Game Recommendations: Family - Young Elementary

 I'm back with another game recommendation list! 

Here's a list of some of our favorite games for young elementary school students (I'll say grade 1-3). Stanley finished first grade and started second grade this year (6 turned 7) and these recommendations are based on him.

It can be a weird age for games because they are really outgrowing some of the younger games, but aren't quite competitive enough to only be playing more strategic games. We love lightweight strategy games (see last list) and although most of them have simple enough mechanics that he can play along just fine, he loses almost every time only playing with adults - and really that's not any fun!  

Here are some of his favorites that are solid family games that are interesting enough for adults (in my opinion - obviously everyone's game preferences will vary). 

1. Dragonwood. 

This is probably hands down his favorite game. And while I would never choose it on my own, I really never mind when he does. It's a fun themed dice game and while there is definitely an element of luck, I love that it offers a lot of room for simple strategy. It's a really great family game!
*And the amount of simple addition and probability included makes it more effective than a math worksheet! 

2. Dinosaur Tea Party. 

This is probably in competition for his favorite (and definitely one of my top favorites on this list). It is a super fun deduction game. I love that there is no down time, and you always have to pay attention to what the other guesses/answers are. There are some fun quirks that keep it fun and interesting. The artwork, the dinosaur's names and the theme just take it over the top. Another super solid family game!
*This one really flexes those deductive reasoning/logic/problem solving muscles 

3. Guess Who.

Do we really need another deduction game on this list? Well I guess we do. This one is the perfect 2 player game for kids. If you are only going to pick one, I would definitely recommend Dinosaur Tea Party first, but classic Guess Who is still worth noting - mostly because it's really easy to find at thrift stores!
*Another information processing/logic game!

4. Mastermind.

Another classic game. This one is so quick, it's the current leader for game plays with Stanley this year (at 38). Also, it one was 0ne of my favorites as a child as well! The first couple times we played I had to summarize everything a few times to help him process the information appropriately so he could think through before making his next move. But he caught and now he's quick. 
*And yet another deductive reasoning game. I spy a theme here. 

5. Sleeping Queens. 

It's a quickie and you already know how I feel about those. Sleeping Queens is a pretty great game of luck, memory and press your luck. There is also a fun little math element thrown in the mix. 

6. Forbidden Island.

I said it once, i'll say it again. Everyone needs a good cooperative game in the mix. This is definitely Stanley's favorite coop game. Cooperative games are great because it invites discussion on strategy and therefore helps the younger ones understand why and how there can be multiple "good moves" to make and what to think about to make the best one. 
*5 Stars for learning to be part of a team and thinking through decisions.

 7. Ghost Fightin' Treasure Hunters 

Another cooperative game. I think his favorite part are the little ghost figures that always end up on his fingers when we play this game. I like that this one has additional rules and cards to add in when you get the hang of it or just want to face a deeper challenge. I love the idea of "levels" built into a game that you can pick depending on who you are playing with. This one can get quite challenging!
*Another great teamwork game!

8. Camp.

This one is on this list because Stanley LOVED it at the beginning of the year and still chooses it fairly often, but full disclosure, I often want to hide it from him. It's just fine. It's an animal/outdoor trivia (which he loves anyway because he thinks he's the smartest), but what brings it over the top for him is the little decoder card used to reveal the right answer. It just brings lots of excitement when you're 6&7. 
*Aside from the science facts, reading the cards is also great reading practice! The decoder brings enough excitement for them to want to read all the cards to everyone. 

9. Trekking the National Parks. 

I very reluctantly didn't include this one on my list of favorites. I love all the trekking games - I even backed Trekking the World on Kickstarter. I think it may be the themes that really do it for me, though. They are simple, fun, family games.
*The gameboard is a (distorted) US Map. So this is basically better than geography class. We love that kind of covert learning.

