A Sampling of Old School Children’s Games

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.
 
The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom. As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun. Recently, I was able to play different “old school” games, many from my childhood. Indeed, I spent hours playing the Mad Magazine and Muppet Show games.  Some of the games hold up well and are just as fun to play today as thirty years ago, some not so much. 

Let us take a trip down memory lane.

Mad Magazine, Parker Brothers
Each Player starts with $10,000. The board is Monopoly-like, with 2 inner tracks that can also be used. Play is counter-clockwise and you must roll the dice with your left hand. Certain spaces, and the ever present 'Card' cards send you elsewhere, make you pay money (good), make you get money (bad), switch seats with someone else or exchange money with another player.  First to lose all their money wins.







Garfield Board Game, Parker Brothers
This game features Garfield, America's famous comic strip cat. Object: you and the other players must try to run three complete circles around Garfield. For each circle you complete, you'll earn a ring. The first player to earn 3 rings wins the game.  











Yoda the Jedi Master Game (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Kenner
Be the first player to become a Jedi Knight, defeat the Dark Side of the Force and win! Travel to the Dagobah System where Yoda, the ancient Jedi Master, will teach you the ways of the Force. Acquire Jedi merit as you successfully accomplish the difficult tasks and trials Yoda sets for your training. Once you've obtained sufficient merit as a Jedi, enter the Jedi Knight circle and out-spin the Dark Side of the Force to win.




The Muppet Show Game, Parker Brothers
Directed by Kermit the Frog. Produced by Parker Brothers. Starring Jim Henson's Muppets. A board game in two acts, simulating the Muppet Show. Playing pieces are popular figures from the show: Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf, Scooter, Statler, Dr. Teeth and Waldorf. I loved The Muppet Show as a child and this game took me back to my childhood.

Disney Monorail, Parker Brothers
This is a race game based on the transportation system of the Monorail and Casey Jr. train at Disneyland. Players race not only each other, but the train, Casey Jr. (a non-player character). Roll the dice, using the white die for your own movement on the monorail track and the colored die to move Casey on the train track.  Pure luck, no decisions at all, and Casey can win the game.



*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.