys and beds. The memorabilia will pile up, I’m sure, and like everything else most of it will have to be given away.

But the memories will linger forever in my heart.

Memories, thankfully, can’t be sold on eBay.

By Jeannine Cintron, a Staten Island mom of two. Read her blog at www.highchairsandheadaches.com.

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Cooking for a crowd can be overwhelming, especially on Thanksgiving day. From stuffing the turkey to cleaning the house, you’ve got your hands full. So when it’s time to throw together some tasty side dishes, you need recipes that are low in maintenance but high in approval from guests. These sides are so easy to make, they each require only three ingredients!

Coconut Oil Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup coconut oil (solid, not melted)
3/4 cup milk

Directions:
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Add self-rising flour and coconut oil to a mixing bowl, and use a pastry cutter or forks to cut the coconut oil into the flour until the mixture is like fine crumbs.
• Stir in the milk until mixture forms a soft dough and no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Knead the mixture until combined, but be careful not to over-knead.
• Turn the dough out onto a cutting board that has been lightly dusted with flour. Gently roll the dough out until it reaches a 1/2-inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuits and transfer to a baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until the biscuits have risen and begin to lightly brown on top. Remove and serve immediately.

GimmeSomeOven.com

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Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
16oz mushrooms (white or baby bella) washed then patted dry

Directions:
• Place a large cast iron skillet into the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet you can use a pie pan or casserole dish, but you shouldn’t preheat it.
• Add butter and garlic to a small dish and microwave until melted, about 30 seconds. Trim ends off mushrooms with a small knife and place cap side down in skillet or baking dish.
• Drizzle each cap with garlic butter, taking care to get garlic on the mushroom rather than the skillet or baking dish, then season tops with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until tender, basting mushrooms with butter in the bottom of the skillet halfway through.

IowaGirlEats.com

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Maple Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients:
1 1/4 lbs butternut squash, peeled and diced 3/4-inch
1/2 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
2 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup

Directions:
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash with oil, maple, salt and fresh ground pepper.
• Place in a baking dish, cover with foil and roast in the center of the oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, turn the squash and bake an addition 15 minutes, or until fork tender (time will vary depending on the size of the squash).

SkinnyTaste.com

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Cranberry Orange Sauce

Ingredients:
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, plus the zest of one orange
1/2 cup sugar, or more, to taste
1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries

Directions:
• In a medium saucepan, combine orange juice, orange zest, sugar and 3/4 cup water over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
• Stir in cranberries and bring to a boil; reduce heat and let simmer until sauce has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool completely before serving.

DamnDelicious.net

“You’re adopted. Your parents don’t even love you.” This line, from the movie Dodgeball, is callously delivered by Vince Vaughn but, to be honest, when I heard it I laughed. I’m very open-minded when it comes to comedy so to me the joke worked in context. But on a serious note, that statement doesn’t make any sense. I’ve never understood how “you’re adopted” could ever be used as an insult. What could be more loving than parents who go out of their way to bring a child into their family?

Yet sometimes a negative connotation still exists. Having a first-person experience with being an adopted child, I feel that more light should be shed upon the true essence of adoption.

One of the first questions people ask me is, “When did you find out that you were adopted?” It’s a difficult one to answer since my adoption was never something I had to “find out” about– it was never hidden in the first place. As far back as I can remember, my mom told me that she had a boo-boo in her belly and couldn’t have babies. So she and my dad prayed and prayed and prayed and waited and waited and waited and finally I was born just to be their daughter. My parents’ open and loving attitude kept any negative stigma from affecting me. That story always made me feel like the most loved kid ever, and it still does!

So even though I have always known that I was adopted, not everyone else knows that about me. Why? Because my adoption is not what defines me. I’m not ashamed of it by any means, but there aren’t many times that I find the need to bring it up. Just like everyone else, the woman who raised me is my mother. Period. No other label is needed.

