We’ll admit it – we like this game! It’s one that, as soon as you open the box, you’ll say “Oh, I gotta try this!”

As the pieces are pulled from the box, I imagine Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, or Talladega – engines screaming, the smell of burning rubber, the checkered flag waving in front of me… something about racing does that to me.

The 16 well-made track pieces (10 turns, 16 straight-aways along with guardrails) exhibit superior craftsmanship, while the interlocking design of the parts allows for many different track layouts. The “cars” are perfectly machined wooden disks that are pitched (”flicked” with a finger) around the course. And although the game is recommended for ages 6 and up (due to small parts), with proper supervision, younger children will be able to play a simple track layout, too.

Despite its simplicity, this game is intriguing to play, and allows for many different playing styles. There’s the bold and reckless style – high risk to gain the big lead… or end up in a spectacular crash and burn! Or perhaps the smooth and steady, no errors approach might be the better tactic.

The instructions included with PitchCar are straighforward, but again, the simplicity of the game lends itself to many variations. That’s what really makes it intriguing!

Here are a few of our favorite games that we have created for PitchCar:

Last Man Standing – A normal game of PitchCar is played, with one exception: If your car is pitched off the track, or bumped off the track by another player’s car, your car is out of the race. The last car left on the track is the winner.

Bumper Car – In this game, all eight cars are used, divided equally among the players. On your turn, you pitch one of your cars. The important rule is that your car must bump another car after being pitched! If it does not touch another car, then your pitched car goes back to where it was, and the next player takes their turn. Object is to get all your cars across the Finish line first! HINT: Keep your cars close together – a bump off one of your own cars counts!

Traffic Jam – All eight cars are used, divided equally among the players. The object is to get all of your cars around the track and across the finish line before your opponents. On your turn, you may only pitch one of your cars. All other normal PitchCar rules apply.

Golf Car – Who can maneuver their car around the track in the fewest number of pitches to set par? Keep track of how many pitches it takes to make one complete circuit. You can either alternate turns, with each player taking one pitch at a time, or let one player “play through”, pitching their car all the way around the course – followed by the next player, and the next. The person with the fewest pitches after the race, wins. Just like in real golf, if your car goes “out of bounds”, you must place it back where it started, and count one stroke or pitch as a penalty. If you establish a par for the course, you could score each racer based on par, one over par, etc.

Endurance Race – This is a race where caution can pay off. Each player gets one car. The race is five laps, and all normal PitchCar rules apply, except: if your car goes off the track, you must go back to the Start/Finish line and start all over again! If you hit an opponents car and force them off the track, their car is placed back on the track where it was before the “accident”. Don’t get discouraged if you crash an dhave to start over – we’ve had many come-from-behind wins due to unexpected wipe-outs by the leader! Five laps not long enough? Try 10, or 20 for a real challenge of patience. I can picture the 24 hours of Daytona…

Like most children, my kids love to play outside in the backyard. They especially like to find creative uses for their typical backyard toys. So in the spirit of National Backyard Games week, I decided to present my kids with a challenge this morning…

Their Challenge:
Invent, create, and develop a new backyard game for our family to play together.

The Rules:

• Each child is to create their own game. They may use any of the supplies provided (see list below) or any other found supplies (within reason, of course).
• The game they invent must be one that can be played with 1 to 5 people. This allows the game to be played individually, with two or three of my kids, or with our entire family.
• Each game must have a name and established rules.
• Games should be fairly simple – a good barometer for simplicity: everyone can remember the rules without them written down.
• The game should be able to be completed in approximately 15 minutes. This will keep younger children interested, and will allow older kids and adults the chance to play multiple games if they want.

Supplies Provided:
While backyard games don’t have to require a lot of equipment to be creative and fun, I provided the following items for my kids in case they wanted to use them (either in their games or as inspiration for a game). I also encouraged my kids to use whatever other supplies they could find around the house or yard.

• Balls of all kinds – for example, our favorite Pinky Ball (extremely versatile), a Skushi Ball, the unique Yackle Ball, Ping Pong balls, tennis balls, and basketballs
• Balloons (with or without water)
• Jump Ropes – such as 16″ Cotton Jump Rope or a Chinese Jump Rope
• Boundary Markers – such as Marker Rounds
• String (we especially like Mason line, available in a variety of colors from the hardware store)
• Pulleys, all sizes
• Small and Large Buckets, Pails, and Tubtrugs (such useful tubs!)
• Aluminum Foil (because it’s such a malleable material, it’s great for making models or connecting things together)
• Bandage Strips (makes great connectors), masking tape, mailing labels, or sticky notes
• Binder Clips (great for holding things together, used as weights and counterweights, or springs for launching items)
• Cardboard Tubes or PVC Pipe
• Rubber Bands (all sizes)
• Sticks or lumber – bamboo sticks or wooden dowels available at home stores, lumber scraps if small in size and “youngster safe”
• Measuring Tape, Rulers, or Yardsticks

Design Process:
To encourage my kids to organize their thoughts about their games, I wrote the following words (the words in bold) on our whiteboard for them to use.

