Screen-free summer

Whatrsquos the NEWSGo on a trip around the world with Mundo a simple geostrategy game that can be played at two levels mdash Liberate and Surround Besides improving your sense of direction the trump card game with a big world map is a great way to explore various cities As weve found with other Navneet games the instructions on the booklet seem convoluted but the howtoplay YouTube video compensates on the clarity front The game combines learning and play and helps develop thinking skills cognitive flexibility and life skillsAges 9Log on to Amazon Flipkart and FirstCryCost Rs 700Keep guessingA bestseller in the US and a current favourite with the family Guess in 10 Animal Planet has players ask up to 10 yesorno questions to guess the animal on the card Itrsquos a bit like 20 Questions but without the actions For instance lsquoIs it a carnivore Does it live on land or in waterrsquo To win you must ask intelligent questions use your clue cards wisely and have seven correct answers You can play as an individual or a team Very engaging for young learners it develops social communication decision making problem solving and creative thinking skillsAges 6Log on to Amazon Flipkart and FirstCryCost Rs 350Spray glitter on the UniverseInspired by her love for the night sky and the questions she received from kids as an early childhood educator and grandma to a tiny tot Erica Cunha came up with The Secrets Of Space an activity book themed on space ldquoI first made a list of different space bodies and then composed childfriendly illustrations and easytounderstand descriptions for each Each of the 100 pages has a write up and a cutpaste fun sheet based on different space elements The glitter pack of sequins is a popular addonrdquo she says Selfpublished and promoted via wordofmouth the books are topical educational and give kids the perfect break from online school They also make for great travel books and giftsAges 5Log on to erika__cunha on InstagramCost Rs 1200Removing barriersFunded by the NGO Trinayani each of the six card games and the workbook in the Towards Inclusion kit is designed to develop disability awareness and empathy towards the everyday barriers encountered by people with disabilities and to find possible solutions The Barriers Begone is a current favourite at home Founder Ritika Sahni says ldquoIrsquove always strived to use nonclicheacuted ways to bring the topic of disability awareness into the public domain Creating the content was easy however the execution required pilot sessions with varied groups in different cities Changes were made for every valid suggestionrdquo Just like any other board or card game winning is the motive and that does the trick The kit will never go out of fashion because awareness is an ongoing process The makers plan to digitise these games and also create regional language versions of the kitAges 12Log on to trinayaniorgCost Rs 1500 includes a workshop on inclusivity awarenessExplore HampiBased on the historic city Hampi and the Sun Jewel is for the creative analytical and intuitive Players must develop the landscape of Hampi tile by tile with 96 uniquely illustrated hexagonal land tiles that depict farms roads temples ponds markets and tiny villages They must also seek the lost Sun Jewel The makers spent over a year on study design testing and development All the artwork and mechanics were handdrawn manually tested and later digitised With its simple yet rich game mechanics this game will appeal to both beginners and veterans alikeAges 14Log on to tacitgamesinCost Rs 2499