My birthmother will always have a special place in my heart, of course. Loving and carrying a child for nine months and then giving the baby up cannot be an easy choice, but I believe she made that sacrifice for altruistic reasons. She already had four children and knew she couldn’t afford to care for a fifth. Many mothers might have ended the pregnancy at this point, and others would have tried to make it work with what little money they had. But this article isn’t about pro-life or pro-choice; it’s about an option that is so often overlooked.

I’m forever grateful for my birthmother’s decision back then. It was truly a selfless act of love and strength, putting the needs of her baby ahead of her own heart. She was alone in a country where she didn’t understand the language, yet managed to work with an adoption agency to give me a better life than she could provide. She didn’t receive any money or praise for what she did, and from what I’ve heard, pregnancy and childbirth aren’t exactly a walk in the park. While I hope to never be in the same situation she was in, I do hope I will have her courage and wisdom to deal with whatever obstacles I encounter in my life.

When asked if I ever want to find my “real” parents, I quickly remind people that my “real” parents raised me, and it doesn’t feel that important for me to meet my birthparents. Sure, I get curious about some things, like whether or not I look or act like them, but I believe everything happened the way it was supposed to, and I respect that.

There’s a good chance that my birthparents think of me everyday, maybe they even gave me a name. But even if they completely forgot that I ever existed, I don’t care. When I was in their lives, they loved me exactly how I needed to be loved, which determined the course of my life. And when my parents’ entered my life, they picked up right where my birthparents’ left off, so the flow of love never stopped. I was brought into a home that revolved around finding me and as soon as I got there, our family was complete. I have been raised with so much unconditional love that I couldn’t possibly associate my adoption with anything negative.

I understand that not every story is as simple or happy as mine. Some kids were abandoned or rejected. Some bounce between group homes and foster parents and have endless struggles along the way. My heart goes out to them. I hope that each of them find a home filled with the love they deserve. But in the end, whether there are unfortunate circumstances that lead up to it or not, adoption itself is a beautiful thing and should always be acknowledged as such.

When the time comes for me to start a family, I would be happy to welcome a child brought to me through adoption, because as I have learned through my own life, family is defined by love, not by DNA.

By Nicole Farina, who wants her mom, Staten Island Parent’s owner, Roselle Farina Hecht, to know how much her love and support is appreciated.

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When Marlene Markoe-Boyd’s children, now teens, were toddlers, they lived at the Staten Island Children’s Museum — a first museum for many borough youngsters, particularly on the North Shore.

“The kids did use the Staten Island Museum to go to Clay Wollney’s science events on some Saturdays,” as well, said Ms. Markoe-Boyd, a resident of Castleton Corners.

They are still avid museum-goers, she said.

“For the most part, we have used museums as entertainment, making a museum stop a weekend destination or even a short trip. Our trip to the Franklin Institute was part of our weekend away in Philadelphia. A quiet Saturday took us to the Intrepid in Manhattan, and an obscure school day off resulted in a trip to the New York Hall of Science (in Queens),” she said.

A vacation in Lancaster County, Pa., was especially memorable. The extended family met at the Hands-on House museum there. “What made it so special was all the uncles crawling around and playing in the exhibits. Often times, it was my sisters-in-law and I doing that together when the kids were younger — not the dads!”

Still, said Ms. Markoe-Boyd, it’s the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in Manhattan that they return to time and again.

“From the large whale to the dinosaurs, to the stuffed animals. All of these were always larger than life for my kids. My 13-year-old and I went together last year one day during the summer. His request,” she said.

According to John Kilcullen, director of Conference House Park, who grew up on Long Island and also fell in love with the AMNH at an early age, museums are important because they “add thought behind the natural world.”

After his appointment as director of the Tottenville park a few years back, Kilcullen and his assistant, Frank Gessner, activated a small space in the park’s offices that’s dubbed the Lenape Gallery. Currently on view is an exhibit called “Regeneration,” a display of insects crafted from found objects by artist Randi Ehrhart (Up through Aug. 13).

“She made a bumble bee out of a gingko leaf, scale-size,” said Kilcullen, who described the creations as “amazing.”

