Just before the Seder night, the security reality and the prolonged stay in protected spaces present Israeli parents with a double challenge: Managing an emergency routine alongside the need to reduce children’s passive screen time. While the economy prepares for the holiday under restrictions, the thinking games and digital pedagogy market offers solutions that combine enjoyable play with educational value. From innovations in classic board games to augmented reality technologies – these are the options that will help families spend time in safe rooms and shelters with quality content.
A classic that does not depend on electricity: FoxMind
When there is no reception or when you want to disconnect from the news, board games are the family’s anchor. FoxMind, the leading company in Israel for thinking games, presents new editions and original games that will turn any family or social gathering into an experience of enjoyment. The new games are now available for purchase in retail chains and selected toy stores across the country.
Pets (from the “What’s in the picture” series): A visual memory game that includes 55 trivia cards about animals. Suitable for ages 6 and up. Price: NIS 109.
Square Challenge: A dynamic thinking puzzle with tens of thousands of possible combinations, based on placing blockers according to dice rolls. Suitable from age 6. Price: NIS 109.
SmartMax – my First Totem: A magnetic kit designed for toddlers to develop coordination and three-dimensional vision. From age one. Price: NIS 109.
SmartMax – vehicles and Aviation: Magnetic car and airplane parts that can be assembled and combined with other kits in the series. From age one. Price: NIS 129.
Double! Catan: A combination of the fast identification mechanics of “Double” with the content world of the popular strategy game Catan. From age 8. Price: NIS 85.
Catch the Fairy Tale Card: A speed and observation game based on identifying matching features between cards. From age 5. Price: NIS 59.
Trio: A strategic card game that won Game of the Year 2024 in Cannes, based on revealing number trios. From age 8. Price: NIS 49.90.
Avocado Boom: A fast reaction game packaged in a unique avocado-shaped box. From age 6. Price: NIS 55.
Turbo: A compact challenge game especially suitable for small spaces, based on matching discs to mission cards. From age 6. Price: NIS 65.
Slapzi: A rhythmic game of matching images to clues, designed for up to 8 participants. From age 8. Price: NIS 89.
Flipolo Cramel: A memory and quick recognition game based on familiar characters from the book and television series. From age 5. Price: NIS 79.
10 Who Knows series: Guessing games in 10 questions on various topics: Animal Kingdom / Countries of the World / Professions: NIS 65 per unit. Animal Kingdom Junior: Adapted for ages 3–6 (no reading required).
When the screen becomes a learning tool: Gordon Innovative Pedagogy
In the reality of an emergency routine and prolonged time at home, parents face a double challenge: The need to balance work and concern alongside children’s growing demand for screen time. Instead of turning screens into a source of conflict, there is an opportunity to turn them into a space for active learning and creation. “Phygital” games, which combine the physical and digital worlds, allow children to build, solve problems, and receive immediate feedback, thus transforming passive viewing into an experience that develops independent thinking and curiosity.
Beyond the educational aspect, such activity has significant emotional and social value, especially during time spent in protected spaces. Shared play creates moments of relief, laughter, and closeness between parents and children, and enables positive connection even during tense periods. Choosing the right content turns the screen from a tool for passing time into a platform for development and a bonding family experience. At Gordon Innovative Pedagogy, you can find a variety of games that will make screen time meaningful, experiential, and educational:
Artificial Intelligence Chess: A kit that includes a physical board and pieces that connect to an app. The system learns the child’s level and guides them through their first moves. Price: NIS 265.
Interactive Globe: Use of augmented reality (AR) to bring the globe to life. Scanning regions around the world reveals information about cultures, animals, and history without the need for a constant internet connection. Price: NIS 140.
Augmented Reality Shirt: A shirt that allows you to “look” into the human body using an app, and learn about the respiratory and circulatory systems in three dimensions (in English). Price: NIS 250.
Plugo Combo: A comprehensive kit that combines three content worlds: Mathematics, thinking games, and English, using physical accessories in front of the screen. Price: NIS 690.
History from the couch: An adventure podcast for the whole family
The new podcast “Mysteries in Time” offers a creative solution for parents looking for activities for children at home. It is a humorous series of 19 episodes, created in collaboration with leading organizations such as the Nature and Parks Authority and the 929 initiative. Through actors Yuval Segal, Yaniv Polishuk, and Lian Ben Yishai, listeners go on a journey through time following historical mysteries at well-known sites such as Ein Gedi, Herodium, and Beit Guvrin.
Beyond the listening experience from the couch, the podcast is part of a broader initiative that includes interactive riddle games to be launched during Passover at 20 heritage sites and national parks. The episodes are designed so they can accompany physical visits to the sites and enhance them, but they also stand on their own as funny and enriching adventure stories that can be enjoyed anywhere and at any time.