8 Tips For Surviving Your School's Fair

This evening, I'm sitting in a lawn chair parked in front of my daughter's elementary school. After seven hours of being cooped up learning on this lovely Summer day, she sprinted back to school for this, the event of all events, The Spring Fair. This annual gathering promises an evening of delight complete with inflatables (water and dry), a tiny train, carnival games, crafts, and the opportunity to cavort with her friends.

I'm less enthusiastic. Because she is my second child, it's my 10^th year at this fair and they haven't changed the line-up in all of those years. So as I sit in my chair, let me share

8 Tips For Surviving Your School's Spring Fair

1.  Review With Your Child That They Are ONLY To Go Home With You (or whomever you designate). Our community is pretty safe, but I don't want Diva thinking that if she can't find me she can leave with someone else. Stress this before you even GET to the venue. 

2.  Prepay if you can. I ordered armbands the day they were announced. Kids are so excited by the prospect of fun, fun, fun that all they want to do is run off. Save yourself trying to find exact change with a hyper child by your side, grab a pre-paid armband, and set your kid free. 

3.  Set Up A Base Camp So They Can Find You.  If your child is old enough that you don't have to follow them, set up a base camp, preferably near some sort of reference point like a big rock, tree, bush, window, etc. Tell the kid where you're going to be and stress that they MUST check in periodically. They'll have to anyway if they want to buy food.

4.  Bring Cash.  Don't kid yourself that you're going to get away without buying anything at this event. Sure, you can bring all the organic, GMO-free stuff you want, but all that will happen is that your child will either A) wind up staring at his friends who are eating pizza or B) begging their friends or you for the crap they're serving. Bring water and maybe a snack or two, but resign yourself to the fact that you WILL be buying something. 

6.  Sit AWAY From The Loudspeakers.  For some reason, PTA people and school personnel don't like telling disc jockeys and entertainers that they're TOO FUCKING LOUD and that the noise level is GOING TO MAKE OUR KIDS HARD OF HEARING. Make your base camp away from the speakers and you can mitigate hearing loss for the both of you. You might even have a prayer of talking and listening to other parents.

7.  Be Prepared For A Tantrum When You Leave.  Understand that if you try to drag your kid away from the event before it officially ends, you're pitting yourself against a tired, wired-up kid who IS going to have a tantrum. Fortunately, it will probably be so loud there that no one will hear you arguing.

8.  Enjoy! The time is coming when you'll be dropping your kid off at an event and you won't get to see them having fun with their friends. Take some photos when they're not looking and remember how they look now. They'll only be this little once. 

We're home, and the Fair is now a memory. After being covered in foam and having her hair sprayed red and white, she's upstairs recuperating. Watching her have a blast was wonderful for me; I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Use these eight tips and you'll get through the Fair with a minimum of problems and, hopefully, a good amount of pleasure!

THANK YOU FOR READING! 

Yeah.  That's me...right....

Three Amazing Websites To Help You Celebrate Purim

Happy March! For those of us who are Jewish and/or interfaith, Purim begins this year on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2015, and continues through Thursday night, March 5^th. 

So what's Purim about?

Masks are part of Purim fun!

According to the website www.chabad.org, the Persian empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife executed for failing to follow his orders, he conducted a beauty pageant to find a new queen and a Jewish girl, Esther, found favor in his eyes. She became the new queen, while not letting Ahasuerus know she was Jewish. In the meantime, the anti-Semitic Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), defied the king’s orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was infuriated and convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the eradication of the Jews. Mordechai convinced the Jews to repent, fast and pray while Esther implored the kid and Haman to join her in a feast. Esther told the kid she was Jewish, Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister and a new decree was issued granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies.

The service for Purim is pretty unusual and a lot of fun, especially for kids. You're encouraged to dress in silly costumes and every time you hear Haman's name, you're supposed to interrupt the service with noise-making devices (as opposed to being quiet).

