Sparkle*Kitty from Breaking Games

Whenever anyone mentions gaming with children Sparkle*kitty is a quick one to come to mind! It plays a bit similar to Uno but with more silly word combinations. It's a good way to practice reading individual words in a silly and fun way. I've seen Sparkle*kitty introduced to quite a few adults with no kids involved, and it is more fun than you might think by how simple it is.

"Sparkle*Kitty is an adorably fun, social, and magical spell card game for all ages, sizes and genders. Once upon a time, a group of powerful princesses were captured and locked away in Cursed "No Cursing" towers by the evil queen Sparkle*Kitty! All their words and magic spells vanished and became sugar & spice... almost everything nice.

Luckily these are no ordinary princesses and you are no ordinary player! Take matters into your own hands and harness the simple and sweet words into special spell combinations to set yourself free! The first to escape, wins!"

            - Breaking Games

Game.

The evil Sparkle*kitty has trapped the princesses (players) in towers (though if someone doesn't want to be a princess then they can think of it as saving the princess – to each their own) The players play cards into the spellbook, matching word, color or symbol similar to uno (the colors also have a border pattern to help if seeing colors is tricky) and read the pair of words aloud. When a player empties their hand they draw one of the 4 cards from their tower to start a new hand of 5. There is a winner when someone draws the last card from their tower. A variation from Uno is that there are 3 copies of every word and when a word is played and you have a copy you can play out of turn by saying "double" the word, or for the third copy "double, double" the word ( as in toil and trouble). There are also specialty cards that help you empty your hand or tower faster if played right and wild cards. Another variation to Uno is black magic cards, these cards are played next to the player instead of the spellbook and that player now need to remember to say the black magic word before the spellbook words, every turn – if they are caught messing up there is a rule for a penalty. 

Storytime. 

Setting: Upper elementary schooler's birthday party.

Players: Birthday girl, 20 somethings and a first grader.

So, I had brought games. I wanted to be inclusive, so not knowing the first grader I asked his adult what his reading level was. I was told he can but is reluctant, okay I can work with that. I explained the rules to everyone but probably didn't emphasize the reading part heavily (you have to read the spellbook when you play a card). We started playing, at some point he didn't want to read, he was reminded of the rules, and he chose to walk away. I allowed it since it had little effect on the other players, but I also left all his cards in place. After a bit, he changed his mind and wanted to play again - I reminded him of the rules and said he could as long as he remembered and followed the rules. Yes, he was at a disadvantage from the time he sat out but he was still participating. 

(side note: this seems like gentle parenting now that I have the term – which is a lot easier when you're just stepping in for a little bit)

This game is fun for all ages and very silly! There are also a few expansion packs that I have yet to play.

Tower Brix from Kosmos

 [image from the game company's site: TowerBrix – Thames & Kosmos ]

From the game company's site:

"Working as a team of up to six players, your goal is to build a colorful tower of bricks that meets everyone’s placement conditions — for example, at least one red brick must be touching both purple bricks, or at least three bricks must be placed horizontally. The catch: the conditions are secret, and you can’t discuss them with your team! Learn the game in minutes, then enjoy endless hours of challenging and rewarding play for children and adults. A cooperative game of skill with varying degrees of difficulty and exciting additional challenges for creative builders ready to take their skills to the next level.

• A cooperative stacking and balancing game for up to six players
• Wonderfully tactile, with sturdy, colorful wooden block components
• Encourages creative communication, logical deduction, strategic thinking, fine motor skills, and teamwork
• Includes varying difficulty levels and bonus missions for added value"

- TowerBrix – Thames & Kosmos 

I heard of this game due to its inclusion on the Play to Win list at one of the conventions I regularly go to. I passed it by until I hear a parent say they enjoyed it with their 6 year old - I then investigated it more. 

After playing it myself, I have these thoughts:

• There is adaptability built into the rules. By choosing different levels of goal cards and twist rules, the challenge can be tailored to the players involved. The rules even provide a goal value for different difficulty levels for reference.
• Not only is this a collaborative puzzle, but it has a tactile aspect without being dexterity really.
• An adaptation not exactly in the rules as I was taught is to start with no secret goals, so that the group can focus on the problem solving; and then add the secret goals.

