Gather ‘Round the iPad for Family Games

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    • ipad-globetrotters-crop.jpgDo our kids really need more encouragement to play electronic games?
    I’d be one of the first to say “no.” Already, a multitude of screens are competing for our kids’ attention,
    and the non-electronic world is being rendered increasingly pokey and
    boring. A neighborhood stroll? Monopoly with Mom and Dad? Snooze. Sure,
    there’s the Wii, and we have great fun playing together. But the fact
    remains that we’re still all staring at the TV.
    



    But we’ve stumbled onto one form of electronic gaming that feels very different: multiplayer games on the iPad. These games, played by two or more people on a single iPad, get us around the coffee table playing, laughing and talking. The experience is more like Game Night from the days of yore…we’re relaxed, companionable, and as aware of each other as we are the game. I’ve never experienced electronic gaming quite like it.
    


    ipad-checkers.pngipad-scrabble.png




    When sitting in the middle of the table, the iPad looks and feels very much like a game board, so it lends itself to all sorts of board game apps. Checkers ($1.99) and Scrabble ($9.99) are naturals on the iPad. It’s fun to “slide” the pieces around, although I miss the tactile experience and sound of handling the real thing. But, then, I’m not suggesting you replace your board games with an iPad! Just that it’s a fun way to involve the kids as they’re dying to get their hands on the device anyway.



    Asha Dornfest
    Asha Dornfest
    Asha Dornfest is the founder of Parent Hacks -- where savvy parents swap clever, often unconventional, parenting tips. Here's the practical, real-world stuff you'll never find in an "expert" book. Featured in Real Simple, Parents, and PC Magazine.

    Read More From Asha Dornfest
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    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 Crissy

      While I do not have an iPad (yet), Carcassonne ($4.99) is a great family game that is available for the iPad and iPhone. My kids are still too young (5 and 2) for it, but we are looking forward to playing it with them when they get older.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 TradingMyStuffs

      I wanna trade my iPad and iPhone for a Macbook.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/parenthacks Asha Dornfest

      Why so?

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 Sneeje

      Why would you bother buying these games for the iPad? Why not just get them down from the home closet? Or, if you don’t own them, buy them at a yard-sale for less than the price of the iPad game? You do realize you’re going to end up buying these games for every “console” you own over the next 10 years, right?

    • http://profile.typepad.com/6p0000000000000014 Celeste

      Soundbingo is a great two person game, it also has a tic tac toe mode, and the option to design your own games too. My kids (4 & 6) love playing and alsoblove capturing new sounds and photos to include in “their” game. Two sample games are free, many more and the design-your-own option is 99 cents.

    • http://profile.typepad.com/tomdyess Tomdyess

      Match Up is a good retro memory style game, and no pieces to lose!

      http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/match-up/id487058870?ls=1&mt=8