10. Battle Sheep.

Haha this one definitely looks like a kids game, but I would be lying if I said I haven't played it with just adults before (haha shall we blame the pandemic shut down?) It's simple enough but has a surprising amount of strategy! It gives me a slight checkers vibe, but has much more to it. 

The next 2 were on my favorites list but still deserve to be on this one as well. 

11. Ubongo.

A Tetris-style speed puzzle game. As I mentioned on my last list, Stanley has legitimately beat me on some of the puzzles. 

12. Double Ditto.

Our family loves word games like Buzzword, Scattergories, Anomia, 5 Second Rule, etc. But those can be difficult with a wider range of ages - Double Ditto is one that is fun for all and it really evens the playing field. 
 

And while we're talking about games that are great for a wide range of ages, i'll add in a bonus:

13. Telestrations. 

This is a really fun mash-up of Pictionary and Telephone. We have the party pack so up to 12 people can play at a time! It really bridges the gap across generations. A really great family game that will get everyone laughing! 

And while I can never leave my lists at 10, here are some honorable mentions. 

Sushi Go
Zeus on the Loose 
Rory's Story Cubes
Tenzi
Qwirkle
Cauldron Quest
Labyrinth 
Kingdomino (I think he will enjoy this one, I just haven't played it with him yet). 

Game Recommendations

 Okay since I did the post on toys, I now want to do a post on my other favorite topic – GAMES!

I love a good board game. Not the super long, super strategic, heavyweight “gaming” games – but quick, lightweight strategy games are totally my jam!
I’m trying to think of my top ten favorite games (I think this may be what it feels like when people try picking their favorite child).
But here it goes (in no particular order – because that would be WAY too hard):

1.       Carcassonne

An excellent tile placement game. I love this one because I think it spans all ages and ability levels. Young kids can understand the simple mechanics but there’s enough depth involved to not just hold an adult’s attention, but makes them want to come back for more - we almost always play it more than once in a sitting. (Plus there are a variety of expansions to choose from should you want to include them). Pretty much all the adults here are always down for a game of Carcassonne (and we definitely can’t say that about many games). it’s a relatively quick game, very easy to explain, and most notably, set up takes about 30 seconds. 2 thumbs up for sure!

2.       Splendor

I have to admit I judged this game by its cover so it took me awhile before I looked into it much. After seeing it recommended again and again it started to pique my interest. I was happy to see my aunt brought it to Idaho for our Girls Weekend in March. I fell in love the second I played it. (I also won the second time I played it haha). I immediately regretted not buying it when I had seen it go on sale because I had to wait many months for another good enough price!
It’s a card drafting and set collection game and honestly might be my very favorite (an always changing target). Also, it’s almost scary how completely silent the game usually is as we are all deep in thought, strategizing for our future in jewels.

3.       Sagrada

I love abstract games and I also love dice games so this one really speaks to me. Plus, I super love the puzzle-y element that this one includes. It’s definitely a think-y game, but since it’s paired with dice (aka LUCK) it makes for a fun (and frustrating) combination. At its simplest, just completing your grid (puzzle) with the rolls of the dice, adhering to placement rules, is a feat on its own, but then throw in the play order and trying to get what you need before someone takes it, tool cards and secret objectives that are different each game and even the strategy of choosing the grid (puzzle) to complete in the first place just adds more layers of greatness.
This one also has a solid solo variation. Highly Recommend.

4.       Azul

Another abstract strategy game with tile placement and set collection. It’s similar to Sagrada but different enough to be worth having both (in my opinion). There’s more player interaction in Azul – for better or for worse; as you can more easily strategize to change the course for your opponents, compared to Sagrada which is much more of a multi-player solitaire game.
I’ve had this one a lot longer and therefore played it more times, it’s just a really solid one. It’s simple enough to grasp, but the more you think about it the more complex it becomes. It requires planning ahead while also adapting to an ever-changing game state, with a little luck mixed in.

