There are so many fancy toys and high-tech new games for children today that sometimes we tend to forget how fun and educational the old classics can be. I still remember how much fun I used to have playing rummy with my best friend in elementary school, and while I don’t pull out a deck of cards very often anymore, I always have a great time when I do.

Recently, I got a chance to share my love of cards with my son and teach him some valuable lessons about strategy and number recognition in the process, thanks to Discovery Bay Games. This sensational company provides games, puzzles and activities for everyone from preschoolers to adults with a high focus on fresh and original entertainment. I was thrilled when I got to review the beautiful Discovery Bay Games Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Classic Card Set for myself.

This card set is intended for ages four and older and contains four of the most popular classic games of all time: Old Maid, Crazy 8s, Rummy and Go Fish. The simple games provide exceptional appeal, however, as a result of the authentic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey artwork that decorates each card. Children and adults alike will love the colourful, whimsical illustrations that are so prominent on these cards.

Zackary loved the card set and immediately wanted to play a round of Go Fish, so we sat down together to play with the cheerful cards. The matching pictures on the sets of cards make this a great game for a wide range of ages since those that are still working on number recognition skills can match up the pictures instead of the numbers. Zackary has had a good grasp on his numbers for quite a long time, but he still occasionally made use of the pictures to match his cards, especially when he was dealing with the 6s and 9s. Of course, in typical young child fashion, he laid all his single cards out neatly in front of him for all the world to see before looking up and asking, “Do you have any nines?”

Even better, when I intentionally let him win by asking for numbers he didn’t have, he would sometimes respond with, “No. You KNOW I don’t! Go Fish!” We both had a great time, and when Zackary got to count up the pairs that he had made, he was so proud of himself!

We had just as much fun playing Old Maid, and I just loved the “Pie in the Face” clown that represented the old maid. While Zackary was a little too young to quite understand the concepts of my own personal favourite, Rummy, I did start working with him on the basic rules of Crazy 8s. We especially liked sitting down to play a game of cards when Benjamin had his nap; it was quiet enough that we didn’t have to worry about waking him, but still lots of fun for both of us.

The cards come packaged in a beautifully decorated keepsake box and are sure to be a treasured gift for circus fans of all ages. I love the fact that my son gets so much enjoyment out of these simple games and is willing to set aside video games and battery-powered toys to play cards with his mother. It’s not hard to see why this set won the Creative Child Magazine 2010 Game of the Year Award; any game that can keep a child entertained without all the bells and whistles they’ve become accustomed to must be a winner. If you want to introduce your child to some of the most beloved card games of all time, there is no more child-friendly way to do so than with the Discovery Bay Games Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Classic Card Set. You and your child will both have a great time, with no batteries required!

Buy It: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Classic Card Set can be purchased at Amazon.com

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Classic Card Set from Discovery Bay Games

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Giveaway ends 11:59 pm CST on April 21, 2011. Open to US and Canada

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