Of museums’ value — especially to children, “You still need to see things that are curated. Teachers talk to you. Parents talk to you, but going to an exhibit, you can discover things yourself,” when it’s properly put together. “Most reputable, long-standing museums go to great lengths to foster learning.”

Kilcullen, now a resident of New Brighton, said his current favorite museum is the new Staten Island Museum on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Livingston. “It’s fantastic. They really hit the mark with it.”

Kayleigh Kelly, 17, is proof that seeing well-curated exhibits expands kids’ visions.

Of her younger sister, Kristen, and herself, Kayleigh said, “We visited museums with our family throughout our childhood and continue to visit — and revisit — new ones. Our favorite museum visit was to the Metropolitan Museum of Art last summer. Our friend invited a group of nine young teenage girls, including Kristen and me, to spend an entire afternoon there as her 16 birthday celebration. It was so special because we got to experience our favorite art pieces with people we love, and discover new things along the way. Any trip to that museum is an adventure,” said the Clifton resident.

Not everyone has the chance to go as often as they’d like, but even a few visits yield fond memories.

Dr. Victor Avis and his wife, Kim, residents of Castleton Corners, had vowed when their first of three daughters was born 20-some years ago that they would go to a museum every weekend with their children.

“We took her once when she was three months old,” and that was sort of the end of that, admitted Mrs. Avis.

However, she does recall that the family patronized the Staten Island Children’s Museum frequently. And when the girls got older, they went into Manhattan to the AMNH more than once. Mrs. Avis said she would give each child a card with different dinosaurs on them, and it was like Dinosaur Bingo. The girls would have to find the creatures on their cards.

She believes museums are important for kids because “they can touch and feel everything. It’s something different and you can see what they’re interested in,” she said.

There are more than 80 museums in New York City, according to ny.com, not to mention what’s available nearby in New Jersey. Here are some suggestions for broadening your family’s horizons.

The American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West and 79th St., Manhattan, 212-769-5100, amnh.org) is bursting with fascinating exhibits.

The newest show-stopper, “Crocs: Ancient Predators in a Modern World,” features four live species, life-sized dioramas and interactive exhibits. Crocodiles are part of a group of reptiles known as archosaurs or “ruling reptiles,” and they’ve been around for 200 million years. Crocs as long as school buses and as heavy as elephants roamed the earth as recently as 8 million years ago. Their prey? Live tyrannosaurs! The exhibit is in the museum’s 77th Street gallery, through Jan. 2, 2017.

Also new is a 3D IMAX film titled “National Parks Adventure,” narrated by actor Robert Redford. Released as part of the 100th anniversary salute to the National Park Service, this film features more than 30 of the nation’s parks. A grand look at some real treasures in the great outdoors. Closes Sept. 1, 2016.

Then, there’s the new dinosaur cast, which opened to the public on Jan. 15 — and, at 122-feet long, is nothing short of colossal! In fact, it’s so big it cannot fit into the Wallach Orientation Center on the museum’s fourth floor. The cast grazes the 19-foot-high ceilings, and its neck and head extend out toward the elevator banks. This giant herbivore belongs to a group known as titanosaurs and weighed in around 70 tons — or 140,000 pounds — when it roamed the Earth some 100 to 95 million years ago. A contact in the communications department advised that families wanting to spend some quality time on the fourth floor should arrive as close as possible to the opening of the museum each day at 10 a.m.

Staten Island Museum (75 Stuyvesant Place, St. George, and 1000 Richmond Terr., on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 718-727-1135, statenislandmuseum.org)

Did you know that Staten Island used to have a National Football League team? It’s true, and you can find out more about that squad in “Home Games,” a sports history exhibition in collaboration with the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame that opened the last day of April and will close Feb. 5, 2017. Located at the museum’s Stuyvesant location, the exhibition draws from the Hall’s extensive collection of sports objects, documents and memorabilia. It traces the evolution of American sports from the days when the New York Metropolitans played “big league” baseball on a cricket ground adjacent to the St. George Ferry terminal, and the hometown Stapes, based in Stapleton, were part of the NFL. The exhibit also looks at the corporate model of today, as seen from the unique perspective of Staten Island, just a ferryboat ride from the center of American finance and culture. The show is free with admission as follows: Adult/$8; student (with ID)/$5; senior (62 and older)/$5; children 2-12/$2; member/free. The museum is open seven days a week; call or visit its website for hours.

