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Secret Square

Ages 4 & up

Ask your best questions - the better your questions the faster you win! This game is perfect primer to the game 20 questions.

The object of the game: to collect the most chips

How to play the game: Before playing for the first time, stick one sticker to the top of each square. Select 25 squares at random and line up in 5 columns of 5 rows each. Give 3 chips to the youngest player - who becomes the Hider. The other players - the seekers - each get 7 chips.

The seekers close their eyes as the Hider hides one chip under a square. This square becomes the 'secret square' for this round. The player (seeker) to the left of the Hider starts. seekers take turns asking questions about the pictures on the squares to discover which square is the 'secret square' that hides the chip. Each time a seeker asks a question they must give the Hider a chip.

The seeker continues a turn as long as he/she gets a yes to the question asked. If a no answer is given the turn passes to the next seeker to the left. The game ends after 6 rounds or when one player runs out of chips. The player with the most chips wins.

Why parents love this game:

• Children develop their question asking skills - from specific to categorical
• As children grow older variations can be played to increase the level of difficulty (I Spy, Guess My Tiles, Story Chain)
• Pieces can be placed in a ziplock back for traveling
• It can be played with teams
• It has simple rules
  

About the Author: The "Toy Guru" is Odette Cabrera, a mother of two with a background in education and child development, and a very personal interest in toys that are fun, challenging and educational.

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