Welcome back to all dear readers! THE APPOINTMENTS NOT TO BE MISSED WITH YOUR CHILD IF YOU ARE A FAN OF GAMES

It had been some time that I was worried about what to write interesting when a few days ago while I was going to pick up the grandchildren I got a shock! Going to one of the many agri-ice cream shops, now widespread throughout Italy, discovered thanks to the numerous themed sites and blogs, I thought of an article that would advise the numerous parents who follow us and read about the most important appointments dedicated to gaming!

In fact, more and more parents are passionate about games who try not only to transmit their passions to the little ones but above all to stimulate them with intelligent and creative games. For this reason they are looking for places that can offer this kind of playful entertainment.

Leaving aside the numerous appointments that more and more associations, municipalities, institutions and above all shops organize to entertain the little ones, making them discover the beauty of playing outdoors with creative, group and social games, I will instead focus on the “more big ones ”which often involve thousands of enthusiasts and who pay particular attention, if not entirely to a large extent, also to the little ones. The target? The spread of intelligent play and the promotion of a playful culture, of an alternative and quality toy that promotes socialization and mental development.

Proceeding in a chronological sense starting from August, the first fair is certainly the GiocAosta , which will take place from 9 to 12 August in the historic center. An opportunity therefore to visit a beautiful city surrounded by the majesty of the Alps!

This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the event and the appointments are really many: in addition to the many games to try, we find an entire section dedicated to children with board games and historical reproductions, a training and reflection workshop on ‘good play’ and ‘bad game’, designed for students and educators, a survival path with aiming and speed tests, an itinerant treasure hunt through the streets and monuments of Aosta, following the traces proposed by archaeologists, an interactive show in which, divided in crews, the spectators decide the fate of the rich Nomis Archipelago, a game-treasure hunt in pairs in the regional library and another great night hunt for teams of 4 to 8 participants,launched through the most disparate tests in the historic center of the city… and more tournaments of table football, darts, cyclo-cap, checkers, radio controls but above all many board games, in every conceivable sauce!I highly recommend that you consult the rich program and with the opportunity also visit a region that is unique in terms of food and landscape.

Continuing we find a small local event in Turin that has been able to become really big by increasing the exhibition space every year and changing location; dedicated exclusively to the little ones but which has also been able to become a point of reference for all passionate Lego builders, the Arsludica Festival will take place in Turin on 6 and 7 October at Lingotto Fiere . There are many organized workshops and most of them have a creative theme: drawing, construction and painting will be able to entertain all the participants!

One of the most important events of the whole year is certainly the Lucca Comics & Games (31 October – 4 November throughout the city of Lucca) . The numbers of this event are head-turning and it is no coincidence that it is the second reference fair in Europe and in the top 10 in the world: 700 exhibitors, 90 locations within the walls of the Tuscan city, over 240 thousand admissions from ticketing in five days. The space dedicated to the little ones grows every year and occupies an entire building: the Family Palace. There are many exhibitions and activities for children and their parents, with workshops also designed for schools.

Close to Christmas it has now become a fixed appointment for all Milanese children and their families, even involving the neighboring regions: G! come Giocare is the fair organized directly by the trade association, Assogiocattoli, and will be held from 23 to 25 November in Fieramilano City . There are many proposals and news again this year: from the magic laboratory, to how to create a balloon, to laboratories managed by the order of psychologists of Milan, with modeling clay and even with cake design. There will also be many guests and lots of mascots to entertain the little ones.

Coming off the boot and arriving in spring we meet Play in Modena, from 5 to 7 April : an event that certainly differs from those mentioned so far but which, especially with the latest edition, wanted to offer a large dedicated play area. to the little ones with a pavilion dedicated entirely to them. Unlike the other events in this one the absolute protagonist is the board game and therefore exclusively board games for children were presented, with many demonstrators ready to explain every rule: from motor games organized by the University of Modena and from the National Association of Ludobus and Recreational Centers, to the fantastic wooden games of the Buon Sollazzo Engineering, the largest spinning top track.

For a board game enthusiast this is an event not to be missed and finally parents will be able to bring their children knowing that they too will not be bored anymore.

Finally, I close the circle by obviously recommending one of the most popular salons both nationally and internationally which is the Turin Book Fair , from 9 to 13 May 2019 at the Lingotto Fiere in Turin . The fair presents a whole series of appointments not only within the fair and during its days, but there are also numerous collateral events organized by associations, bookshops and libraries whose main objective is the development of reading. The game therefore also passes through this kind of events since the game is culture: not only has it been present since our childhood and the dawn of time but it continues to produce new ones.

At the activity level, the book fair program is full of events: not just an entire pavilion dedicated to children with reading tips, exhibitions and creative workshops that also accompany schools on a path designed especially for them; but the area dedicated to games expands every year until, with the last edition just completed, it occupies almost an entire pavilion. And so the two worlds merge, coexist, intertwine with each other, creating new and enthusiastic horizons.

To provide all readers with opportunities to play in other areas of Italy as well, I mention three fairs that tread more in the footsteps of Lucca Comics: Romics in Rome (2 appointments: from 4 to 7 October and from 4 to 7 April 2019, the Comicon in Naples (there is still no precise date but it should be around the end of April 2019) and also Etna Comics in Catania (again between late June and early June next year.) All of these fairs have expanded their “kids & family” offer over the years through thematic areas, events and activities that can accommodate a wider range of visitors. On the other hand, we know today’s children will be tomorrow’s adults and the phrase ” man does not stop playing because he gets old but ages because he stops playing ”- GB Shaw – fits perfectly!

However, I am sure that there are many other entertainment and fun events for our beloved children, these are just a few tips and obviously it would have been impossible to mention them all, but if you know one that is particularly suitable, write it to us in the comments in order to help as many families as possible. all of Italy to spend moments of true joy.