Last week we demonstrated how our children can achieve a level "3" in math abilities just by learning about the stock market. This ability builds confidence, and it also gives our children a leg up on the investment ladder. Given the holiday season, Cora and I went on a mission to find stock market games to help construct a portfolio through fun and strategy. Although we discovered many games on store shelves that dealt with money, we found very little that focused on the stock market. Of course, if we go online we have another scenario, but even then we found just a few games available for the entire family.

This dearth of hands-on stock market games for children of any age is not surprising, especially since we found that three out of four games below were developed within the past five years. Perhaps a demand for these games would make them more available to in-store shoppers. On the other hand, not many folks play board games these days, because computerized games are all the rage. However, board games invite the whole family to join in, and we think this is a great way to get to know each other a little better. Parents get the chance to actually hear their children talk, which can be a thrill. Kids get a chance to see their parents acting like kids. That can be a thrill, too.

Cora and I have not played these games, so we'll list them in alphabetical order since we have no preference. The descriptions are provided by the companies (which may be worth a look into as real-time investments themselves), and our reviews are based on other reviews and actual images. We ignored a few games based on promotional web site impressions. If you feel we missed something, try a web search for "stock market board game." If you want to see more about any game below, just type the board game's name into a search engine for results. All games are offered for sale by several companies, and it may not be too late to order for the holidays.

Bull Market is a "Parents' Choice 2003 Recommended" award winner. This game teaches players about stocks splits, IPO, money management, Bull Markets, and decision-making, bookkeeping, and math skills. Stocks are accumulated at low prices with the anticipation that the market will become bullish and the stock price will skyrocket. This game simulates market panics, too, so that might be fun. This game just came on the market in 2002, and involves 2 to 6 players, ages 12+, and about two hours of time to play.

Pit is the oldest game on the market, first produced in 1904. This is a fast-paced card game where the cards are dealt, the bell sounds, and the player trades like a maniac. The first person to corner a market with nine cards of the same suit rings the closing bell. The game can be altered by adding Bull and Bear cards. Although this sounds like fun, it may be more than granny can handle, especially the heavy-duty metal bell "that's great for slamming." This game replicates old-fashioned trading on the stock market floor before the computer age. For 3 - 8 players, age 7+. Game ends when granny complains.

In Rags to Riches, we start out as struggling youths and travel the board to make investments. We either amass or lose fortunes through the roll of the dice. This game offers low- and high-risk stock choices, and money can be borrowed at interest. It was stated in one review that this game is 70% strategy and 30% luck. The game, says reviewers, is very similar to Monopoly, so if we like that game, then we may like this one. "Rags to Riches" involves 2 to 4 players, ages 8+, and about two hours of time to play.

StockItToYa! gets rave reviews from various editors and reviewers, and is even played in a New Jersey classroom. Players learn about penny stocks, "blowouts," and windfall funds, all with the roll of the dice and a great-looking board and accessories. We could not find the number of players allowed, but from reviews it seems up to at least four players at a time can get on board. Ages 12+, and the amount of time depends on the roll of the dice. We even found this game for less than twelve dollars!

Any board game that involves money, like Monopoly, Tycoon, Payday, or Life, can help your child learn to count and develop skills in financial management. These games incorporate real estate, taxes, and the possibility of surprise bonuses and disasters. These constructs help kids learn to roll with real life punches, along with the roll of the dice, simply by association. Investments are very abstract, though. Unless parents show how these situations apply to the real world, the game can evolve into just another way to get back at parents or siblings. Competition is good, but not when used as a passive-aggressive tool of destruction (I hope my brothers read this far).

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin