Talicor Pocket UNGAME - Kids - Non-Competitive Card Game for Kids to Discuss, Share Values & self Express - Know What Your Kids are Thinking - Age 5+

My fiancé and I started playing this game just a week after our first date … we wanted to get to know each other on a deeper level. Both of us had spent years dating great people but came to realize that they weren't "the right one." I wanted to find my soulmate and so did he. This game is amazing because the questions help you to discover who that person is, what makes them tick, what makes them angry - and how they act when they're angry, If/how their parents showed affection, how they were disciplined…etc. I realize that people can gain this kind of understanding for their boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife without this game. However, in my dating experience, it's taken years to achieve the kind of deep understanding that this game fosters in a matter of weeks. I'd imagine that asking someone these questions would be awkward if you weren't playing the game. But since it's the point of the game for both people to answer personal questions, it takes the awkwardness out of it and makes it fun to open up to each other. I highly recommend this game if you don't want to "waste" years of your life dating the wrong person. Speaking IMHO, it's better to know early on if we differ on how to raise children, how to spend money, how to celebrate holidays, etc. I could also see this game working wonders on your relationship even if you're already married because a rule in the game is that you can't speak unless it's your turn. Truly listening and feeling like you're being listened to is vital to successful communication, and when you can communicate effectively, you are able to see past differences and understand the other's heart. Even something as simple as asking each other a question from one card while getting ready for work in the morning can keep the communication lines open and strengthen any relationship.

**Important to note** This game is geared more towards being a therapeutic tool, however it is advertised for a wide range of social settings & groups. So if you are looking for a "ice-breaker" game, this may not meet your expectations or purposes and may get too "real" for your liking. Just something to keep in mind when you are considering this. Its a great tool, as long as you understand that while the game can be fun, it also carries a serious tone as well. I have provided a picture sampling of what kinds of questions the cards ask. The cards on the left are the numbered 1 cards, which are intended to be ice-breakers & light hearted and the cards on the right are the numbered 2 cards, which focus on feelings and emotion, deeper stuff. To those looking at this for a therapy tool I use this a lot with my teen clients to build rapport & I have had great results from it. I have also had a few teens that really didn't respond well to it too. So it can be hit and miss, but I have had more good results than bad. This game requires self disclosure, so if your not comfortable self-disclosing to your clients, then this game may not be for your tool-kit. Comparison to the old version This All ages version does have different questions than the old version (many are similar), but I think they were updated to be more relevant (and these have a larger print size), but they help accomplish the same thing as the old version. I've seen some reviews mention that the questions have religious undertones, I've been through every card in this version and the old and the closest to that is a the question "Talk about the importance of a religious faith in your life". And quite frankly it opens the door for you to learn more of how your client views the world around them no matter if they are religious or not. Basic information How many cards are there? There is 140 total cards, 70 in each deck and they are all numbered. The 1s are light hearted for ice-breakers, getting acquainted and some fun and laughter and the 2s deal with feelings, values and experiences. If its something someone doesn't want to talk about, they can always pass. Do you need the game board? Personally I have never used the game board, but I've heard from others that have, say that it is confusing and really doesn't make sense, but that is their experience with it, it may not be yours. I just use the cards by themselves and it works out just fine. Could you come up with these questions on your own? Most of them probably yes, but I honestly think you might not think to ask most either and consider this, you pay for the convenience of not having to write down over 100 questions (and they cover a broad range of topics) unless you just have a lot free time on your hands and personally as student intern, I do not. Should you invest money in this? Some will feel this is money well spent like myself, others will get this and will not have the same sentiments. From my experience with using this, it is a great resource and tool to be at least given a chance.

