It’s that season! Like many of you, we are taking it easy for the summer, exploring nature, having picnics and getting outdoors. For our family, the summer months also mean a return of garage sales, which are a FANTASTIC source for homeschooling resources.
I’ll keep today’s tip short and sweet: buy those games!
If you see board games for a dollar or less, scoop ‘em up. Even a game that costs $2 or $3 at a garage sale will give your kids plenty of fun.
Think about this: matinee movie tickets are $4.50 around here. For the $13.50 that I would spend to take both kids to a movie with me, I can get a dozen or more new-to-us board games. We will certainly get more than 90 minutes of fun out of them!
What can you do with a pile of games?
- Play test them. See how different family members develop preferences for different kind of games. Take a risk on some $1 games that you’re not positive you’ll love, and see if you find a new style of game to enjoy.
- Take them out with you, to the park or the beach or in the car. After all, if you lose the pieces to a 50-cent game, it’s not the end of the world. Let board games travel with you to all sorts of fun new places.
- Alter them. Do you wish Clue Junior was easier for your preschooler, or that Guess Who? was more challenging for your ten-year-old? Work together to change the rules until they’re a good fit. Let an adult read the clues aloud in Clue Junior, or deal each player three secret characters at the same time for Guess Who?.
- Scavenge from them! Take the games apart and paint over the boards, collect all the pieces in a shoebox, and make a new game from all your pieces. This is a terrific way to spend a rainy summer afternoon.
- When you’ve played the new games until you’ve had enough, pass them on. The pediatric wing of your hospital, a local nursing home, your library or a parent-child center would probably appreciate a pile of games!
Next summer, you can collect a whole new set and start again.
If you make any great game finds – or build any great new games from the parts – please share with us!
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In between board games – and garage sales – PisecoMom homeschools her two kids over at Mind Games.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You could not be more right! We definitely get into super garage sale mode every summer, scavaging for that great deal on used board games. My 8-year-old loves classics like Yahtzee and Monopoly, where he's always able to flex his math skills. And when he's outgrown the games, we like to free-cycle to our fellow homeschool friends. Thanks for sharing this!
Since we live in Florida – it's garage sale time all year round!!! I love Florida!! We have bought so many games – even if they have a piece or two missing, it's fun to see how the kids work around it. Sometimes, they make up a completely new game! Thanks for the reminder!
I have been on the lookout at garage sales for games as well. I would love to find Pretty Pretty Princess for my 5 year old. I used to love that game!