This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and EQtainment, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Qsracetothetop http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.
Sometimes life just calls for a fun and silly family game night with yummy Peanut Butter Cup Cookies for dessert! Am I right?
We are a game-playing family for sure. We have an entire overflowing bookshelf devoted to storing them. My kids love getting in on the fun too, but often they don’t understand the rules of play, so they end up being on my husband’s or my team. When that happens, they feel like they got the short end of the stick.
So you can imagine how stoked I am when we find something we can play all together. Q’s Race to the Top is one of those amazing games.
It comes with a perfect short story book to introduce the game’s theme and main character…a “book smart” little monkey named Q who needs some help learning how to behave. These kiddos got sucked right into it. 🙂
The game also includes a colorful board with four cute monkey playing pieces who “race to the top” of the path, fun artwork, and three sets of cards that can be chosen based on the color of space landed on after rolling the dice.
The blue cards are “You” questions i.e. they ask questions about you, go figure. 🙂
The green or “Q” cards explain a scenario and ask you to advise Q on what to do. For example, one of the cards stated, “Q played a game with his friend and didn’t win, so he stormed out of the room. What should Q have done instead?” I especially liked when my kids chose this color because it tested them on certain life skills such as social awareness, managing emotions, and having a positive attitude…all the areas where they could definitely use some reinforcement. 🙂 In this sense, the kids become role models and teachers, which makes them feel extremely important. Q needs their help, after all!
The red or “Do” cards are meant for practicing teamwork, self-control, coordination, balance, and feeling identification.
These silly kids were all over it, as you can see. Studies show that in order to develop mental and emotional self-control, children must first learn balance and coordination. I believe it! We got some good laughs out of some of the card requests, for sure. Hmmmm….who can make the silliest face while balancing on one foot? We’ll call it a draw!
One of the red cards asked them to touch their feet together and hold hands while trying to stand up all at once. They were successful even with the huge difference in height. 🙂
This little guy is a pro at the silly faces, so he had no problem with those card prompts. 🙂
Dad read the cards and then we listened for their very candid responses. We got a kick out of my four-year-old’s solution to the situation…”Q wanted to show his brother Redmond how to build a better sand castle, so he knocked Redmond’s castle down and built him a better one. What should Q have done?” He immediately came back with, “He should have listened to Jesus!” Ha! Out of the mouth of babes. 🙂
Those happy faces say it all…this game was a hit! We’ve played it too many times to count. We’re definitely adding it into our regular rotation for family game night!
The game is made by EQtainment, a company that produces games, videos and books to help kids learn valuable skills outside of the traditional “book smarts”, such as self control, empathy and how to act appropriately in certain life situations. This is called EQ (or emotional quotient), as opposed to IQ, with which many of us may be more familiar.
Studies show that having a high EQ often translates into greater career success, relationship satisfaction and leadership skills, to name a few. To me, EQ means being well rounded. The ability to reason is crucial, but so is knowing how to handle ones self in social situations. I want my kids to not only be well educated academically, but kind in their interactions too!
Because it wouldn’t be a family game night without dessert…we broke out the Peanut Butter Cup Cookies! They got a big thumbs up, just like the new game.
These cookies are a perfect way to end an already perfect evening! It doesn’t hurt that they include one of our favorite chocolate and peanut butter candies ever!
{PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES}
Adapted from Taste of Home
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups
In a large bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.
Form into balls and place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.
Serve them with some ice cold milk and indulge in one or four while playing Q’s Race to the Top!
I hope you’ll support for this fun family game. We thoroughly enjoyed it!
Here’s a video about the game with kids in action!
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