I'll be honest, I really didn't think I would like The Ungame. It was referred to me in grad school, and it really just looked like a waste of time, and I bought my first copy of The Ungame with just that in mind... to use as something to pass time when I found myself "stuck" with nowhere to go. Boy was I wrong. The Ungame works great as an icebreaker activity when you are still getting to know clients. It asks questions for all participants (including the counselor) to answer in a safe, non-threatening manner than help to understand people's values, thoughts, and ideas on numerous subjects. The clients that I use it with seem to enjoy it a lot, and often request to play it from time to time, or in group sessions. The game comes with two sets of card, with set 1 being more general questions, and set 2 being more personal, in-depth questions. The publisher states that set 2 should only be used with a trained counselor/therapist, and only with clients that you have already developed a strong rapport with, and I tend to agree, as some responses of set 2 questions have led to more in-depth processing with the client that would be best done with a trained professional. In my experience, teens seem to enjoy the Ungame the most ( there are versions for kids, teens, and families), and seem to get the most out of it. It helps them to look at certain values in their lives, and understand why they hold particular values, thoughts, and ideas. Often times, it helps them to explore areas that they either feel uncomfortable discussing with others, or areas that they haven't really had to think much about until it was brought up during the game. Along with the game, pulling specific cards for specific sessions has also been helpful when trying to start a discussion on those topics. I am very glad that I followed someone's advice and bought The Ungame, and highly recommend it for anyone working with teens in a counseling/therapy setting.

So I was a bit skeptical when I ordered this for our school social work office this summer. "Therapy games" are usually pretty out of touch, and if -I- think it's lame, my kids will usually think it's lame, too. With the Ungame, though, I was pretty surprised that even the most mature questions ("talk about credit cards") led to some pretty great conversations with kids 4th grade and up. Kids seem to dig taking turns and talking about themselves, and usually get engaged to the point that they're asking the other students about their stories. The cards are flimsy, as cards often are, and don't stand up well to most of our kids, who like to hold them and snap them while they talk. The box says you could play this game with kids down to 5, and maybe you could, but I would suggest going through the decks and picking out cards that might be a little more suitable for the younger crowd. All in all, it's a solid addition to our bookcase of games and tools, and I'd recommend it to anyone who works with kids one-on-one or in groups.

Great choice for a therapist or any parent wanting to understand how their kid thinks!

My 13-year-old has some social anxieties. He played this game with his therapist and we bought it for the home. We sat around the dining room table the first night as a family and had some great conversations. I found out things that I did not know about both of my kids. I think we were talking for a good 45 minutes before bed.

I purchased this because I am a therapist who has begun doing some group work and individual therapy with adolescents, and I thought this might be good as some conversation starters. This is a nice little tool, however, it's really only ideal for teenagers who are middle to upper class, come from two-parent households, and are involved in some religious or spiritual affiliation. While looking at some of the questions, they seem too biased towards the values and lifestyles of this population. For example, some of the cards ask things like "what special problems might an unwed mother face?" There's nothing wrong with the question on its face, but when you consider the social implications, the card is sort of indicating that a mother being "unwed" is an inherent problem. In some segments of our society, unwed motherhood is common, and is not necessarily viewed as the cause of any particular problem. Furthermore, it's biased again in the sense that it doesn't address whether unwed fathers might face similar problems. I think the real problem is in the wording. Because by asking that question in that way, the game is automatically alienating a specific segment of the population. I wish the questions had been more generalized to reflect diverse experiences. But, there are still some really good questions. I might still use it, but I'll select questions specifically.

This is a little known about "game" that is a powerful tool to open communication and hearts and minds. My dad bought the board game version back around 1979, and I was favorably impressed by it. Years later, I bought a couple different pocket--travel--versions (when my children were younger). I used those games with my children and their friends as they got older. I can remember standing around the kitchen with gis who were 15-18, doing this. Rather a vulnerable position for them to be risking revealing things about themselves, but safe because all played. I used it for small groups in my home. Now that I've moved away and begun creating a new life, I bought this last box to use at dinner parties and cocktail parties. It is one of the very best ice breakers I know. It is also one of the most enriching activities you could choose to bring to friends and family. PS Playing by the rules really DOES mean that more people will disclose things. There is good reason we don't say ANYTHING unless it is our turn. If one person gets "Oh, good answer!" aanother gets nothing said, it can create a sense of popularity and keep some from feeling safe enough to open up. Think about it: the rules are important because they ensure each person has equal footing.