Dads can stimulate kids’ interest in math, science, and nature by combining two things they love: trading card games and animals. Like the blockbusters Pokèmon and Yu-Gi-Oh, Xeko involves collecting trading cards to create a custom library—or in this case, “Xeko-system”—and using the cards to defend their habitats in exciting game play. Instead of monsters and fantasy, Xeko takes its cues from nature and science, casting actual animal species as the heroes and basing game play on ecosystem relationships.

This year’s toy sensation is all about a hot game designed to keep the planet cool. Mission: Indonesia is the newest edition of Xeko, the award-winning eco-adventure card game that teaches kids about endangered species and the world’s conservation “hotspots.”

We at GreatDad love this game. The rules take a little getting used to for little kids, but the illustrations are well-done and we like the secondary card-trading aspect of the game, which has a social message as well.