• Brainstorm! Generate ideas for a new game and write them all down. Create sketches. Every idea is a good idea, even if they seem completely unrealistic.
• Research! If you are unsure how to make something work, get information online, from our library, or from friends and family.
• Choose an Idea! After brainstorming new ideas and researching ways to make them work, look your list over and figure out which idea you want to start with.
• Plan! Determine what you want your game to do or accomplish. Figure out what supplies you need and what the rules will be. Pinpoint what you think will be the most challenging problems in creating your game.
• Sketch It! Create sketches of your game, or diagrams of play. Include details.
• Present It! Present your “first draft” to friends or family. This step helps you find errors and to clear up unclear directions.
• Put It Together! Start putting your game together! (This is the really fun part)!
• Test It! Make sure your game plays the way you thought it would. Make modifications, then test it again. Continue testing and tweaking until you are satisfied with your game.
• Play It! When your game is complete, it’s time to play and have fun!

Ready to Play!
After my kids have tested their game and are satisfied with it, we’ll be ready to play!

• Each child will present their game to the rest of the family, one at a time. This presentation will include the name of the game, the rules of the game, and a demonstration of the game. Talk about a great opportunity for practicing “public” speaking and presentation skills!
• After the first presentation, our family will play the game. During game play, no critiquing will be allowed (we’ll save that for the Round Table Meeting afterward) – just fun, involved play.
• After playing the first game, we’ll move on to the next presentation and game play, immediately followed by the third presentation and game play.

Round Table Meeting:
After all the games have been played, we will gather together to discuss the games. Here is an idea for an agenda.

• Have the first presenter discuss how they felt the game went. What did the inventor like the best about the game? What did he like the least? Are there any rules he would change? Any modifications he would make to the game?
• At the end of the first presenter’s review, other family members can ask questions or offer their constructive critique for the game. Positive encouragement is stressed, along with feedback for improvements – no negative attacks allowed.
• Each game inventor will have an opportunity to review their game, followed by a family question and feedback period.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• My goal for my kids: have them exercise their creativity and “thinking outside the box” skills. They will be able to invent, test, reinvent, modify, and tweak their ideas until they are satisfied with their game.
• Inventing a backyard game that can be played by one or more players is quite a challenge. My hope is that the game can be played in a variety of ways so it can entertain one child who would like to play alone, or our entire family.
• Inventing a new game may take more than one day to perfect. We will use as much time as needed this week to get something started. Final tweaking can be done as the games progress.
• When questioning and critiquing the games, family members are free to state their opinions, as long as they are stated tactfully and with kindness. Again, no negative attacks allowed!

Being the first to present might not be everyone’s favorite position. So, to determine who will go first, we’ll use the classic method of choosing… Rock! Paper! Scissors!

It’s just before dinner now, and my kids have been busy all day. Looks like it will be a fun, creative evening playing in our yard with our kids!

Take our challenge with your family! Who knows, maybe your kids will invent a game that the entire world will want to play!

Have fun!

Did you know the third week in May is National Backyard Games Week? Take this opportunity to get outside for some mentally stimulating and healthy physical activities in the backyard!

We’ve written “how-to’s” for our favorite backyard games for you to try. Get your friends together, head out to the backyard, and play!

Freeze Tag — Tag! You’re it! A classic game of Freeze Tag, with a twist.

Red Light, Green Light — The classic fast-paced game of running (and listening)!

Glow-Stick Tag — Kids love to play outside at night! Here is a fun game to play while camping, or in your own backyard.

Water Balloon Land Mines — A fun backyard water game that builds teamwork.

Sand Bucket Brigade — A fun relay game with sand!

Sardines Hide and Seek — A backward hide and seek game for kids of all ages!

Compass Treasure Hunt — Compasses aren’t just for finding your way through the forest. You can also map your way through your house or garden and set a trail for your friends to follow!

Jump Rope Activities — Kids love to play jump rope games, especially with silly rhymes and songs. Here is a list of our favorites!

Keeper Ball — This is a game we created and is fun for kids of all ages. It’s fast-action, physical fun!

Play Marbles — A collection of our favorite, traditional marble games. You might remember some of these from your own childhood!

Pinky Ball Games — Remember playing with a Pinky Ball as a kid? Here are some timeless, classic Pinky Ball games to share with your kids!