5.       Kingdomino

A card drafting, tile placement game. I initially got this one to play with my nephew, but Rachel, Mariah and I play it all the time ourselves (and actually I haven’t even played it with Stanley yet – he mostly prefers playing games he’s already played and not new ones).  It’s quick (and another 30 second set-up game #veryimportanttome) and has a good amount of strategy. (Ha, and also spatial reasoning which was hard to adjust to in the beginning). I love that it is like a new puzzle to solve each time, and you always need to adjust your approach for the tiles that become available on your turn. It’s another one that appears simple but has enough depth for adults. I also have and love Queendomino, but sometimes simpler is better, you know? But I love them so much I recently purchased the Age of Giants expansion – but haven’t played it yet. I’ll report back.   (They also have a kids version – Dragomino, that’s also fun and Gordon who is 3 and not super into games can play that one fine!)

6.       Trellis

This is another abstract strategy one that I just love. It is just a nice, quick, relaxing, visually satisfying good game. It’s one that if you’re not careful you may just end up making some non-competitive choices just for visual satisfaction. (haha, that would be me – I often just cannot help it. And yet I never regret it). It’s hard to be mad about losing this one – it just puts you in a good mood. It’s a very light strategy game that is definitely worth it in my opinion!
Also there is a pretty strong first player advantage so we’ve come up with some good house rules to mitigate that a little. (only having one card at a time; or picking 3 but not refilling your hand until you’ve played all your tiles). 
We’ve also just used the pieces to see if we can match all the vines.

 

7.       Ubongo

A tetris-like speed puzzle game. Another one that is fun for all ages (a great family game!). There is definitely an advantage for whoever finishes their puzzle first (and second in a 3+ player game), but they tried to throw in some curve balls (read: luck) with the scoring by also picking gems/points from a blind bag, this somewhat evens the playing field from being a straight up race and makes it more fun for kids to play along and not feel like they are being obliterated the whole time.  But if you’re playing with vastly different ages and stages, the younger ones may not be that competitive. That being said, my 7-year-old nephew has genuinely solved many of the puzzles faster than me.

8.       Double Ditto

Okay while we’re on the subject of family games, I’ll add Double Ditto. We are always on the lookout for good games that lots of players (like 5-12) can play at once that are fun for a wide range of ages (like 6-60). This one fits the bill. We grew up playing Scattergories, and while that one will always have a place in my heart, I think I like Double Ditto more. They are similar in gameplay, but are actually more like opposites. In Double Ditto you want to write what other people write and alliteration doesn’t matter (making it much easier for the first and second grade crowd to enjoy). It’s very simple: read a category card aloud and everyone writes down 2 things in that category. Truly, sometimes simple is best. And this one is definitely simple without being boring. It’s also much less competitive than Scattegories (we’ve had some epic arguments over the years – and thus had to implement the infamous “vote with your fingers, not your mouth!”) But Double Ditto always brings laughs and you really get to see how different everyone’s brains are. Such a good one!!

9.       Word on the Street

I always love a good word game and right now this one is my favorite! It’s a 2 team word party game – making it a great one for large families/gatherings (we’ve played it as just a 2 player game as well as up to 8 people – you potentially could do more, but more isn’t always merrier). Plus it’s simple to play and explain (and it’s great for spelling practice!) This game is unique because you have to think about all the letters a word contains to maximize your turn, so it’s much more strategic than many word recall games, but you also aren’t completely limited to specific letters like in Scrabble or Upwords.  The best of both worlds! Having a big vocabulary is helpful, but not as helpful as quickly coming up with lots of things in your category to choose the best one for the current state of the game. A sand timer adds stress, but also moves the game along as turns are only 30 seconds. It’s the perfect mash-up of a word recall/trivia-like, word, party game!
And let’s just give a shout out to our honorable mention: Bananagrams - because that’s just a classic (and totally closed the door on Scrabble and Upwords for me because it's similar but SO MUCH more enjoyable I never want to play the other ones).

