This week Cora and I continue to revisit stock market board games for holiday gifts. As we mentioned last week, we found a few new games and a seemingly renewed interest in board games. We ended last week's article with a warning about board games vs. real life. We have one other warning this week, located at the end of this article. For more information about these games (which are in alphabetical order), please visit last week's article. Otherwise, let's get the show on the road?

In Rags to Riches (College Hill Games), we begin 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.

NEW - Stock Market Game (Western Publishing, Whitman) - this game isn't new, as it was first distributed in 1968. However, it's a game that we didn't mention last year. "A fortune could be yours as you buy and sell shares on the stock market. With a throw of the dice, collect dividends, attend stockholder meetings, and buy and sell company shares. The first player to earn $100,000 wins the game." Eight stocks are used in the game, with 2-8 players age 10+, so don't expect the little 'uns to catch on quick. In fact, wait till the under-ten-year-olds are sleepy to pull the game out, because playtime lasts about two hours.

NEW - Stock Market Tycoon (Vida Games) comes with game board, two dice, 100 Market cards, 14 Day Trade cards, 20 Dream & Reality cards, a Stock Certificates pad, a Stock Price List pad, eight playing pieces and Stock Market Tycoon money. Lots of stuff and it's a solid well-built game. Although not very new - it was introduced in 2000 - we neglected to include this game last year. For 2 to 8 players, but we think that this is for the Deluxe edition, whereas the regular edition is up to six players. Ages 8+, but we feel this game is probably a bit more interesting for those kids age 10+. Involves strategy as well as the luck of the dice.

StockItToYa! (Van Heyst Group) 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.

NEW - Wheedle (Out of the Box Publishing) is another game we didn't mention last year. This game, introduced in 2002, is very similar to Pit (see last week's article), "because the trading mechanisms are fairly similar." One reviewer states, however, that this game is actually more fun, unless you like reserved, quiet games. Obviously, the trading in this game demands shouting, hollering, and general table-thumping. Easy rules, 4-6 players age 9+, and the game takes a short amount of time to play - about 30 minutes. So, if granny gets annoyed with this one, ask her to take the dog for a short walk.

Of course, many kids are into electronic games, and the best site I've found to check out many of these items is the Entertainment Software Rating Board at http://www.esrb.org/. You may find that ESRB is a bit harsh in their critique on some games. But, at least they're descriptive and you know, as a parent, exactly what you're in for when your kid receives an electronic game as a gift for the holidays.

If you'd rather buy something other than board games for the family, yet you want Joe and Joanna to learn more about the stock market, online games come to mind. Check out the Stock Market Sims page at Surfing the Net with Kids for starters. One way to pull teams together for these games after the holidays is to introduce your child(ren)'s teachers to this page. Spend a little time here with your kids over the holidays if you can, just to discover what other kids around the country are learning about the stock market.

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. However, some kids might walk away from these games with psychological scars, because competition can evolve into just another way to get back at parents, siblings, and even children. As I mentioned last year, competition is good, but not when a game is used as a passive-aggressive tool of destruction (yes, this is the voice of experience). So, if you find yourself crowing with victory when you conquer your uncle, grandparents, and mother at Monopoly, get a grip. They have to win occasionally, too.

Until Next Week,
Linda Goin