Cloth Dolls and Dress the Fox

At the sign of the Dancing Fox is an event in the Shire of Nordenhalle, Kingston NY in early February. 

There is food, dancing and a favorite of mine - Dress the fox!

Dress the fox is a family style activity where anyone who wishes may use materials to dress a fox during the time of the event. To keep the fox is a cost to support the activity otherwise it is a donation if able. While it used to be easier to provide regular fox plush for dressing and purchase, that isn't the case anymore. So I suggest that if you are going that you bring your own fox, and supply funds or materials as you are able to support. Maybe even donate homemade foxes for purchase in future years! 

Benefits of bringing your own fox:

• Not adding to the plush collection, but still being able to use what you make.
• Grow a single loved toy's wardrobe over years.
• You can prepare with patterns or your own materials if you wish.

And if you do not have a similar event near you, these resources may still be helpful for a child in your life or one at heart.

Benefits of having a cloth doll

• A cloth doll may be more durable than American Girl doll style dolls. 
• A standard doll sized cloth doll can either share closets and accessories with a standard doll OR be an alternative to the more expensive dolls while also being a keepsake. 
• Pixiefaire.com is a good resource for multiple doll sizes. Generally 18in(Standard) and 14 inch(Wellie Wishers) American girl dolls seem most commonly designed for.
• A cloth doll that fits those sizes is easier to build or buy a wardrobe and may get more play. 

Patterns for Fox dolls:

• Sewn: https://www.weewonderfuls.com/product/make-along-fernie-fox-pattern/ 
• Sewn: https://www.pixiefaire.com/products/fox-doll-18-cloth-doll-pattern Designed to fit 18in doll clothes
• Sewn: https://www.gathered.how/sewing-and-quilting/quilting/free-fox-sewing-pattern good for little hands
• Crochet: https://www.whistleandivy.com/crochet-fox-toy-plushy-crochet-pattern/ 
• Crochet: https://sarahdeecrochet.com/forest-the-fox/ looks like it might fit Wellie Wisher clothes?
• Crochet: https://hobbii.com/products/hp-1008406-rita-fox 
• Knit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/505646180/knit-a-teddy-fox 
• Knit: https://www.mamainastitch.com/easy-fox-knitting-pattern/ good for little hands
• Etsy is a great resource too!
• Buy: https://critterfolk.com/ personally I supported the Kickstarter for Frasier the fox. Similar size to American Girl, low end of chest and high end of hip, since the dolls vary over the years.

Dawn Under

 

Life is happening. So a simple post for October (yes it is now November). Dawn Under is about Vampires finding a grave before dawn. The game is, at its core, a memory game, but it has some quirks.

1. It gets hard as the game progresses, not easier (fewer open graves)
2. You can sabotage spaces (garlic)
3. At any time there are only about to capitalize on 2 times of spaces (you can only place vampires from either open end of your row)

This game is accessible to kids and they may even have a bit of an advantage. If that is not the case, you can play with only the kids get garlic or without garlic at all.

Bonus, the rules provide a change for a shorter or easier game.

Below is a list of resources from other sources:  

• Brief Review from Mikkosgameblog

• Review on BoardGameGeek

• YouTube Review

• YouTube Playthrough

SCA Beyond This Blog

On this blog I’m sharing my ideas but there are also resources within the structure of the SCA. This post will focus on the East Kingdom as that is my kingdom.

Chancellor Minor of East Kingdom

• “In modern terms, the Chancellor Minor is best described as the Youth and Family Activities and Engagement Officer.”

• FAQ especially the “What about my infant/child/teenager?” section with guides for different life phases.

• Tyger Camp

Also looking into resources from your local group, whether on a website or from talking to people.

Kingdoms beyond the East where I can find a webpage for youth: overall listing of kingdom sites

• Antir (with link to Facebook group)

• Ansteorra

• Caid has an email for the Youth Activities Officer.

• Calontir

• Gleann Abhann  

• Lochac

• Garb Ideas  

• A&S and Toys

• Meridies

• Midrealm

• Northshield - lists a few people for youth on the officers page

• The Outlands

• West Kingdom        

Tip: go to Officers to look for Youth Activities contacts.

