The Deck of Play

From the self-proclaimed Michael Jordan of Babysitting comes a deck of 50 cards with ingenious screen-free ideas for engaging in play with kids, ages 5 to 12, come rain or shine.

These cards aren't meant to be a complete set of instructions. They’re a starter kit. A big pile of ideas to spark new ones. I hereby grant you permission to act ridiculous, be inventive, and forget all the boring rules of adulthood.

Chelsea Anderson (aka the world's best babysitter) knows exactly how to get kids off the screens and into analog activities. In The Deck of Play, adapted from her guide Do As I Play, she gives you 50 ideas for structured and unstructured activities that kids ages 5 to 12 can play indoors and out.

Whether the kids are stuck inside due to rain or snow, or they say they're bored in the backyard, these cards turn everyday objects and materials into potential for imaginative play. Look forward to games like:

• Rainbow Scavenger Hunt: Turn a long walk into a color-collecting adventure where kids become little detectives scanning their environment for colors of the rainbow.
• Tiny Town: Build an entire city on your floor for the toy cars and dolls, with a giant sheet of paper for the road and materials found around the house to create the buildings, trees, river, and even a playground.
• Ocean Jar: Fill a jar with sand, rocks, and shells and add blue-tinted water. Pour in some baby oil to make beautiful waves when you shake the jar.
• The Craziest Lie: Instead of scolding kids for fibbing, channel that energy into a game where everyone takes turns telling the most unbelievable lie they can think of (at the end, talk about how fun it is to make up stories, but that it's important to save lies for stories and games, not real life).

With easy-to-follow instructions for indoor and outdoor games and activities that require just a few materials (and often none at all!), these cards will get your creative juices flowing and making up more kid-friendly games in no time. The secret ingredient behind Chelsea's play hacks is a truly child-centric worldview, where she teaches us how to imagine and communicate with their childlike wonder. Whether you're a new parent or a seasoned caregiver, you'll return to this deck again and again to spark laughter, creativity, and connection.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs