A really pleasant surprise this year was the recurring theme of open-ended play that involves the entire family. Wise Alec (shown here) is the brainchild of a schoolteacher who had the brilliant idea to create a board game that can be completely customized to include (and challenge) everyone from preschoolers to teens. Other brands offered creative, innovative family board games as well, with plenty to choose from at Educational Insights.
Brackitz, an open-ended building set, was a new favorite this year (and it's made in the US!), and blocks were a recurrent theme throughout the fair. Learning Resources' Create-a-Maze was another fun toy with endless possibilities for solo or multiperson play.