Making a Kid Saree

 (start of a series)

Historically kids did not wear saree but the flexibility has potential for growing kids and repurposing material. I don't think it would be good for a rough and tumble kind of kid so evaluate if this idea suits your kid.  Also, I will note that traditionally being able to wear a saree may be a rite of passage, so choose if you feel good with this idea (this blog is a hobby so I don’t have the time to do strong research on cultural appropriation and disrespect)

Creating a basic kid size saree

Measurements

An adult saree seems to generally be about 45 inches, which is likely to be too big for a kid. While there is something called a half saree, my idea is to trim down standard fabric to a size that is more suitable for a kid. I haven’t been able to experiment with length but if the fabric is cut in half lengthwise and sewn end to end yardage to buy is less. If that seems too short, then the cut off can be used for a number of other things such as matching toy garb, a top to wear with the saree or facing for another garment. Standard saree are about 6 yards in length, so with the idea that a kid is one half scale in comparison to an adult I would start with a 3 yard saree and experiment with draping before decoration.

Material

Batik dyed fabric or similar printed fabric work in order to skip the decoration step. While a quick internet search says that Batik originated in Indonesia and thus maybe not accurate, it would make a pretty attempt at the SCA period.

• This source gives some examples of sarees: The art of saree-making: A closer look at the craftsmanship and techniques involved  

While solid quilters cotton is easy to find at a craft store, though it might turn out bulky (I have yet to experiment) and cotton gauze works well because it is a looser weave than the quilters cotton. 

Fabric source ideas:

•  Thrifted worn bedsheets?

Construction

Trim fabric down to the chosen width (22, 30, other), piece together if needed, hem the cut edge with other edge being the selvedge to reduce bulk (to further limit bulk use the hemmed edge as the bottom hem.

Determine the Pallu (the pretty end) by laying the fabric out flat with the hem towards you, the end to the far right is the Pallu, this is where the most decoration should be done.

Some other resources

• Understanding the Anatomy of a Saree 

 

Before decorating try to drape to make sure it is not too long for the child. 

Next post in this series will be decorating ideas. [insert link]

Box age limits are more like … guidelines?

 Brief research indicates that box age is influenced by more than just the skills needed to enjoy the game. Even if it was, it would be based on generalizations. Everyone differs from generalization in some way.

There are a series of factors to keep in mind when figuring out if your young players can enjoy a specific game. 

Firstly, the teaching or leading player should have played the game before trying to fudge the box age. This is so the game can be evaluated in relation to the young player. 

Know the players involved, both young player(s) [kid] and those expected to play without ignoring the box age [adult]. Adults need to have patience enough to meet the kid where they are and the leading player should know the kid’s:

• Strengths 

• Weaknesses

• Interests - game themes can help with enjoyment and modify attention span (engaging themes can boost engagement)

• Attention Span - how long do they tend to focus vs length of game

Try to balance the needs of all your players so that everyone has fun - this balance can look different for every play group.

Common skills used in gaming (not necessarily all inclusive)  

• Reading

• Math, simple and complex

• Abstract thinking

• Turn complexity

• Waiting for turn

• color/pattern matching

• Dexterity

Also keep in mind game mechanics (definitely not all inclusive)

• Quick thinking

• Bidding and Betting 

• Hidden details

• Others may be listed on BoardGameGeek.com listings for games

Evaluating a young player for compatibility for a specific game:

• If the player skills are comparable to the box age then the game is probably worth trying with the right play group.

• If one or more of the player skills is below expected for the box age and experience says that the player skills are still below game play skill, then do you want to use the game to practice a skill?

• If yes, be thoughtful if choosing more than one skill to practice.

• If not, then picking a different game may be advisable.

Note: this evaluation can apply to adults, though they generally can evaluate themselves.

Another way for some games is to ignore certain elements of game play to simplify until the player can handle all parts of game play. A good example is simplifying earning of points, like ignoring farmers in Carcassonne. 

One thing I’ve observed is that generally pre-kindergarten is harder to find kid accessible and adult engaging games. But early childhood games are important to build both life skills and the foundation for a love of gaming. I hope to do a post on those games for modifications for older players to improve engagement (both for siblings and parents)