After extensive research, I found these three websites to help you and your little one get in the spirit of Purim:

1. Torahtots.com – A bright, fun website, kids can learn the story of Purim, how it's celebrated, about the foods associated with Purim and the site even has Purim trivia.
2. Chabad.org – This site offers games, crafts, printables, videos, songs, stories, music, and more! A MUST-LOOK if you celebrate Purim!
3. Aish.com  – Offers videos, recipes, coloring pages, tips on Purim costumes, a trivia page and even boasts a guideline for having a Purim Scavenger hunt. Fun!
   
   

Everyone loves Purim festivities, but there's deeper meaning. It's about courage, survival, and one woman who made a real difference to her people. Happy Purim! 

Please note that a version of this post appeared on www.thegeekparent.com. 

Match 8 Hanukkah Game - You'll Find YOURSELF Playing It!

So I was looking for Hanukkah-inspired games for my daughter when I stumbled upon the free Match 8 Hanukkah Game in Google’s Play Store.  The reviews said that it would help children with their math and, indeed, I can see it doing that for younger kids. However,

I’m actually having a lot of fun playing it myself!

Match 8 Is A FUN Hanukkah Game!

As you can see, the directions couldn’t be simpler: just drag the numbered candles to one another to total 8. You need to do it quickly, before the time ends. And, don’t forget to click on the coins you see.
Sure, this can be used to augment match learning in kids, but I’m finding that it’s also a game of speed.



As you climb the levels, you’re combining the numbers and not always getting the ones you want. In the meantime, the candles are burning down.

Multi-tasking and quick thinking is involved.

The music is unoffensive and the Match 8 requires no special permissions, which I LOVE!  You’re not giving away any personal information and the app doesn’t ask for anything other than for you to have fun.

Download it for your kids, but be forewarned: you just might find yourself playing Match 8 Hanukkah as well!

 

 Thank you for reading!

 

 

Need Something “Different” This Weekend? Visit Hersheypark In The Dark

Hersheypark In The Dark offers unique Fall fun!

My “must-dos” for Fall include: apple picking (done  - not to many apples left), pumpkin picking (done - field was a swamp), visiting a corn maze (scheduled – doing with the gymnastics' team), and raking leaves (no fun). But if you live or are visiting the Northeast, here's a novel place to go one weekend: Hersheypark!

This theme park is one of my favorites in the Summer because it's clean, well-run, and the workers are friendly and helpful. For three weekends starting October 18^th, this incredible destination opens itself up for Hersheypark In The Dark and it promises and delivers kids of all ages tons of Halloween fun, including:

• Kids 12 and younger can go on a Trick-or-Treat Adventure where the youngsters can visit the “neighborhood” of Treatville and receive a snack-sized treat at 8 different stops (obviously, while supplies last).
  
  

• 

  You'll be smiling, too, at Hersheypark!

  Unlimited thrills on 50 rides including 12 roller coasters. One of the cooler things Hershey does is make three of their most popular roller coasters “dark rides” after 9PM; they turn the
  track lights on Lightening Racer, the Wildcat, and Comet off to create a unique ride-in-the dark experience. Teens are going to LOVE this!
  
  
• Terrific family-friendly shows including Bunsen & The Burners (who perform Halloween hits) and Screaming Mummies (a “rockin' band of misfit mummies” who also sing holiday tunes. 
  
  
• Some great Fall-inspired food including warm soups served in bread bowls, funnel-cakes, and pumpkin sweets. Mmmmm....

Yes, Hershey in October is going to be chilly.  Yes, your feet will get sore because the park is large and hilly.  But what a unique way to spend some precious Fall time with your kids and get extra use out of those expensive Halloween costumes. For more information on Hersheypark In The Dark, visit http://www.hersheypark.com/seasonal/halloween/index.php. 

Is Hersheypark the "Sweetest Place On Earth"? Maybe...

Oh, and if you do visit Hershey, here are some other area attractions I highly recommend:

The Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum - features collections of some really cool antique cars (and I am NOT a car-lover). If you're out there on October 25^th, take the kids to their “Trunk Or Treat” for some trick-or-treating. For more on this very enjoyable museum, visit www.aacamuseum.org. 

