Battle Sheep

Jasper has only recently been fun to play board games with. Until just a few months ago, he would sulk and change the rules or totally lose interest in the middle of a game. I was happy when we received a new game to try out that he really fell in love with.

Battle Sheep is a straightforward strategy game for four players from the award-winning company Blue Orange Games. Your goal is to take up the most space on the board with your flock of sheep. I was immediately impressed with how sturdy the sheep playing pieces and board segments are. This isn't your standard kiddie game with flimsy punch-out pieces that get lost immediately.

The strategy is deceptively simple. I tried to teach the kids how to think ahead without actively showing them how to block one another in. And then daddy played with us… leading to an epic after-dinner ritual of kids ganging up to see who could pen in dad's herd first. So much for filial piety. Example of board with daddy penned in – note the ginormous stack of black sheep in foreground:

Battle Sheep is a lot of fun for all ages. Probably even for little ones who aren't super concerned with rules… or partying grownups.

Here's a great video showing the gameplay:

Funny or Die - The Board Game - Giveaway

The website Funny or Die is well known for their video spoofs, short films and all-around hilarity. But did you know that Hasbro is joining forces with Funny or Die to bring you the ultimate in caption craziness with a Funny or Die board game? It's true – now Now you can now bring all the moderately inappropriate fun into your home, to create comedy gold with your friends and family!

The goal is to one-up your opponents by matching outrageous photos and captions to create the best ultimate LOL combo. Players vote to decide which is the funniest and which one must “die.” It's an epic combination of charades, go fish, making fun of people at the mall, and whatever your favorite board game is. (Except for Monopoly because it really isn't much like that at all.)

One caveat- make sure the little ones are in bed before you break out the new Funny or Die board game. Some of the images and captions are a bit racy for youngsters.

If you'd like to win a copy, leave a comment with your favorite board game or Funny or Die video below! Enter by January 21st for your chance to win.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a sample to facilitate this review and the giveaway prize is being provided. No compensation was provided. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Bop It! Smash

It's hard to find games that amuse both kids. Jasper's attention level is much shorter than Roo's and he has a tendency to get bored midway through and either steal all the pieces or make up his own rules, which pretty much ruins it for his poor sister. 

It's also ridiculously hot here in Kansas so the kids don't want to go outside unless it involves swimming or getting into a car to go somewhere air conditioned. I can't say I blame them– the high is supposed to be 111º today. Anyway, it's been kind of a pain trying to keep them entertained and moderately active indoors without hurting each other.

That's why I was pleased to receive Bop It! Smash, a new handheld interactive game that is deceptively simple but hopelessly addictive. The idea is to "catch" the flashing light as it speeds through the dots- you have to get it in the middle zone or you get trash talked. Yes, the game chews you out. It has arcade-like sounds and music and makes snarky comments that crack kids up. You can play it in three modes: solo, pass it, or multiplayer with up to six players. At first, the kids were annoyed because it's kind of hard. But then they figured out the rhythm and really got into it. I liked seeing them root for each other and using their reflexes. 

I must admit that Bob and I enjoyed trying it out, too, although I have to say the kids are waaaaay better at it!

Like Bop It! on Facebook and for more ideas on keeping your whole family engaged this summer, visit Family Game Night on Facebook and follow Family Game Night on Twitter.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received the game shown above to facilitate this review. All opinions, however, are my own.