UPDATE 2011: – Make sure to click National Backyard Games Week 2011 and National Backyard Games Week 2010 for even MORE fun game ideas!

You May Also Like:

In addition to all the great game ideas listed above, we have a perfect selection of backyard games and toys that are fun for everyone! And… within each product description, we include our own creative ideas for using these products for unique backyard play – a feature unique to Escapade Direct! Check it out!

Backyard Play Pack – Ropes, Strings, and Twirly Things — We’ve put together a savings pack of some of our favorite backyard games for kids of all ages!

Backyard Play Pack – Rockets, Balloons, and Flying Things — Our backyard savings pack is perfect for activie, outdoor play!

Backyard Play Pack – Let’s Go Retro! — Classic backyard toys and games, sure to please kids of all ages!

Ultra Stomp Rocket — The original Stomp Rocket for backyard fun!

Chinese Jump Rope — Just like you remember from your childhood!

Touchable Bubbles — Long-lasting bubbles that you can stack on your finger!

Skushi Swirl Ball — Play a game of dodge ball with this soft, Skushi Ball!

Boochie — Incredible backyard fun for the entire family!

Heavy-Weight Cotton Jump Rope — This old-fashioned jump rope is fun for girls and boys!

Rainbow Streamer — Dance and play with this colorful streamer!

Scooter Board — There are so many fun ways to play with a Scooter Board!

Hi-Bounce Pinky Ball — The classic, old-fashioned Pinky Ball is back!

Yackle Ball — A unique ball that is easy for even young children to catch!

Mega Marbles Game Net — In over a dozen different themes, these Marble Game Nets are perfect for backyard play!

Rocket Balloons — Send the reusable balloons soaring and see who can go the furthest!

24′ Parachute — Not only is this parachute fun for games with your friends, it makes a great fort, too!

LED Poi — It’s cosmic fun! Twirl the LED poi balls and light up the night sky with multi-colored trails! Cool!

Marker Rounds — Set up boundries for your backyard games with this set of six marker rounds!

Marker Squares — Set up a game of baseball or other creative games with this set of six marker squares! Get creative, create your own games!

Lemon Twist — This favorite toy from the 1960s is back, and is better than ever! Get active and do the twist!

Balance Ball — Not only is this balance ball a great way for kids to practice their balancing skills, it can be used for backyard games, too!

Have fun! Stay Safe!

“The plants that are closest to you are those from your childhood; those are the ones you truly love…” – V.S. Naipaul

Childhood is the perfect time for children to play in a garden. For centuries, children of all ages have amused themselves with the leaves, flowers, roots, stems, seeds, and the fruits of plants. All the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of a garden remain in memory, long into adulthood.

Our newsletter for May was just mailed to our subscribers – some of the activites and adventures included in this newsletter are listed below.

Grow memories… grow gardens…

Old-Fashioned Garden Games and Toys – We’ve gathered our favorite toys and games that can be made out of flowers and plants, and have included the directions on how to make them. Not only will you learn how to make unique garden playthings, you will also be making memories with your children.

Unique Plant Markers – Creative ideas for marking the plants in your garden! Fun for kids and adults.

Beaded Planting Guide – Our beaded planting guide is fun and easy to create, and makes planting kid-friendly!

Rose Sherbet – Make a delicious rose sherbet from the roses in your garden! Children of all ages love to prepare this sweet treat.

Candied Flowers – Stop and eat the roses! Make candied flower petals with your kids.

Clay Seed Pots – Make clay seed pots to save the seeds from your garden for replanting next year!

Sunflower Forts – Grow your own playfort! Children absolutely love having a cool summer for to play in – now you can grow your own!

Garden Tunnel – Make a shady play tunnel in your garden. Fun for kids of all ages to crawl through.

Fairy or Elf Garden – Create a miniature garden just for kids to play in! Perfect for fairies and elves and other wee creatures.

Garden Toad Abode – Invite toads to your garden by making this special home for them!

Fun Gardening Books to Share with Children

101 Kid-Friendly Plants: Fun Plants and Family Garden Projects – This book includes gardening projects, information, and illustrations to help families create beautiful gardens together.

Gardening Wizardry for Kids – Learn about plants through more than 300 experiments and projects that use things that grow in your yard and garden. Also includes important history facts and fascinating folklore.

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown Ups – From the acclaimed Brooklyn Botanic Garden, this book features 33 different trees that grow in North America. Each tree includes watercolor illustrations and information about the tree.

Mr. Goethe’s Garden – This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of a unique friendship between an inquisitive young girl and her neighbor. She visits her neighbor in a well-tended garden where he teaches her to draw and to observe the world of nature.