Adventure Sports In Hershey – Your kids will LOVE you for taking them here! Just 4 miles south of Hershey, this place offers fun in the way of bumper cars, an arcade, laser tag, miniature golf, and a driving range. This place is clean and less of a rip-off than most venues of this type. Learn more at http://www.adventurehershey.com.

Enjoy some fun time in Hershey!

Just one "mummy's" opinion on Hersheypark

Note:  I was NOT compensated in any way for writing this post (I wish!).  I just really like Hershey...


Thanks for reading!

Have Your Child Sign A Contract When They Take A Time-Intensive Sport

 

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that my daughter not only takes gymnastics, but competes in meets as well. It's a huge time commitment for not only her, but me as I schlep her to and from the gym. Plus, it ain't cheap. Last year toward the end of the season, she decided on more than one occasion that she “didn't want to go.” Each of those time slots was a big waste of money, not to mention the emotional toil it took on me as I tried to get her to go. Diva's father and I decided that those fits are NOT going to happen this year!

The first thing we did, was review with her the pluses and minuses of gymnastics. I've mentioned the minuses, but the pluses are she thinks it's fun, great exercise, the coaches are loving, the sport demands that she respect her body with good nutrition and she's delighted that she's made some good friends as a result of her involvement with the team.  We asked if she really, deep in her heart, wanted to continue.  She assured us that she did.

Secondly, my husband and I thought about what behaviors we wanted to encourage and discourage. I considered what needed to be done before I even get in the car to take her to the gym. Then, I drew up this contract:

Diva's Contract For Being On The Gymnastics' Team

1. All playdates, whether you've played or not, must be over by (time specified) so that we're not late to practice.
2. All schoolwork must be done before leaving for the gym.
3. Dinner must have been eaten before leaving for the gym.
4. If you miss more 3 practices during the Season, for any other reason than illness as determined by Mom, you will be off the team.
5. If you have any fits/arguments about going, Mom will inform the Coach. YOU can then tell him why you're not there.
6. If you are late, you will still go because you have a commitment to the team and understand that showing up for practice is very important.
7. You must be in bed by (time specified) – no arguments, please.

I understand that taking gymnastics is a privilege, not a right. I agree to the conditions above.

________________________________                                                ________________________

Signed                                                                                                     Date

I presented the contract to Diva and she, on her own, reviewed each point, considering it carefully. She brought up her objections to several and I calmly explained why those points were being included. I told her that that if she did not agree to the contract, I would not pay for her gymnastics for the upcoming month. It was not a threat - it was a fact.  She read the contract meticulously, once more before finally signing it.

The contract now hangs on the refrigerator. The beauty of it is that it clearly states what Diva's commitment is and what happens if she doesn't follow through. Since she has signed it, she can't say later on, “No, I didn't agree to that.”  The proof is on the fridge.  

Is it guaranteed to eliminate any tantrums?  No, but it gives me an out if she does resist on any of the points made. There will be no yelling or manipulating, on my part, to get her to go. As in the real world, if the contract is broken, the privilege will be pulled. 

 

10 Non-Tech Travel Games To Make Getting There Fun

The kids and I are in the car a lot during the course of the school year and that time probably triples during the Summer as we go on road trips and I take them here and there around town. Since we're in the car so much, I've compiled a list of games we can play while Mom is driving so that World War III isn't breaking out in my back seat. Here are some of our favorites:

1. The Crazy License Plate Game – Take the license plate in front of you and make up crazy phrases to describe the driver. For example, FCB21M could translate into Five Cute Babies with 21 Moms.
   
   
2. Count The Number Of Fools On Cellphones – Here's a diversion with a message. In my area, many people still, unfortunately, talk on cellphones while they're driving even though it's DANGEROUS and AGAINST THE LAW. The kids know this is wrong and we've talked about why it's so bad, but we can't do anything about it, so we've turned it into a challenge. We try to count how many stupid adults they see driving while talking on cellphones. Another benefit to this game is that it alerts me to which idiots probably do not have their minds on the road. Our highest count so far: 15 people in 30 minutes. Shame on those drivers!
   
