Why Play, Toys, and Games are Important

I have been fortunate to know Dr. Toy for maybe a couple of decades already, during which I've come to appreciate her more and more for her valiant and often heroic efforts towards creating a childhood that is a little more fun for many, many more children; in a world of adults who can barely remember what fun is for.

Her recently published article, "Why Play, Toys, and Games are Important," is one more example of her wisdom, expertise, passion and valiant defense of play. That she quotes me extensively in this article is yet further evidence of the aforementioned.

Here's a taste of what she has to say: "There are three 'Cs' I refer to when thinking about how the child's social development is nurtured by games and by thinking outside the limits to the learning process and traditional settings. When thinking about the value of games in the school or in libraries consider these values:

1. Communication — Communication involves others and leads to sharing, discussions, negotiation, and compromise.
2. Challenge — Challenges of game play give the child the opportunity to master new skills, solve problems, pursue goals, and enhance self-confidence.
3. Creativity — Creativity helps children imagine and wonder about ideas and stimulates self-expression."

A counting game gets more fun

Zeus on the Loose is quite solidly based on everything that makes the kids' card game 99 fun to play. And, quite like the Major FUN-awarded game Straw, it makes a good game, better.

Zeus on the Loose adds new cards, with new powers, a lot more interaction, and a Zeus statue.

Let me summarize the root game, as it were, according to Pagat, who classifies 99 as an "adding game": "These are...games, in which the values of the cards are added together as they played in a single pile, the object being to avoid taking the total above the target score (98, 99, 100 respecively)."

So, you see, if your card has the power of, for example, reversing the digits (one of my favorites), you can make the card total, which is currently at, for example, 93, become 39, don't you see. So, if justification for fun is what you seek, fact is the kids'll be playing with numbers, combinations of numbers in combinations of addition and subtraction operations.

Interesting. Fun, even. But it's the "lot more interaction" that earned Zeus on the Loose it's Major FUN for Kids award. It would have to be. Because the added functionality and the significantly silly images of male and female Greek gods, and even the cool little Zeus statue cannot be compared in fun value to the Stealing Zeus rules.

You see, to win, you must be the Holder of the Zeus. To be the Holder of the Zeus, you must steal it from a player who is currently Zeus-Holder. O, you steal quite openly, there is no deception involved. Merely the experience of complete, if temporary, vindication. And then it gets stolen from you. And you can't win without it. And then you do a "Same Number Sneak" (see the rules), and steal it back. And, well, it's like a whole nother game, as it were. Like 99, sure. And Straw. But a whole new level of fun.