January 21, 2008

Play It Again, Fam

Best New Family Games Roundup

Attn: Mario and Luigi

We regret to inform you that we plan to spend less time with diminutive, mustachioed men after finding the following new family games just as super.

FlapDoodle makes you invent movements and creatively answer silly questions (ages 6 and up).

Crazy Creatures (Building Blocks Toy Store, 3306 North Lincoln Avenue; 773-525-6200) asks kids to connect and match 3-D animal body parts (ages 4 and up).

Flip Floggs (Becky & Me Toys, 1462 Waukegan Rd., Glenview; 847-729-8850; 620 Grove St., Evanston; 847-492-1030) has wooden logs that are flipped to reveal matching symbols (ages 5 and up).

We hope you find somebody to console you.

Sincerely,
The Family That Plays Together

CHILL
Family Flakeout
What: Learn about frost and different types of snowflakes, plus make snow people indoors.
Why: Flake it ’til you make it.
When: Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., at Ardmore Ave. (312-744-5472).

SEE
Goldilocks & the Three Bears
What: Musical retelling of the kids’ classic includes rapping bears.
Why: Girl gone wild.
When: Thru Mar. 27. Schedule online at chicagokidscompany.com.
Where: The Stahl Family Theater at St. Patrick Performing Arts Center, 5900 W. Belmont Ave., b/t Austin & Central Aves. (773-205-9600).

REMEMBER
Tiny Tales Expecting Tales
What: Box of decorative note cards and dividers helps document a pregnancy.
Why: Surefire shower gift.
When: There’s a bun in the oven.
Where: Online at tiny-tales.com.