   
3. Where's The Alphabet – Use road signs, billboards, shop names — any reading material outside the window qualifies as long as it's spotted on your side of the car. If you're the front-seat passenger, focus on the right. Look for every letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order, although the letter can be located anywhere in the word. For example, if there's a sign for a farm, there's your A. The exit for the Broad Street Bridge would cover B, Road Closed is C and so on. First one to the letter Z wins. 
   
   
4. What Are They Saying – Some people in traffic are quite animated. Try to figure out what the relationship is between drivers and passengers and what they might be saying. 
   
   
5. Count...Something - Count the number of...whatever. It can be anything: cows, telephone poles, headlights, train cars, blue pickup trucks, etc. All you have to do is shouting out the thing to keep track of the number. 
   
   
6. Car Colors – Pick a time limit, like 10 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on the length of the drive. Have each player guess how many cars of a certain color will be spotted during in that time. The closest guesser wins. You can also do this in “hotseat fashion” by using 3-minute intervals as the time limit. Whoever is closest gets a point for that time segment. The first one to reach 5 points wins.
   
   
   
7. The Picnic Game – In this memory game, one player says, "I went to a picnic Saturday and I brought..." then says a picnic favorite that begins with the letter A, like apples. The next player repeats the opening phrase, and after "...I brought" they repeat the A item then add one that begins with B: "I brought an apple and some bananas." The third player repeats the opener, the A and the B portions, and then adds something that begins with C. Can players get through the alphabet, remembering all the items everyone contributed?
   
   
8. What Are They Doing – Sometimes you can see into people's houses while you're traveling. We try to guess what they're doing and, if they're watching television, what they're watching.
   
   
9. Hold Your Breath – See who can hold their breath the longest while going over a bridge or through a tunnel. Obviously it should not be played by the driver who could get lightheaded, but everyone else can try. 
   
   
10. Odd Or Even – Each rider guesses how many of the next 20 license plates will end with an even number. The closest guess wins.

Getting places can be almost as fun as being there. The challenge is making that car-time entertaining. Try the games above and the time will pass quickly with everyone arriving at your destination in, hopefully, a good mood.

~~

Note:  Image of family in a van provided by ClassroomClipart.com.

8 Hersheypark Tips From One Who Just Got Back

I recently posted 8 Tips To Make Your Themepark Visit More Fun (click here to read it) in which I mentioned that we were planning our annual pilgrimage to Hersheypark. Well, we just got back, so I thought I'd share some tips specific to that trip and that particular venue. Here they are:

1. Download the free Hersheypark app from Google's Play Store. It's worth the effort just for the ride wait times and show times alone. I referenced the app many times during the course of our trip, especially since my daughter loves the shows.
2. Before you buy tickets, Google “discount tickets for Hersheypark.” My husband did and somehow got a deal through the Boy Scouts that saved us $20 per ticket; in addition, whatever site he ordered them from made a donation to that organization.   Promo codes for this park are pretty common and you just might find a good deal. One year, we scored tickets through some medical convention that saved us a bundle as well.
3. Take a look at the Preview Plan for admission if you're going to be in Hershey for more than a day. We were able to enter the park at 7:30pm, the kids did all the major rides which were NOT crowded, and then we went back to The Boardwalk the next day plus the kids did the major rides all over again. By the time we left last night at 9:30pm, they were all “Hersheyed out” with no regrets over rides not ridden.
4. Go during the week and earlier in the season, rather than later. We've gone to this park at various times during the summer and this past week was the best! The park was never crowded, we actually got a spot in the shade at The Boardwalk, and even took advantage of discounted merchandise at some of the gift shops.
5. Bring snacks. Yes, there's a “no snack” policy, but Security checked out our backpacks and didn't blink at eye at the Ziploc bags of crackers I brought in.
6. Buy the Souvenir Cup and get refills. When the water bottles we'd brought in were empty (we'd forgotten to bring in empty ones you could refill), we purchased one of the cups and kept refilling it throughout the day with free ice and water plus a few iced teas for $.99 each. We kept our family of four hydrated all day for about $15 total.
7. See The LiveWire show which was really good and definitely the best show we saw there. The Slide Brigade, one of the traveling bands, was also well done. If at all possible, SKIP the Character Quiz Show! I've seen dumb shows in my life, but that one, in my humble opinion, was definitely the worst I have EVER seen. It was actually painful. 
8. Don't mention souvenirs to the kids until the end of the day. I made the mistake of telling Diva that she was on a $5 budget and all I heard all day was, “When am I gonna get a souvenir?” I should have known better.  Please learn from my stupidity!
   
