I played this as a child and have passed it on
This is a game I played as a kid and really enjoyed it, so I've passed it on. It's a bit of a mess at first and cleanup can be tricky but overall it's a great game for kids.

Hammer to Fall
Thanks to some clumsy pre-teen footing I once fell through the ice. Not metaphorically, either. Literally. If it wasn't for the quick thinking of my pal cousinpaco, chatchi would still be at the bottom of the frozen creek and I wouldn't be around today to share his story.

The years following my mishap were plagued by nightmares of falling through the ice - over and over and over again. But in my dreams cousinpaco wasn't there to save me.

I enrolled in some deep-hypnotic therapy, then medically-induced comas, hoping to rid my life of these horrible memories. When that didn't work my therapist recommended I deal with my fears head-on...

By purchasing the popular Hasbro game, Don't Break the Ice.

I questioned his rationale at first, but after only a few games it was clear why he recommended it. The ice-skating polar bear symbolized me - warm, dry and carefree on the surface of the ice. The two light-weight green mallets symbolized life's adversities, slowly but surely chipping away at the ice around me.

The purpose of Don't Break the Ice is to use the mallets to knock away the "ice" cubes without jeopardizing the life of the polar bear, who would much rather ice skate than fall through the ice to the frigid water below.

The tapping sound the mallet makes as it strikes the ice often reminds me of the cracking ice I heard that fateful day, but thanks to the replay-ability of Don't Break the Ice, I eventually got over my fear of frozen water (and the tapping noise).

I'd recommend this game to anyone with similar life-changing experiences such as mine, and I'll certainly recommend it to my children should they ever fall through the ice. Metaphorically AND literally.

Don't Break the Ice is meant for two or more players, but it only takes one person to fall through the ice. Two people if you want someone to save you after you fall through the ice.

Maybe bored children watch too much tv and game boy
These classic toys are great and wonderful for fine motor development and problem solving. My kids (4 y.o.) love them. My kids don't have game boys or watch tv, though. I think the reason they seemed less "boring" 30 years ago was because parents played WITH their kids and there were more games that involved interaction with PEOPLE and less electronic distractions.

Simple fun
This toy is great fun to play, though a bit annoying to reset. Smaller children may need help in setting it up. My first grader can do it but it took her a few times to get how to pull the pieces and make them fit. We all enjoy the game.

Hours of entertainment for my grandchildren!
This is a wonderful way to let my grandchildren enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. We can now enjoy all four games and my grandchildren, ages 4 and 7, can't wait to play them when they stay at Gammie's house.