I work with children in an after school program. In addition to homework help, we do crafts and projects with the kids, take them outside to play, play in the gym and go to the computer lab. We also make sure to have plenty of games and arts & craft supplies on hand.
My “work kids” love to play games. We have a fun assortment, from classic games like chess and checkers, to current, popular games.
Card games and board games are fine, but sometimes my “work kids” like games that are a bit more involved.
The website, Far Out Toys, carries a very unique, and very fun, assortment of games. They were kind enough to send me a couple of games to try out with my “work kids.”
I am sorry, but I am unable to show photos of my “work kids” on my site (for obvious reasons). I tried to get pictures of them playing the games (back of heads, just the hands) but nothing worked out. I did get a few photos, but they were not the best quality. Sorry.
I was sent to review the following fun games.
Springing Spiders
The moment I saw the video about this game (see below) I knew I had to get this for my “work kids.”
Some of my work kids are totally into horror and creepy stuff (they are 4th – 6th graders, 9-12 years old). What is more creepy that spiders flying through the air?
This is by far the easiest game to set up. All you need to do is remove the side pieces from the box and attach the plastic spider web. That’s it! That is all you need to do. I also like that it’s easy to clean up and put away.
The game comes with black spiders and white spiders.
The object of the game is to get the most spiders (of your color) on the web. That might sound easy, but it’s not. Whenever the web is hit with a spider it wiggles a bit, which sometimes causes a spider or two to come lose and fall off.
The most of a single color I have seen when watching the kids play this game is four. They kids play the game when I am not around, so it’s possible someone has been able to get more spiders to stick successfully.
The kids LOVE to use the spiders in other ways. One way I’ve seen them use the spiders is place them at the end of the cafeteria table and see who can get a spider to travel the furthest down the table.
I’ve also seen the kids simply flinging them through the air for the fun of it.
It didn’t take me long to get the knack of launching a spider. All you need to do is push down on it’s end and is launches into the air.
I have the kids put the different colored spiders into different zip lock bags. That way I can make sure we have all the pieces. The game and web fit nicely into the box.
This game reminds me of a game I played as a kid, but for the life of me I cannot remember what the game was.
Boneless Chicken Launch
Just reading that name makes me laugh. This has to be one of the silliest games I have ever played.
This game requires just a wee bit more of a set up than the Springing Spider game, but it takes second. You just have to put the fence together, which is just pushing the main piece into the support pieces.
The game comes with boneless chickens. They are plush chickens that have no filling in them. They are kind of like deflated bean bags in a way. They are bean bags without the beans!
To play Boneless Chicken Launch, simply gather up the chickens and place them one at a time on the chair perched on top of the launcher piece. Then aim your chicken towards the fence and hit the launcher and watch your chicken fly through the air. It’s the funniest thing.
Check out the brief video about this game.
This game takes practice. You need to try out different “strength” (for lack of a better description) when hitting the launcher. Too hard and your chicken will overshoot the fence. Too light and your chicken is going no where.
You also have to play around with the distance from the launcher to the fence. Too far and you can miss the fence. Too close and you can overshoot the fence.
No two people play the game the same way. I have seen kids place the launcher at different spots on the table. It also takes a few tries before you get the knock of it.
I have seen kids have a chicken or two land on the fence. They mostly land on the one point spot. I have seen a few land on the three point spot.
I’ve noticed that the launcher is easier to use now compared to the first several times the kids played the game. I think it needs a few games to get lose enough to make it easier to launch the adorable chickens.
As for me, I have yet to have a chicken land on the fence. I’m really bad at this game. LOL!
I have the kids place the five boneless chickens in a plastic bag, then place them in the game box to ensure that none of the chicken fly the coop (ha ha, I couldn’t resist).
Both of these games are available for purchase on Amazon.com. They sell for $14.99, which is pretty much the average price for games.
Because of the uniqueness of these games, and the silliness of the Boneless Chicken Launch game, I think these games would make great holiday gifts. They would also make gifts for traveling due to the fact they are easy to set up and come with few pieces to worry about losing.
To see what other fun games Far Out Toys has to offer, visit FarOutToysInc.com. The brand is also on social media. You can find the links at the bottom of their website.
What do you think about these games? Do they look like something fun that your child would love to play?
Kimberly
*I received free product samples to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.