   

   

   Why I go to Hersheypark - The Wave Pool

   
   

Anticipate that there will be meltdowns by various members of your party during the day. Diva had several, my son had one or two, and by 6pm, I was in the midst of my own. It really surprised the kids when Mommy wailed, “I wanna go home!” But we did it. We survived another trip to Hersheypark which, I honestly believe, is one of the cleanest, best-run parks in the U.S. Use my previous themepark tips and the ones above and have a great time at “The Sweetest Place On Earth.”

6 Games For Pool Fun Without Toys

My town has two awesome, affordable pools. The problem is, the kids are not allowed to bring toys into the large, main pool. That stinks! After they've place Marco Polo ad nauseum, they sometimes run out of games to play. So here are six alternatives:

1. Fetch (2 or more players) – Now, toys are not allowed, but goggles and hair accessories are. So one way we get around the rules is to use common permitted items that the kids can dive for, such as goggles (we even keep broken ones for this purpose), hair scrunchies, bracelets, etc. You throw one item and see which kid brings it to the surface first. Note: this can be played with one player if she competes against herself. To do this, time the player and see if she can beat her time in retrieving the object. 
   
   
2. Water Leapfrog (4 to 8 players) – Divide players into two teams. Each team is on opposite ends of the pool, standing in chest-high water with their legs spread apart. The last player has to dive and swim through the legs of his teammates and spread his legs. Then the next player goes. The team that reaches the other side of the pool first wins. 
   
   
3. What Time Is It Mr. Fox (3 or more players) – This is a variation of a game my son learned in preschool and it's awesome! One person is designated Mr. Fox and stands at the end of the pool while the rest of the players are on the other side. The kids call out, “What time is it Mr. Fox?” Then Mr. Fox says a time and the kids swim that number of strokes toward him. This goes on until Mr. Fox calls out, “Midnight!” Then all the kids swim back to the starting line while Mr. Fox tries to tag one. If Mr. Fox succeeds, that kid becomes the new Mr. Fox. 
   
   
4. Contests (2 or more players) – Which kid can dive into the pool: the furthest from the edge, make the smallest/largest splash, can do the funniest dive, can jump the highest into the pool, etc.
   
   
5. Sharks & Minnows (3 or more players) – One person is the Shark and stands in the deep end of the pool while the other players are on the side. The Shark yells “lunchtime” and the players standing on the side of the pool have 30 seconds to swim to the other side of the pool without being tagged. Anyone who is tagged has to join with the Shark and try to tag the remaining player(s). This goes on until either all of the kids are bored with playing or everyone has been tagged. 
   
   
6. Freeze (3 or more players) – Players gather in the shallow end of the pool with adults or bigger kids on their knees. Players define the physical boundaries of the game so that everyone can stand up. One person is It. At the signal, It has one minute to tag as many other players as possible. Once tagged, a player has to stand “frozen” and raise his hand. Before a frozen player can return to play, an unfrozen player must thaw him out by diving under water and swimming through his legs. A player can't be tagged as frozen while they're under water. At the end of the minute, count how many people It has frozen. Then choose another player to be It. Keep going until everyone gets a turn being It. The winner is the person who has frozen the most people while they were It.

