Patch Products Blunders Board Game

A Review of the Board Game, "Blunders" by Games for Educators in April, 2009

There are many things that make "Blunders," an engaging game for children.

It's funny the details that we remember from events in our lives.Rarely do we remember every single happening but instead, we may bring along snippets from the various scenes we experience.One such snippet for me was a mere portion of the advice I received while taking a class on Children's Literature. That piece, given to the future children's book writers, was to avoid being preachy.Such topics are no fun for children, we were told.

Playing games follows a similar suit.When consumers choose games to purchase it is important to remember that even though they may want the game to teach them something, they also want to have fun.. Why else choose that game to play in your leisure time?

Now, as a teacher, I look for games that pack in quite a punch.I want educational, engaging, interesting, and fun.I want games that I can modify and with multiple uses.I want games that we can play for fun during recess or play in a specific class setting or for a particular purpose.No one is motivated to participate otherwise.

"Blunders" is a board game for children ages 5 to 10, which I feel fulfills my lofty requirements.The point of the game is to teach manners, but play does not revolve around any punitive actions.Play is consumed by moving along a visually appealing board, landing on either a purple, orange, or green space, and addressing a corresponding situation involving etiquette.There are 4 types of questions:Multiple Choice, Charades, True/False, and Scenarios.Topics include, but are not limited to, telephone etiquette, respecting adults, gossiping, bullying, proper table manners, and personal responsibility.

Play is easily managed by rolling a die and simply moving along the board.Young players may need assistance reading the cards, but the game can be played in teams.

The game has a personal touch in that each named has a distinct personality, completely described in the direction booklet.Brenda, for instance, possesses quite an active imagination and keen artistic talent, but lacks in polite greeting skills and gossips too much.Therefore, children may choose a character to which he/she relates.

Here are the many advantages to this board game:

1.It is fun to play.

2.It teaches a life skill.

3.Children are drawn to the personalities of the players and the situation cards.

4.It is easy enough to catch on to the strategy of play, but presents situations that require children to use thinking skills requiring the use of judgement.

5.The game can be played without adult supervision, yet a teacher can easily adapt it for use in the classroom.The charade cards present excellent opportunities to discuss etiquette in a fun manner.

6.It is visually appealing.

7.The game has a website,.Teachers can use this website for writing extension activities, because it contains a link where players can submit their own "Manners Moments" or "blunderblogs" to share with others.Teachers can also download and print free educational materials.

I highly recommend "Blunders" for use at home and at school!

I read the review of Blunders from the etiquette instructor, Lyudmila, and I have to say she is actually the one who is technically incorrect. I am a mother of three who has used this game many times with my own children. It's important to point out that etiquette is a series of commonly accepted norms in a society and that these norms are in a constant state of flux. Many of the manners I learned as a child have been rendered redundant and outdated according to the new etiquette books. For example:

1.When asparagus is cooked al dente it can be eaten with the fingers.Letitia Baldrige's "The Complete Guide to The New Manners" Page 160.

2. It is always fine to eat pizza with your hands even in fancy restaurants. Letitia Baldrige's "The Complete Guide to The New Manners" Page 163.

3. Toothpicks have been placed on tables for many years as a way to help customers get food out of their teeth no matter what toothpicks were historically meant for.I think the point in the game is to tell people if you are going to use one as a dental tool, to use it in private and not at the table.

4.In most elementary schools today kids are taught to sneeze in the inside of their arm so that they do not get germs on their hands.Kids do not generally carry handkerchiefs and need to have another option for when the sneeze (always a surprise!) occurs.

In addition to these possibly more modern etiquette rules, it's important to use your own standards as well no matter what the commonly accepted norms are. I actually like the debates that can occur from this game as it allows my kids to use the knowledge they have learned from the game and apply it using their own understanding of what is acceptable in any given situation.

For instance, even though certain manners may be technically true (i.e. the asparagus one), it is always prudent to use your own judgment in any situation. If other guests are using their knives and forks, then it would be more polite to follow suit.

I would highly recommend this game to families and etiquette instructors alike. It is, in fact, well researched and up-to-date and can help your little ones learn what they can and cannot do in the world of manners plus it can help them to evaluate individual situations. I think it's a GREAT game and a GREAT tool.

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I chose this game to use in social work groups in an elementary school setting. I needed a game that was easy to play that was enjoyable and taught social skills concepts. This game fulfilled all of these. The children enjoyed the game. I played it with children who displayed deficits in the area of social skills. The box says ages 5 and up, but I found with these children, the age on the box didn't matter. I played it with 6th graders and they had fun too. I would highly recommend this game to others who work in a school setting.

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Bought this game for my granddaughter.Three generations played this game, and we all learned something.Most importantly, my granddaughter loved it and has continued to play it after Christmas.

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My 7 year old grandson loved it.He took it to school and not only did the children love it, so did the teacher.She subsequently asked me to get one to keep in their classroom, which I did.

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