John Kaufeld

How embarrassing!

I could tell you that I was just decorating for Halloween. That all of the cobwebs in here are just there for a spooky effect. That I really didn’t ignore you all for the last couple of months.

But that wouldn’t be true.

Okay, I definitely wasn’t ignoring everybody, but I was off doing other stuff. Mostly, I was working on my Master’s degree (in communication, humorously enough…) and launching The Dad Game, my new parenting blog at fortwayne.com.

That doesn’t mean I stopped loving you, though.

Look for updates here in the coming weeks about board games, marketing, communication and life — all of the things you know (well,knew) and loved. They’ll all return, I promise.

Out of curiosity, any requests for posts? Anything? Bueller?

Posted 7 months ago

Comments

sorry, vacation, gone but now back, oops,

Four secrets to picking a great family board game

This week in The Dad Game, we reveal the secret super-knowledge behind picking board games that your family will love.

The first of the four secrets is competition…

Posted 9 months ago

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the dad game, blog, fortwayne.com, family games, family connection,

Gen Con appointment time

I’m on the hunt for new games to put into my review que for the holiday season.

Gen Con Indy logo

If you’re exhibiting at Gen Con next week, I want to hear about your games and see them in action!

Games I’m most interested in:

board, card, or dice games, with occasional forays into miniatures games.
good for kids and adults to play together (not necessarily a “kid’s game”).
Eurogame-style play and production values.
10 to 60 minutes playing time.
available in specialty and hobby retail (FLGS), not mass market.

I write about family games for several outlets:

The Dad Game blog, weekly on fortwayne.com (Fort Wayne Newspapers)
Model Retailer magazine (trade magazine targeting hobby store owners)
Greater Games Industry Catalog (trade magazine targeting game store owners)
my upcoming book on better parenting through board games, Dadopoly

Want an appointment? Email me at gencon2012@johnkaufeld.com and we’ll work out the details.

Posted 9 months ago

Comments

gen con, board games, card games, family games,

All NBA playoffs from 1947-2012, in one poster.

So simple. So clear. So brilliant. My day is made.

Read the article to see more. It’s worth the trip.

Posted 10 months ago

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2 notes

gold star, graphic design, infographic,

Three Rivers Game Convention on Saturday

You really want to play games this weekend, don’t you?

And there’s nothing better than helping the kids at Riley Hospital for children, right?

So imagine how awesome you’ll feel about playing games AND helping Riley kids by diving into this year’s 3CON!

3CON 2012 takes place this Saturday, July 7, at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne.

Play. Swap. Trade. Play. Buy. Play some more. Learn new games.

It starts at 9am and closes at 11pm.

Be there!!

Posted 10 months ago

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1 note

convention, fort wayne, family games, roleplaying games, board games, Miniatures Games,

The Power of Play

This quick read covers the basics with simplicity and clarity.

Kids develop better when they have:

unstructured play time.
self-directed exploration (with minimal adult instruction).
limited screen time.

It’s so easy for us as parents to forget the basics.

Please remember them for your kids.

Posted 10 months ago

Comments

parenting, play, gold star,

That’s one of the most delightful bilboards I’ve seen in a long time.

Well played, McDonald’s!!

This is clever advertising. Even if for bad food.

Reblogged 10 months ago from helloyoucreatives

Comments

192 notes

Reviving traditional board games of India

Women try their hands at Pallanguzhi at Akalpita. - www.thehindu.com

Ever played Parcheesi or Ludo? How about Trouble (with its famed pop-a-matic die roller)?

If you did, then you have a connection to traditional Indian board games.

Both of these well-known games are actually based on pachesi, known as the “national game of India.”

Take a minute to read this delightful article about now a non-profit is helping to rediscover and reinvigorate traditional Indian board games.

Kudos to them for their efforts!!

Posted 11 months ago

Comments

board games, traditional board games, india, board game culture, ludo, pachesi, snakes and ladders, parcheesi,

I really like this idea on the left (“Please disturb!”), but the “Can I borrow?” version seems too forward.

I wouldn’t want to lead an introductory conversation with “Hi there! I want something you have!” That’s just impolite.

But the other one… yeah… it has potential.

Thoughts?

helloyoucreatives:

Hello neighbor

Reblogged 11 months ago from helloyoucreatives

Comments

88 notes

creativity, design, connecting, neighbors,

Creating 60 minutes of "special time"

They’re a little late to the party, but at least they showed up…

The American Psychological Association recommends that parents carve out 60 minutes of focused time with each of their children every week. They recommend doing something fun together - playing, drawing, shooting baskets, flying kites, or whatever the parent and child can enjoy.

Parents who play board games with their kids figured this one out a long time ago.

The good news: You can do it too, but you need the right game.

Fast, engaging designer games like Carcassonne, Ingenious, Ticket to Ride, Set, and Continuo make great focused family time activities.

Speed-oriented games such as Blink, Dutch Blitz, or even Slapjack give you and your kids an activity to share where mom and dad probably don’t have the best chance of winning.

The right games create a vital bridge to help family connections. They create a safe place for conversation and laughter, and they even supply the topic. Connections started over a tabletop game give conversation-shy dads the foundation for more and better conversations, especially with teens.

But it all starts with time. Make time to connect. That’s the first key.

Posted 11 months ago

Comments

family time, family games, connecting, dad, mom, communication, board games, specialty games,