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Christmas Gift Guide Wednesday November 27 Page the HERALDS fade A gamebuying checklist for parents Your child been subjected to thousands of television commercials each vying for a share of your wallet this holiday season How can you a parent be sure that the game you pur chase is a good value in more than financial terms What points should you consider as you roam the aisles of your local toy store And most impor tant of all will your child have fun playing the game Game playing brings children fami ly and friends together for loads of conversation laughter and good fun thats why board games Figure high on kids wish lists for birthdays holidays and other special occasions Mommy Daddy Want to play a game Playing board games with chil dren provides excellent opportunities for parents to become involved in their childrens development Says Dr Brian SuttonSmith of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Parents who participate in their childrens play are better equipped to select and match toys to each childs interests and abilities Besides being fun games are also an entertaining way to teach children new skills such as color recognition matching objects or following rules Scott contributing editor of Games magazine explains All good games are educational often in ways that are overlooked Preschoolers learn to concentrate and to follow instruc tions from simple games Older chil dren increase their coordination from physical games and practice memory logical reasoning and planning ahead from games of strategy Ruth B Roufberg toy consultant and researcher on play related learning asks three questions of every game she reviews Does the game match the childs interests and abilities arc just learning the basics of game play For instance Snails Pace Race teaches children how to roll a die and take turns and every player is declared a winner At ages five and six many children arc ready for competitive play Games such as Race to the Roof from introduce the element of surprise Will I lose a turn Will 1 get sent back to the start Children ages eight to ten are inter ested in playing games on an equal level with mom and A challenging lamily game such as labyrinth evens out the playing field for all ages with an enjoyable exchange of laughter Is the name fun to play again and again The easiest way to determine if chil dren would enjoy J game is to ask Trust their experiences in playing with their friends The best games arc the ones with repeat play vlue Each round of play should be fresh and interesting For instance Whats My Name has a twosided playing board secret dice and requires the individ ual players to think up clues making each game a new experience Are the same board and playing pieces durable enough to survive longterm play Parents need to consider the quality of a product when selecting a game The box should be sturdy enough to be used as storage for the game pieces in between play time A highquality product should have both wooden playing pieces and a board surface for sticky fingerprints In addi tion the game manufacturer should free replacement of missing game pieces By considering these three ques tions when deciding which board game to buy whatever the occasion a parent or relative will be sure to choose one that is both age- and skill- appropriate If you remember that learning can be entertaining your children will get the most important benefit from playing quality board games fun that builds skills For more information on the games mentioned in this article visit your local specialty toy retail er or call Ravcnsburger tollfree at 8006311272 GAMES ARE YEAR HOUND FUN FOR ALL AGES Mark and Cyndee move brightlycolored wooden snail game pieces down the garden path of Snails Pace Race from Go togethers Trains and Christmas Toy trains are almost as much a part of Christmas as are sleighbells and lights Artist Charles Wysocki who cherishes tradition above all else has created Whistle Stop Christmas as his interpretation of this beloved symbol of the holidays Whistle Stop Christmas is the 1991 Greenwich Workshop Christmas print the tenth renewal of a unique pro gram of publishing signed and num bered limited edition prints to com memorate the holiday season The print which measures 21 inches wide by 18 inches high is available through Authorized Greenwich Workshop Dealers in all 50 states and Canada For Americana artist Wysocki Whistle Slop Christmas isnt about toy trains as much as it is about reallife trains When I was eight years old my parents took me for my first train ride from Detroit to a small town in Pennsylvania where we spent Christmas with relatives he recalls The view out the window was a won derment The countryside was covered with snow farmhouses were ablaze with light there were horses and sleighs It still gives my heart a warm squeeze to think about it In Whistle Stop Christmas the era of steam engines and country railroad sta tions comes to life For artist Charles those days necr realh ended New outdoor bulbs save energy heres how Older sets of outdoor holiday lights use five- or sevenwatt bulbs While that doesnt sound like much these less energy efficient sets can have a real impact on your energy bill If a household were to burn 1 000 points of light for nights for six hours a night heres how older bulbs perform 1 points of light seven watts a bulb watts watts eight cents per kilowatt hour 56 cents an hour ents an hour 180 total hours 100 80 in energy ants But todays more efficient sets such as GEs Classic Lights sets with onewatt bulbs really shine 1 points of light one watt a bulb 1 watts 1000 watts eight cents per kilowatt hour eight cents an hour eight cents an hour x 180 total hours 1440 in energy costs Classic Lights sets are available in solid and assorted col ors as well as white feature branch clips for easier decorat ing and have a special locking cap that helps prevent bulbs from shaking loose National average kilowatt hour rate one kilowatt watts xpress the warmth the holidays Celebrate this j season with the Reindeer Basket OrtheFTD Seasons Greetings Bouquet Just call or visit us today We also carry Heritage Toys over 50 models of the Jessie Doll Visit us today Gift Certificates Available Flowers Delivered Worldwide Vanderburgh Flowers GEORGETOWN MARKETPLACE GEORGETOWN 8770105 Trade up to Car AMFM Cassette Changer Control High power Cassette program search Security cods 10Dlsc CD Changer Compact design Horizontal or vertical mounting LOUISVILLE PACKAGE CM and CDC AM CD players from CD Changers With Controller from AM FM Cassettes from it una GEORGETOWN CUSTOM CAR SOUND