Spot It!

There are lots of games that young children can use, even if the games are actually marketed for older kids.  Today’s What’s out there Wednesday is for a really fun game called Spot It.

Even though it is marketed as a game for 7 and older, this game of circular cards can provide wonderful traveling fun for all ages, from the oldest to the youngest in your family.

This game comes with multiple ways to play! One of the basic games is to find the pictures of objects that are the same between two cards.  The first player to spot what is the same object gets to keep both cards, and so the game continues.

My elementary kids had a fabulous time playing this on our airplane ride to Kauai.  My preschooler then eagerly played with me   It was a great distraction for all of us on our long flight.

What I love about this game:

*It is so small!  Very compact to fit in any carry-on or backpack.

*Variety of games to play.  Play it solo or with a partner.

*Easy to adapt for younger kids

*Visually and intellectually challenging

*Perfect to also break out in a hotel room for an instant toy

*Game play can be long or short

So how could you adapt it for our younger toddlers and preschoolers? Here are four ways to do so:

1.  “Can you find the _____?”  Have your child find an object on the card you point out.

2.  “Can you name all the pictures?”  Easy for your toddler to do while you are driving.

3.  Ask random questions about the card.  “How many green things?”  “Which one would you find outside?”  “What is your favorite picture?”

4.  Independent play.  Give your child the stack of cards.  The cards really are mesmerizing with all the pictures.

Have you used this game?  I’d love to hear how you used it in your travels.