Cranium Brain Breaks Review and Giveaway

Hello Neighbors!

 I had a really busy day today!  We redid the back enclosed patio into a room for the younger girls.  Now we are putting insulation into the ceiling.  So, while one of my sons started stapling in the insulation, we went to pick up plywood to cover it.  Of course we had to stop at 2 yard sales, 2 thrift stores, have lunch out, and of course go to the hardware store!  So, after dinner this evening we decided to relax a little and have some fun!

I pulled out the newest game we have, Cranium Brain Breaks ($14.99)!  It is the neatest little container, the top is brain shaped.  It has 200 one minute mini games.  This was seriously fun!  The game includes 100 cards, 6 Cranium Cubes, 1 Die, Timer, Cranium Clay and a note pad.  It is for ages 8 and up, although some younger children could probably play too! 2 or more players. Here is how you play.  Set all the contents of the game out.  You will need to grab a pencil or two.  (They are not included.)  The player whose birthday is coming up next goes first.  The first person takes a card from the deck.  Choose an activity (there is one on each side of the card) and then read it aloud.  Everyone works together to successfully complete the activity before the time runs out.  If you want to get competitive try Brain Breaks with two teams.  Each team randomly draws five cards and picks seven of the 10 activities to do.  Teams take turns attempting the activities.  The first team to successfully complete seven activities wins.  You must win by two.  Keep taking cards from the deck until one team pulls ahead by two for the win.

This can get really silly.  The first card we drew, was called Food Frenzy.  I rolled the Cranium Cubes, which have letters on them.  Then I roll the number die, and start the timer.  Then we had to come up with as many flavors of ice cream as the number on the die that started with each of the letters rolled before the time runs out.  We actually had it pretty easy as I only rolled a one.  Our letters were N, A, M, C, D, and T.  So we came up with Neapolitan, Almond, Mint, Chocolate, Dutch Chocolate, and Truffles. Not sure about the Truffles, but we let it slide!

The next card was called Beat It.  I start the timer and then use my hands and drum a beat out on the table.  Everyone joins in with their own beat, which we must continue until the timer runs out.  This one became quite loud!

One more card!  Things With...I roll the die and start the timer.  We work together to come up with in each category, which I will give you in a minute.  If I rolled a 4, we have to come up with four items for each category before the timer runs out.  Our categories were, Things with corners, things with holes, and things with teeth.  Here is what we came up with:box, paper, house, block, donut, LP (record), ear, mouth, shark, comb, saw and dentures.

This is definitely a fun game, and it is easy to play.  We didn't do one yet with the clay, but reading through the cards there is one where you have to sculpt a face of someone you know and everyone guesses until someone gets it right before the timer runs out.  Sound like fun?

This would be a great ice breaker when a group gets together.  It would also be easy to take on a trip and play a quick game. Have just a few minutes in the evening?  Pull out Cranium Brain Breaks!

At the Fence gives Cranium Brain Breaks a thumbs up.  And Hasbro is going to send the winner of this giveaway their own Cranium Brain Breaks! This giveaway ends 10/18