The Flower Alphabet Book – This unique alphabet book includes information about flowers from A to Z. Includes which flowers can be made into dolls, which flowers flavor tea, and much more.

Designs for Coloring – Flowers and Designs for Coloring – More Flowers – These coloring books provide hours of imaginative and creative fun! Created by award-winning artist/designer, Ruth Heller.

Color Your Own Flower Seed Packet Illustrations – Gardening enthusiasts of all ages are invited to add their own brilliant hues to the drawings in this book of early-twentieth-century flower seed packets.

Fun Gardening Products for Families

WonderSoil Gardening Kit – This seed starting kit is perfect for families! The WonderSoil wafers help seeds sprout in just 4-5 days.

The Gardener’s Color Wheel – Art in the garden! This color wheel is a fun tool to use when planning a flower garden or arranging cut flowers. Includes a booklet that explains the relationships between colors, principles of contrast and harmony, and the meaning and uses of tints, tones, and shades.

Thames & Kosmos Little Labs – Plants – A perfect science kit for young children to learn all about the life of plants.

Flower Press Kit – This kit is easy to use, and allows you to preserve the flowers grown in your garden.

Grow Your Own Ginkgo Tree and Grow Your Own Apple Tree – These kits include everything you need to grow your own tree! A fun way for kids to observe the growth of a tree.

Banana Bonanza, Sprout ‘n Grow Greenhouse – Grow a banana tree! This plant grows 1 foot in the first month! A fast growing plant, sure to please kids of all ages.

The Garden Game – This game is a joyful and inspiring board game about gardening for food and for fun. A celebration of cultivation for all seasons and for all ages.

Puzzellations – In the Garden and Puzzellations – In the Garden Too – These tessellation puzzles stimulate mathematical and creative thinking skills, and are fun for all ages.

For more products and activities like these, visit us at EscapadeDirect.com!

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Playing in the mud is the quintessence of childhood play, and is fun for kids of all ages. There is nothing quite like the wonderfully, gooey texture of mud when it is mixed with just the right amount of water. With less water, the mud can be molded and shaped, and left to dry. It can be used to make the most creative mud pies, cakes, forts, and sculptures. Mud play provides children with a natural opportunity to experience an entire range of sensations. It sparks imaginations and inspires creativity.

Kids generally need very little encouragement to play in the mud. We’ve included some ideas of things to use for mud play, and have listed some playful ideas to get you started.

Assemble a Mud Play Bucket

• Old containers, such as margarine tubs, ice cream buckets, plastic peanut butter jars
• Large wooden or metal spoons
• Old measuring cups
• Plastic scoops, like those found in coffee cans
• Old pots, pans, or cake pans
• Large tub or Large Tubtrug for storing your mud play objects
• Scrap lumber, to form a small table for making mud pies and cakes
• Old clothes

Fun Things to Do In the Mud
Need a little help getting started? Here are some of our favorite things to do in the mud!

• Make mud pies and cakes! Use old containers to “bake” in, and different colored dirt. Once the mud pies and cakes are created, decorate with small pebbles, flowers, or leaves.
• Make mud houses! Use sticks for supports. Include tunnels, secret rooms, and even a moat!
• Make mud balls! Shape mud into balls by rolling the “dough” in your hands. Decorate the balls with flowers, leaves, rocks, or small twigs. Stack the mud balls on top of each other to create a unique sculpture.
• Make mud prints! Place your mud-covered hands and feet on a clean sheet of paper to make an impression. Sidewalks and driveways are good substitutes for paper!
• Draw in the mud! Use a stick and draw pictures in the mud. Easy to “erase” and start all over again.
• Make rivers and dams! Dig a river in the dirt and add water. Build a dam to form a small puddle.

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Don’t have a supply of dirt in your yard? Bring a couple of buckets to your local garden center and buy a bucket of clean fill, black dirt, and sand. The investment is very small, and the joy your kids will have are worth it!
• Use scrap lumber to build a small table or box that your kids can use for mud play activities. This will help keep the mud contained and can be set up anywhere in your yard, including on a patio or deck. If you prefer, buy a small wading pool to fill with dirt for mud play activities.
• The best soil for playing in the mud has a high clay content, this works great for making mud balls and sculptures.

Mud is just good, clean dirt that can be washed off easily. Go ahead! Play in the mud and have fun!

Want more ideas on creative mud play?
Make sure to visit us online for:

• Beyond Mud Pies – Make Mud Bricks! – The ideas here will appeal to older children, as well as younger kids.
• Mud Ball Cookies – Take the idea of mud play inside, and whip up a batch of these delicious Mud Ball Cookies (that you can really eat)!