As part of a series of summer events based on “Home Games,” the Museum is hosting “Game On!” on Aug. 11, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. outside Building A, its base at Snug Harbor. Families are invited to participate in popular games from the past and from around the world. Call or check out the museum’s website for ticket information.

“Remember the Mastodon: Diversity & Preservation” is all about the hard facts of extinction, the wonder of enduring species, the importance of bio-diversity and the challenge of preservation. Includes fossils, lost bird species, and a full-size replica of a mastodon emerging through the wall! This exhibit is at the Museum’s Snug Harbor location and is free with admission as noted above.

The Bronx Zoo (2300 Southern Blvd., The Bronx, 718-367-1010, bronxzoo.com)

f you’re willing to head to the Bronx, you can take a gander at the largest metropolitan zoo in the country. And there’s lots to take in on this 265-acre site that is home to 4,000 animals. The Children’s Zoo has been completely overhauled, and in addition to Nubian goats and squirrel monkeys, kids can hop on a new Bug Carousel for a spin. When you’re finished in this family-friendly farmyard, check out the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Wild Asia monorail (red pandas and rhinos), the 4D theater, camel rides, an overhead tram, plus penguin and sea lion feedings. Call or check online for hours and ticket information.

Liberty Science Center (222 Jersey Center Blvd., Jersey City, 201-200-1000, lsc.org) has four floors of exhibits and activities to engage families.

Cowabunga! It’s the first stop this summer for a national traveling exhibit called “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer,” but you only have the month of August to explore this underground lair before the show moves on. Solve puzzles, navigate mazes and obstacles. Shoot pizza at enemy targets, make your way through a rope maze without triggering alarms and look through the Street View Periscope to see turtles on the street above you. Crawl through sewer pipes to discover hidden artwork, hone your skateboarding skills, and enjoy interactive games. This exhibit is free with paid admission to the Center or membership.

The Nikola Tesla Lightning Show uses two coils, each powered by 1 million volts, to produce a live, musical lightning show that’s nothing less than electrifying. In the Center’s JDW Theater.

The new Infinity Climber at the LSC is a suspended multi-story play space that challenges visitors to climb, crawl and balance their way through multiple pathways as high as 35 feet above the atrium floor.

Call or visit the center’s website for ticket information and hours.

By Marjorie Hack

Bone-chilling temperatures and more than a week off school– what’s a family to do?? Game night, of course!

Here’s our 20 favorite games to keep the family fun going at home all winter long.

Pie Face Game – The winners are the players who manage to avoid getting whacked in the face with a dollop of delicious cream, but this is clearly the type of game where when hilarity ensues, everyone wins. New versions include Pie Face: Cannon and Pie Face: Sky High. Hasbro.com • Ages 5+

Pictopia Disney Edition – If your family is like most American families, then you’ve probably seen your fair share of Disney movies and visited a Disney theme park at least once or twice. This game features 1,000 trivia questions to test players’ knowledge of everything Disney, and it’s usually a hit with both kids and adults. WonderForge.com • Ages 7+

Noodle Speedoodle – The tagline reads: “Grab a noodle and draw a doodle!” And that’s exactly what you do in this cooperative picture-guessing game for families. Like many games from Peaceable Kingdom, everyone works together and plays as a team, and there are no winners or losers—just lots of fun. PeaceableKingdom.com • Ages 8+

Dixit – Children are natural-born storytellers, and this is the type of game where the gift of creative storytelling comes in handy. Players take turns making up brief tales and their opponents must correctly guess which card describes each tale. It’s definitely a winner for kids and parents alike. en.Libellud.com • Ages 8+

Hoot Owl Hoot – This game is a real hoot for the kindergarten crowd, who take turns helping owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Kids will learn numbers, counting, colors and teamwork. PeaceableKingdom.com • Ages 4 -7

