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Gifts of games and puzzles
By Randy Moore Garrett
Telegraph-Forum correspondent

………. Some games ... deliver… fun and satisfaction while honing a child's thinking skills.

"Games can help develop strategic thinking and logic," said Bucyrus High School math teacher Jackie Fruth. And games reinforce rules and regulations and the art of being a graceful winner or loser.

Games can provide some quality family time too.

For teens' math development, Fruth suggests games such as Mancala, Master Mind, Rush Hour, Battleship, Quarto, Monopoly, Blokus, Pentagonia, Gobblet and chess.

And Fruth says don't discount puzzles. From tray puzzles of community helpers (like firefighters and police), puzzles of the United States or world and 100-piece jigsaw puzzles for elementary children to round jigsaws and 3-D puzzles for teens, puzzles also help develop skills essential to math. So do building sets, Fruth says, like Lego and GeoMag -- even for teenagers.

To increase a teen's interest in geography and history, BHS's Nancy Fischer suggests the GeoSafari Talking Globe Traveler and games like Trivial Pursuit (especially the 20th century edition), Axis and Allies and Risk.

Other games suggested by teachers are checkers, Guess Who, Scrabble, Parchesi, Memory (or Concentration), Life, Uno, Connect Four, Legos, Clue, Skip-Bo and the junior editions of Clue, Monopoly and Master Mind.

Fruth recommends two Web sites -- mindwareonline and turnoffthetv -- as excellent sources for ideas for kids' gifts that feature math, logic and strategy.

For youngsters, stores abound with a selection of flashcards for counting, addition and subtraction and word recognition. Lincoln's Sheila Shutler says flashcards that match states with their capitol cities are available too. And when it comes to card games, elementary school teachers say a child is never too young for a simple deck of cards. Sorting cards by colors, suits, numbers and face cards help develop a child's sense of patterns and matching. And even kindergartners can play War and Reverse War with family members.

Norton first-grade teacher Karen Kocher says youngsters like playing at the dry erase boards at school. So buy a small one for home with lots of colorful erasable markers. As the youngster plays school with you or other children, it's a good opportunity to reinforce math facts and spelling words. And dry erase boards can help develop your child's artistic skills too.

When it comes to reading, Kocher suggests books on tape so that children can model their reading skills from the taped reader. Several books are available with accompanying cassette tapes so that the child can read along with the tape in his or her own personal book.

Want to get your child up and moving instead of "vegging out" in front of the TV? In her classroom, Kocher uses CDs by Dr. Jean Feldman that feature silly songs with lots of motions. They're available to the general public through Feldman's Web site or from educational supply stores such as ABC Education Supply in Marion.

Kocher also suggested giving kits to elementary age children for Christmas. "When they follow the directions, they'll see their successful results," she said.

And now that pre-schoolers utilize computers, it's not too early to teach children how to type. "Typing Instructor" is just one of the computer programs available on the market.

Kilbourne's Debra Hoover said several of the electronic teaching systems can help students learn math and reading. Some of them even grow in degrees of difficulty with the child's development. Hoover recommends the Leap Pad Learning Systems that feature electronic games and books. "And they're not terribly expensive," Hoover advised. Other systems Hoover recommended are Phonics Lab and Geo-Safari.

Amy Plumley said iQuest is another learning system for all ages. "Most electronic games have some educational value," Plumley said. Parents just need to find the best that feature problem-solving skills.

For the serious student taking college prep classes with an eye to higher education, Jackie Fruth suggests "The ACT Review," just one of several books available to help high schoolers prepare for the ACT and SAT college entrance exams.

And for high schoolers in calculus and algebra II classes, Fruth recomends Texas Instruments' TI84+ (silver edition) calculator.

An appreciation for music can start at a young age. Bucyrus middle and high school choir director Mike Zahn suggested giving children small keyboards and guitars. Or start a library of music for your child with CDs or tapes that feature Broadway musicals, lighter classical music, jazz and pop music. Zahn even suggested reinforcing a student's interest in music by exposing children to concerts and Broadway shows that come to Ohio on tour. "'The Nutcracker' and Rockettes are now in Columbus," Zahn said, "and that would appeal to a kid of any age."

Writing may be an overlooked skill by parents making out their gift lists. So Dave Hirschy suggested parents peruse software programs and Web sites for games that strengthen a child's grammar and vocabulary. And whereas diaries and journals may be appropriate for girls, Hirschy does have one suggestion suitable for girls and boys of all ages that will help develop writing skills: a pack of thank-you cards as a stocking stuffer.

Another source for gifts that have lasting value can be found at the Bucyrus Public Library. Public relations coordinator Brenda Crider said that the library has an array of children's, child development and parenting magazines that at this time of the year feature articles such as "The Top Ten Toys" for each age group. In addition to toys, the lists often encompass music, videos and DVDs, books and games. Some of the gift lists are kid-tested. Other lists are based on recommendations of educators, psychologists and parents.

There is something that local educators would advise parents NOT TO buy their children: violent video games. "It's hard to stay away from video games because they're so popular," said Kilbourne principal Robin Showers.

"So balance them with a selection of books and board games too," said Norton principal Jeannine Tupps.

Oh yes, one last purchase for the students on your gift list this Christmas: "Body glue," said Bucyrus Middle School social studies teacher Christine Reichenbach with tongue in cheek, "so they don't lose their homework and school supplies."

Originally published Tuesday, December 14, 2004