Not being able to have have toys in the pool makes playing games hard, but not impossible. Use the activities above and challenge your kids to come up with even more variations of games they play on the playground. Most of all, remember to cheer the kids on and give positive feedback. This Summer, like all, is unique. Enjoy it! 

--

Thanks for reading!  Please come back again soon!

The 5 Best Sprinklers To Keep Kids Cool

I am still mourning the demise of this toy!  RIP Mt. Tiki-Soki.

My kids are mad. We don't have a pool and, quite frankly, will not be getting one - ever - for a variety of reasons. So, unless someone drives them to the town pool this Summer, they'll be running their cute, little bodies through the lawn sprinklers after they get out of camp. 

A few years ago, I purchased a wonderful unit called Mount Tiki-Soki. It was a cute, volcano sprinkler with eyes that opened when the water pressure built up and the exploded, shooting water a good 6 feet up into the air. It was so much enjoyable that the neighbors made fun of me for going in it sans kids. We put beach balls onto that thing and watched them shoot into the air when the volcano exploded. Sadly, Mount Tiki-Soki died and Hasbro no longer makes it although you can get in on Ebay for $79 and up. Anyway, I've been looking for a fun, replacement ever since.

After asking around and doing my own research, here are my 5 picks for the best sprinklers for kids. Note that not all of them are toys, per se, but they, obviously, will get the wee folk wet. 

1.  Dramm 15076 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler – Found in the Patio section of Amazon, this unit works even with low water pressure and creates a fine mist which is perfect for kids. No, it's not a “wild” or “wacky” sprinkler, but it gets the kids saturated which is really all they care about anyway.

2.  Banzai Wiggling Water Sprinkler – This unit has 15 “water wiggles” or hoses which spray water all over. You control how wildly they wiggle based on the water pressure, so you can adjust it to be gentler with little kids. It attaches to any hose and is so easy, my 8-year old can set it up on her own. And the sprinkler extends about 8 feet, so it can get lots of kids wet at once.

Fire Hydrant Sprinkler

3.  Fire Hydrant Garden Hose Sprinkler – Almost as much fun as my sadly-missed Mount Tiki Soki, this little (8”) toy can shoot water as high as 15 feet, depending on your water pressure. Let the 

kids see if they can balance a beach ball on the spray (it actually can be done).

4.  Orbit 91594 Stainless Steel Ornamental Sprinkler – This unit comes in three lovely designs (butterfly, dragonfly or hummingbird) and is a wonderful sprinkler with coverage of up to 30 feet. It spins in a beautiful design with rings that rotate in opposite directions and even when it's not on, is attractive with its copper-plated finish. The fact that it's on a stand, means little kids will get rained on.

5.  SwimWays Hover Ball Sprinkler – This cool-looking sprinkler shoots water out of funnel-shaped fountain and spins a ball (there are several models using Disney and Marvel characters) in the air. It's an intriguing toy as long as your kids can share. The potential exists for one kid to run away with the ball which, obviously, would create fights. Otherwise, the Hover Ball Sprinkler is oodles of fun.

Orbit Sprinkler

There's much to be said for good, old-fashioned fun like kids running through the sprinklers set up on the family lawn. And let's face it, sprinklers are far less maintenance than swimming pools. As mad as my kids are now, I know that with any of the units above, they and their friends will have some wet fun this Summer!

Discover These 8 Free Word Games For Your Smartphone

Hello. My name is L and I'm a word-game-aholic. It's true. Ever since I discovered Scrabble back in grammar school, I've been in love with games that involve spelling (not crosswords, which I detest, probably because I'm just not clever enough to figure them out). It's been my experience that most word games fall into one of four categories:

1. Scrabble – Find as many words as possible from the letters given to you. Then place them on the board, connecting to your opponent's, to maximize the points you'll earn.
   