10.   Anomia

Very surprisingly, not a lot of quick category trivia/word recall games are on this list yet. We will remedy that now! Word recall is probably my favorite type of party game, and Anomia is such a good one. For one, it’s quick and simple both to explain and to play; and two, there is absolutely no down time. While there is a turn order for flipping cards into your pile, everyone is essentially playing at the same time and you always have to be paying attention. When the symbol on your card matches the symbol on someone else’s card, which can happen at any time, you two are in a face off and must say something in the category on the other person’s card before they say something from the category on your card. It always brings the laughs and you may end up surprised at what your brain knows that your consciousness didn’t. Or why a random color comes out of your mouth when you’re supposed to be saying a cereal name. I think its sweet spot is between 4-6 players, but can be played with more if needed.

11.   Forbidden Desert

I love the whole Forbidden series trio, but this one remains my favorite. We all need a good cooperative game in the mix. This one has some set collection aspects and each player has a role with special powers/advantages that I enjoy.  While vey similar in mechanics to Forbidden Island, there are other elements that make it more complex – like multiple ways to die! Plus there is an always- shifting board which always keeps things interesting and challenging. It took a couple game plays before we even won for the first time – in a 3+ player game, we rarely win if we don’t have the water guy.

12.   Rummikub

This one and Yahtzee I just can’t not include on any favorites list. This one was my favorite game for… I think my whole life? (the only other games that I can think of that could have competed for a season would be Parcheesi, Mastermind and Stratego). But I'm pretty sure this one always reigned supreme. All I really know is that I have A LOT of Rummikub game plays under my belt.
I especially love (and sometimes hate) the many possible combinations of sets and runs and the constant re-arranging of the tiles. It’s super puzzle-y and gives the brain a good workout!

13.   Yahtzee

Ahh, our most played game of 2020. We played it 113 times in May alone. It must go on this list. Many of the older, “classic” games of my childhood didn’t age well for me – they really pale in comparison to the games they make now. But Yahtzee is one that still holds our attention (clearly). In my opinion, it’s definitely one of the best classics! And I don’t think it’s just the reminiscent factor – Yahtzee just passes the test of time for me. Plus it’s probably the reason I love dice games so much.  It’s a super quick, dice rolling game of probability!

14.   Pandemic

Because really, who can compile a list of games in 2020 and not include Pandemic?? (and also I wasn’t going to stop at 13!)  This is another cooperative game that actually has near identical mechanics to Forbidden Island (the actions you take, the routine of a turn, etc.), so if you've played that one, this one will feel like a familiar friend. But with a a more intense theme (or is that just 2020 talking) and bigger scope (you have to travel all over the world, whereas traveling in Forbidden Island is much simpler), you may find that this "familiar friend" is not quite as friendly. Essentially, it’s just a much bigger challenge for us. We don’t get this one out a ton, but it’s always enjoyable when we do. Even though we lose more than we win.

Okay I couldn’t stop at 10 – but I’ll end here.

I also didn’t add card games because that would just really complicate things.
But for the sake of not leaving them out I’ll add::

Five Crowns (my favorite for YEARS) – and I once played a game with a score of 0! (which yes, it was a check off of my bucketlist). 

SET (another classic). I used to be really good, but I am definitely losing my touch. 

6 Nimmt. It's super quick, super simple, but not boring. A real winner here. 

SkyJo. Yes, it is just the classic game golf with a few twists, so you don't need the game. I still love it though. And sometimes having a physical card game reminds you to play it more. I mean, I also have Play Nine which is also just the game of golf with slightly different twists than Skyjo. I just keep Play Nine in my car for when on-the-road game emergencies emerge.

The Game. It's fun, yet maddening, yet always keeps you coming back for more.  We always think we're really bombing it and then when we get to the end we're always closer than we thought.
This one also has a great solo variation. 