Move & Groove – This game is a top pick for toddlers, with simple rules and no skill required. Simply roll the cube, grab a card, then boogie down! Little ones will learn colors while building their confidence, improving coordination, and having a blast. ThinkFun.com • 18 months-5 years

Zingo – This twist on the classic favorite Bingo has the added value of vocabulary recognition for younger players. While Bingo relies purely on luck, Zingo requires more work than simply checking off numbers on a card –which keeps everyone from losing interest quickly.
ThinkFun.com • Ages 4-8

Robot Turtles – If you think your child is too young to learn how to code, think again. This game teaches basic programming concepts to players as young as four years old without even using a computer screen. ThinkFun.com • Ages 4+

Apples to Apples Junior – Fans of the popular party game Apples to Apples can play this fun comparison game with their whole family now. The recommended age is 9+, but many reviewers claim to enjoy the “Junior” version with kids as young as five or six years old.
MattelGames.com • Ages 9+

Spot It – With over 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, it’s hard to imagine anyone wouldn’t like this fast-paced matching card game. Simple instructions make it easy for younger players but fun for the whole family. Switch it up with different game versions, like Spot It Sports, Disney, Animals, Halloween, etc. There’s also a Junior version for younger players. BlueOrangeGames.com • Ages 7+

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game – The rules are basic enough for early preschoolers to grasp, which helps young children understand basic concepts of board game play. Players get to use tweezers to grab acorns, which helps with developing fine motor skills as well. EducationalInsights.com • Ages 3-7 years

Ticket to Ride – Frustrated by games that rely on pure luck? This fun and educational game incorporates strategic thinking and decision-making with a little bit of geography. Players collect and match train cards to claim railway routes throughout North America. DaysOfWonder.com • Ages 8-12

Qwirkle – Upon first glance, this game looks like Scrabble for preschoolers. But don’t let the tiles fool you, the two are nothing alike. In this simple yet engaging game, players build lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape. Although recommended for ages 6 and up, it can double as a simpler color and shape matching game for the younger ones. But it’s also a hit with adults, making it truly fun for all ages. MindWare.com • Ages 6+

The Dinosaur Escape Game – Dinosaurs are big hit with any preschool crowd, so it’s no wonder a game where kids get to manipulate big dinosaur game pieces along a game board has become so popular. Players work as a team to save the dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption and everyone wins. PeaceableKingdom.com • Ages 4-7

No Stress Chess – The rules of chess can sometimes seem complicated for adults, but this game teaches chess in smaller, simpler steps. The board is two-sided, so once players have a thorough understanding of the game, they can switch from the beginner side to the standard chess side.Winning-Moves.com • Ages 7+

Labyrinth – Incorporate fantasy with moving mazes for the perfect family game that’s easy enough for players as young as 7 or 8 up all the way up to teens and adults. Ravensburger.us • Ages 8+

Headbanz & Hedbanz Jr. – This engaging guessing game requires players to wear the answer on their head – literally. Spinmaster.com • Ages 5+

Watch Ya Mouth – Don’t let the title fool you; this game is 100% family friendly. Players take turns wearing mouthpieces and reciting phrases. And yes, it is as hilarious as it sounds. Wymgame.com • Ages 8+

Blokus – Game time is less than 30 minutes, making it the perfect length of time for kids. Even better? There is just one rule, so it’s pretty easy to get the hang of. Mattel.com. Ages 7+

Little kids can play cards too!  Card games can be for everyone, but sometimes young players have trouble mastering the fanning technique required for grasping a whole handful. Gamewright’s Little Hands Playing Card Holder solves that problem for the tiniest card players with their handheld paddle that keeps cards in place. Learn more at gamewright.com or buy it on Amazon for $5.

Updated Classics – If you’re a big fan of the classics, try versions that include popular characters or simpler rules for younger ones—like Clue: Harry Potter Edition; Disney Monopoly; The Game of Life Junior; Connect 4: Super Mario; and Candyland: Princess Edition.

By Jeannine Cintron, Staten Island mom of two and her family’s reigning Scrabble Champion.