Games

[SuzySunshine]

I need suggestions for my kids that are not building or imagination play.

They have CandyLand, Chutes & Ladders, Matching/Memory, Uno, Food Bingo, and DH is teaching them to play checkers. I need other games for them to play. I think they're getting Hungry Hungry Hippos for Christmas.

Other suggestions? They are 3 & 5.

[HouseofWool]

For A, I would suggest the game Trouble. Caleb loved it at that age and there is just enough math in it to be educational.

What about Hi-Ho-Cherio for R?

[Deebs]

Don't break the Ice (you have to set it up but they'll love it!), Cootie, and Monopoly Jr are all favorites.

[ladymoreta]

They've brought back Mouse Trap, haven't they? I loved playing thy game when I was little. Mom and Dad would set it up for us, and we'd just roll until someone got caught in the trap.

[Vanquisher]

My kids love Apples to Apples. There's a jr version.

[scrub-jay]

Cootie & Go Fish were some of my faves

[Phoebe]

My kids loved and still play

The Matching Game (It comes in many different themes)
The Ladybug Game
Cards- Crazy Eights, Go Fish (again has different themes)
Dr Suess Games- ABC it's like twister with the Alphabet
Horton Hears a Who You to the Rescue! It's really cute. You hide clovers and when you land on a certain board area, you put on the Horton hat and try to find the clovers with the trunk.
Wii Games
Head Bandz
Dominoes
More for As age is Guess Who, Perfection, Ponyopoly
My kids also love puzzles

[alison]

This is where Germans know what they're doing. I picked up 11 games when we were there this past summer--perfect for dd's age... Why there are so few in the States I will never know.

Dd plays Candyland on occasion. And Chutes and Ladders.

[oceanchild]

I don't think this even remotely educational, but some of my friends' kids (3-4) love Elefun.

[TigerLily]

A's faves are Hungry Hippo and Hi Ho Cherry O right now.

[Amiens]

This is where Germans know what they're doing. I picked up 11 games when we were there this past summer--perfect for dd's age... Why there are so few in the States I will never know.

Dd plays Candyland on occasion. And Chutes and Ladders.

I agree. Some our favorite games are German. My kiddos love Carcasonne for Kids, and Settlers of Catan for Kids. My 9 and almost 11 year have learned to play the adult versions of both games and love them.

[TigerLily]

A's faves are Hungry Hippo and Hi Ho Cherry O right now.

[spotty_dog]

I was actually going to put this in the "I am a worse parent" thread but I categorically refuse to play children's games. I just won't do it, and I won't have them in my house. Every game we've ever owned has bled its pieces all over my house until it's worthless and I toss it. I think I'm still finding pieces of Don't Spill the Beans and that became dumpster fodder almost two years ago.

That said, my parents are not so averse; they have the patience to sit down and play. I have seen them with Hi Ho Cherry-o, Zingo, Richard Scarry's Busyland, The Ladybug Game, Candyland, Tell Me a Story, Dr. Seuss I Can Do That...I'll have to think of others.

Two exceptions to my rule are Uno (until we lost the cards) and chess. I like the math exposure in Uno. And DS got completely obsessed with chess around his fifth birthday so he owns a set. But I still won't play a full game with him, I'll just set up learning puzzles from his how-to books and talk him through them, or supervise him playing against sister (she understood the moves well enough to play, albeit without strategy, by the time she was 3), or just set him up with the computer. Or Chess with Friends, but all his partners have lost interest...

[peggyfromwastate]

There's a fun game they can play together-- and you don't really have to play which is a bonus. (I'm like ides).

Cranium hullabaloo--

Dd4 loves games. I really should make more effort but I just can't stand it.

[L.Jane]

There's a fun game they can play together-- and you don't really have to play which is a bonus. (I'm like ides).

Cranium hullabaloo--

ditto hullabaloo... The 3 and 5 year olds I nanny for love it and can set it up and do it all by themselves.