Cover Your Assets. Grandpa Beck always has the best instructions that make you want to laugh out loud. This one is best with 3+ players and leaves lots of room for strategy, stealing and fun. 

Skip Bo. How many times can I say, sometimes simple is best!

 

I left some real gems off of this list, so I may have to make this a regular thing (I love a good list!). 

Toy Spiel

Every year I get asked for toy and gift recommendations from clients. They are mostly looking for what toys will make their children a genius or something (um, so obviously, we still have work to do). But I mean we do talk A LOT about the importance of play, so i'm here for it.  

ANYWAY. I do have lots of thoughts on toys and I do have toy recommendations, so I figured this year I would just write it all out. 

But first, a super super short spiel about toys. 

Let's start by throwing it back to Jean Piaget when he said, “Play is the work of childhood.”
He surely wasn't wrong and all the new brain science that we have now gives him 2 thumbs up for his accuracy. And because play matters, toys matter (okay fine i'll say of course we don't NEED toys, but I mean - they are quite important! And not hard to get). Toys are the tools for that work – and unfortunately they are not all created equal.

We want open ended toys. Basically, the less the toy does, the better (there’s always exceptions, of course). But basically we want toys that kids really have to use their own imagination and creativity (and patience and problem solving) to really do the “work” themselves. And that work is promoting brain development and building important life skills. It really is important, and it really does matter. Toys that have batteries to talk (I especially don't like the ones asking you "educational" questions), make sounds, and light up, are often advertised as educational because that appeals to adults (and for good reason - we want what is best for our kids) but i'm here to say that open ended toys are FAR MORE educational than those ones. And they will probably be played with 100x time more often as well. I mean how many times are we really expecting a child to want to play g. Those toys are there to entertain your child. We want the child to use the toys to entertain themselves

Also, you don’t need many toys. Quality is so much more important than quantity (in fact, even a lot of good quality, open ended toys can be overwhelming to have out all at once). Less is definitely more when it comes to toys (has your child ever played with the one random toy at the doctors office for 40 minutes, but are “bored” at home in a room full of toys?).

Here are some examples of open ended toys that will yield hours of play. Promise.

1.       1. Something that builds. Wooden unit blocks and magnet tiles are my personal favorites. But train tracks, mega blocks/duplo/lego, keva planks (especially as they get older), marble runs and zoob builders are also great options. Endless possibilities for creative expression – plus it’s laying a foundation in math, spatial reasoning and it’s pretty much a science lab. Woof. And you thought they were just playing…

       2. Figures. A safe bet I always suggest is generic animals. (We have the Safari Ltd. toobs and then bigger, Schleich animals). Cars and vehicles or people and characters are open ended and fun, too. What will promote the best play is really dependent on the child. Some kids love animals, others love trains or cars; if you cater to their interests, they will do the rest. (And putting the figures with the building toy pairs better than cheese and crackers). 

AlAlso, in my opinion the more general the figure, the better. We love wooden peg people because they can literally be whatever– it’s really easy to adapt them to whatever is on their mind and their recent experiences, which is how kids play (also painting them is a fun, creative outlet for me). 

I have personal feelings against characters, but I am coming around to them. And they definitely CAN be open ended (they’re just not my preference). I do think some characters are better than others. For example, if your child loves Paw Patrol or Daniel Tiger, those characters MAY promote more play than toys from a specific Disney movie. Paw Patrol is an ongoing show, so each episode the child sees those characters saving the day in a new way, highlighting community helpers and problem-solving. Daniel Tiger is a preschool tiger dealing with lots of different real-life problems and experiences, easily relatable to kids. On the other hand, Belle from Beauty and the Beast has a very specific story. Each time you watch the movie, she does the exact same thing. It takes MORE effort to take a Belle figure and change up her thoughts, adventures and actions than it would a generic person figure. (Note: some kids can definitely have very open-ended play with Belle and other characters. If your child loves and plays with their character toys, great! Some kids do more easily than others.)  But if your child LOVES Tangled but they don’t truly PLAY with their Rapunzel figure, this may be why. They may love Rapunzel, they may even say it’s their favorite toy – but it may not be promoting the play a generic figure would. They may have a harder time moving from the Tangled storyline (and even though kids love and need repetition, nobody wants to act out Tangled every single day). Also Rapunzel won’t be there favorite forever – the more generic, the more it can be and the longer it will last. 

