When you go out to eat, do you flip over a paper placemat, or use a piece of paper from your purse, to play hangman with your kids? I know you need nothing more than paper and pencil for this easy way to pass the time, but this impulse buy – a wooden Hangman game by Melissa & Doug – has been a HUGE hit with my kids.

It’s hard to tell from the photo, but each individual wooden tile letter and body part is held to the wooden board by a very strong nylon cord (the same way the pen on the right is held on). The pen – very usefully – has an eraser on the cap. Where you write the words at the bottom is white board material, so you just write on and wipe off.

You start with the letters face up, and the body face down. Each time you guess a letter, you flip it face down (whether it’s a correct or an incorrect guess), so that you know which letters have been used and which ones are left. Each time you guess incorrectly, you reveal a piece of the hangman’s body. (Of course – you know how to play the game).

This new toy was a lifesaver on an ill-fated car ride to Yankee Stadium earlier in the week. Note to self: Never drive to Yankee Stadium ever again.

As it’s a Melissa & Doug toy, you can count on the quality, and it’s very easy to find this online, including Target, Toys R Us and Amazon. And hopefully you can find it in your local toy store. I bought it at the nearby Lakeshore Learning Center.

I only have a couple more days until I get Rolando back from Cuba. I can’t wait to see his photos and hear all about his trip. And I said goodbye to my sister and nephew this morning. We had a great week together: the beach, the pool, the Yankees, the Bronx Zoo, ice cream, chocolate covered pretzels, shopping, a US soccer game and a whole lot of Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii. I’m so glad they came.

Happy weekend to everyone!