My kids love to play Brain Quest. In case you are unfamiliar with the clever quiz game series, it consists of a set of flash cards asking various trivia, social studies, mathematics and language arts based questions -- all aged appropriate for the grade level pack you are playing. You can play with a group or alone (if you can read), as the questions and answers are on separate cards.
Well after realizing that my kids didn't know their grandfather's birth date or where their aunts and uncles went to college, I've adopted a similar game our family plays called Family Brain Quest. Like the original version, I ask the kids various questions specific to our family and/or current events. The only difference is that our version has no cards or written information. It's all verbal, pulled from the top of my head each time we play.
Sometimes I repeat questions that stumped the kids during a previous game, other times it's all new information. I also add in common household trivia, like "When is Valentine's Day?", " What is the name of our Vice President?", or "When is the dog's birthday?", which surprisingly aren't that easy for a lot of kids.
Sometimes the kids like to turn the tables, and quiz me. I usually do pretty well, but as they get older, the questions certainly are getting harder. They use specific facts they've learned in school that day, which always throws me for a loop. I just don't know the height of the Empire State Building off the top of my head.
We also like to take this game on the road, playing during long car rides, or extending waits at restaurants and doctor offices. So while I'm trying to ward off a possible meltdown, the kids are learning some useful information.
It's a win-win game for everyone.
|