3.       3. Somewhere to “do” small world play. Like a dollhouse, treehouse or barn, for example. (Looking at you, 1990’s Fisher Price Loving Family Dollhouse – that was my jam as a kid!)
This one is especially fun if figure play is your child’s thing. It’s a “home base” for play. Some other examples include Fisher Price Little People, Calico Critters or Lil Woodzeez.

 Another way to do this is to provide a more “loose parts” approach. Collect things for your child to put together to make small worlds or environments themselves. Wooden or bottlebrush trees, a wooden rainbow, play silks/fabric, felt pieces, tree blocks, logs/sticks, wood pieces (rings, chips), etc. I found some large wooden circles at Hobby Lobby and painted one brown, one blue, one yellow – and they have been turned into “habitats” for the animals (natural sorting!) and have also been used with the blocks to make a “Tortuga” for the Kratt brothers to get to the animals safely and quickly. The wooden blocks, wooden rainbow and semi circles have created many dollhouses for the peg dolls. It adds an extra fun and beneficial element to the building/figure play.

4.       4. Something to Promote Pretend Play. Dolls or stuffed animals, a doctor kit, play food and dishes, etc. These provide opportunities to “try” different roles and act out situations from their everyday life– such rich social emotional learning takes place. Dress up costumes are another GREAT one. Firefighters, police officers, knights and kings, hair dressers, superheroes, etc. Old Halloween costumes or play silks or even just pieces of fabric are so open ended and can be so, so much! (And again, the more general the better if you want it to last!)

One more thought – less is definitely more. Sometimes when there are too many to choose from, they become more of a collection than something that promotes real, deep play. (If you don’t want to get rid of toys that are still loved, but find this to be a problem, look into toy rotation). 
(For instance, toy food can be fun and promote real play. But how much do we need? (there is not a right or wrong answer as all children are different). Having too much can definitely get in the way of play and creativity. Playing with toys is messy and that's often a good thing, but there is definitely a point where it's too much. When that point is reached, play will be hindered. What other toys could be repurposed as pretend food when needed (we have shape sorting rings that are donuts, pancakes, cookies, etc. and other wooden loose parts are great fillers for pastas and salads). That kind on-the-spot-creativity is great for brains! And just like that, open ended toys are like the gift that keeps on giving. 
 Another example is toy figures. We do have a bin of Disney characters but they don’t get a lot of play – for both of the reasons stated above. One, because there are so many it’s overwhelming when they get dumped out so it's not conducive to real play. And two, because it’s harder to look past their story lines to do small world play with them. That said, they do dump them out and sort them by movie, and they have definitely built Disneyland and other “homes” for them with blocks or magnet tiles – with separate houses or floors for heroes, villains, sidekicks, animals, etc. And they are fun to use in activities (letter sounds especially!)). But they are not chosen nearly as much as the more generic items. 

I'm not here to demonize toys. What works for one child may not for another. We all have different personalities and interests. But there's some things to consider when buying gifts this year. 

Woof. That was a lot of talk about toys. 

But wait, there's more!

With Christmas on so many people’s minds, here is another list of categories. This one is “non-toy-but-also-really-fun-and-promotes-hours-of-play-and-learning” items.

1.       1. Art Supplies: construction paper, tempera paint sticks, watercolors and STICKERS are my personal favorites. But of course crayons, markers, pipe cleaners and beads (and so many others!) are great, too.