2. Boggle – Discover as many words as possible, in within a time limit.
   
3. Word Search – Find the words hidden on lettered grid.
   
4. Hang Man – Guess the word by eliminating letters.
   

I'm not a huge fan of word searches, although it's proving to be a wonderful tool for my daughter as a way to reinforce her spelling. If you want to do this, here's a link to Super Kids where you can input your child's spelling words and create a word-search puzzle: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/words/search.  I gravitate toward Scrabble and Boggle sorts of games with the goal of finding new and different games to fend off boredom and actually LEARN SOMETHING from my gaming experience. 


I've tried most of the free word games listed in Google's Play Store, depending on how many permissions they ask me to approve (for more on why that's critical, read this article I wrote for the website savvygeekmom.com: http://savvygeekmom.com/2013/12/is-installing-that-app-compromising-your-privacy. Here are my reviews of some of my favorites and former favorites:

1. 

   What a great game! 

   Word Weasel: This game falls under the Boggle category. Find as many words as possible from the 9 in the cube in 50 seconds. What adds a nice competitive element is that you see how you did versus everyone else playing and it shows you which words you didn't find. My only complaint is that some of the words are totally bogus or so obscure that no one in their right mind would know them. For example, they list the word “gwine” which, it turns out, is “the dialectal present participle of go.” Seriously?!  If you're going to list obscure words, as least tell me what they mean! But, overall, Word Weasel is a really enjoyable game and is my current favorite. Warning: Do not play this before bedtime because if you're as competitive as I, sadly, am, it will rile you up.
   
   
2. 7 Little Words: My husband told me about this game where you find the seven words based on clues. It's a nice, relaxing little challenge because there's no time limit and no penalty for incorrect guesses. Unfortunately, it crashed just before I reached the last level. I really, really hate that.
   
   
3. Pressed For Words: This is an anagram game where you try to spell as many three, four, five and six letter words with the six given. I like the fact that you can see what you've already spelled. Fun.
   
   
4. Words With Friends: Sure, playing this Scrabble-like game against your friends is oodles of fun, but like most Zynga games (Hanging With Friends was another favorite), it eventually crashed on my Samsung. Yes, I did report it and received no response from Zynga. No wonder they're laying people off. (Interestingly enough, according to usatoday.com, Zynga has been replaced as the number one maker of games played on Facebook by king.com whose apps also historically crash on my cellphone.)
   
   
5. Word Drop: This game is a curious, enjoyable take on Boggle. The letters keep falling from the top of the screen and you've got to find as many as possible before they build up. The graphics are wonderful and it's got a nice leaderboard.
   
   

6. 

   Lost Words - Gotta give this one another go.

   Lost Words: I had this on my phone and deleted it because it was too hard, but after reading the directions properly (my bad), it's back on. You've got to six tries to find all of the hidden letters of a given word. Correctly placed letters are shown in green, while misplaced letters are shown in orange. Maybe I'll take an aspirin before I play again. I love the fact that this app doesn't ask for a boatload of permisssions. You shouldn't have to grant a software company access to your contact list before you play a game.
   
   
7. Bonus Wordz: Another newbie to my Samsung, it's a Boggle-like game with really cool twist where you get bonus points for using color patterns. I just started playing so I haven't made any of the leaderboards (it would be really nice if you could see beyond the top 100 players), but I will!
   
   
8. Words By Post: My favorite alternative to Scrabble and Words With Friends, this -known game has all the charm of those other two games without the intrusive permissions required by the others. Love it and the developers are responsive when you have a problem.
   
   

   

   The BEST Scrabble clone ever!

And now my FAVORITE new website which I'm finding very helpful for helping me find new words: wordhippo.com (www.wordhippo.com). Man, what doesn't this site have?! You can look up word meanings, find opposites, discover rhyming words, see examples of words in sentences, find translations, see different tenses for words, hear their pronunciations, and more. The site is very clean looking and easy to navigate. It's a great reference tool that I find myself using every day.


Do you have any word games that you adore? PLEASE share them with me. I love playing new games and learning new words.


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Thank you for reading! Please come back again soon. Hopefully, the groundhog will predict an early Spring on Sunday and I won't have to eat him...(kidding, kidding...) Have a great weekend!