2.       2. Sensory Materials: SENSORY BINS AND PLAYDOUGH ARE LIFE. Guys. I have such strong feelings about this one, it’s a little alarming. I'll maybe be back with more sensory-bins-are-everything words; but for now, get a small tote with a lid at Walmart or Target and fill it with dry beans, rice, oats, flour, rocks, even just water – then add some scoops (and other small toys/loose parts if you want to (small animals or construction trucks, glass gems, sticks, etc)) and… boom! Watch and be amazed.  Also playdough – put together a “kit” (again just the dough and animals would be enough – but you can go as simple or complex as you want). Then there's Kinetic sand? Water beads? Mad Matter? All the best. (Combine a sensory material with your small world play and your mind will be blown!)

3.       3. Books: I don't even know where to begin, so let's just keep it simple. Usborne Lift the flaps and Flashlight books are so fun, as is the “Big Book of “series by Yuval Zimmer. All of which are nonfiction. Nonfiction can be so fun for this age! For picture books, we love everything by Julia Donaldson and Chris Van Dusen (and a million other people!)  If you want more book recs, I’m here for it. Books are a great gift! 

4.       4. Games!!! I mean, how could I not? Games are my very favorite. Some littles are not into games and that is a-okay! But some are.
For super littles ones we love Seek a Boo and ThinkFun Roll and Play
For the older toddlers anything by Peaceable Kingdom (Hoot Owl Hoot, Feed the Woozle, etc.), Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, Frankie's Food Truck Fiasco,  Pop the Pig, Hiss, or Yeti in My Spaghetti.
For preschoolers, Outfoxed all the way! Also anything from Peaceable Kingdom (Hoot Owl Hoot, Race to the Treasure), Sequence for Kids, My First Castle Panic or a Story Telling Game (we love Eeboo’s Lion in My Way and the Fairytale Spinner Game, as well as Tall Tales – (which does have lots of little figures, so go for the one of the others one’s if you’re not into that)).
For next level up: Sleeping Queens, Sum Swamp, Guess Who, Dragonwood.
We have so many more young children's games (haha), but there's a good start! 

5."Activity-Esque:” This one I am adding especially for those toddlers. Toddlers love a good 

6. Gross Motor Play: Balls, small or large trampoline, balance beam, gymnastics mat, Nugget, sports equipment, skip-it (you guys, it's still a thing!) basically anything that makes you want to move your body. 

5.     7. Subscriptions: Who doesn’t love getting things in the mail? Most of these may be more suited for the kids on the older end (4-7 year olds) of the spectrum. There are so many awesome subscriptions out there.
Some are letters such as: Writings from the Wild (written from the perspective of an animal), Letters From Afar (written by fictional Isabelle who travels the country and writes of her adventures – also the illustrations are beautiful!), Francis the Goat (animals), Charm Post (geography with a mythical/magical emphasis) Miss Maisy's Tasty Travels (geography with recipes!), Polar Pen Pal (geography and culture of the Arctic) Wild Child Chronicles. There is also Post From the Past and Heritage Letter which are history letters that may be better suited for Elementary students. I'm sure there are even more now, too!
Some are Magazines: Nat Geo Kids, Zoo Books or Highlights.
But there are also so many activity boxes such as: baking subscriptions (opening a new recipe and ingredients each month), Universal Yums (open snacks and treats from a new country each month), Little Passports (another geography one with lots of activities and information from a new country each month).
Another activity box with so many options is Kiwi co. They have different boxes for different ages (from birth to teenagers – and even some I know adults get for themselves haha). They are STEM inspired but have different themes, like tinker, maker, doodle, etc. The ones for the under 5 crowd have Montessori type toys that encourage problem solving and exploration.
Similarly, LoveEvery is a subscription just for babies and toddlers. They send Montessori-inspired toys for your youngest ones every quarter. 
(You could also create your own subscriptions to gift with books, games, etc). 

6.       

Revival

 Here we go again!