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Which of these games is best for a 5-year-old bday gift?

post #1 of 7
Thread Starter 
My daughter loves to play games but we don't have too many of them.
These are some of her favorites:
Zingo, Max, Harvest Time, Granny's House, Rush Hour, Yahtzee, Uno.

I was thinking of these, can you tell me what you think is the best, or other ideas too?

Sequence for Kids
What's Gnu (Think Fun)
Ducks in a Row
Mancala
post #2 of 7
I haven't heard of most of those games. I would look carefully at how complicated they are, especially if you don't know if the child is into board games or from a family that does a lot of games with rules and complications. My dd didn't like games that weren't simple and fun when she was that age and she never used the board game set her friend got her for her birthday.

We liked Candy land, Chutes and Ladders, and Guess Who when my dd was five. She wasn't that much into board games but these ones were simple enough to hold some interest for her. I think Mancala could be a fun one too. We didn't start playing this until last year, but it is a fun and simple game to play together.
post #3 of 7
Can she read? Some of those are hard games, and if she's doing those maybe she's reading? If she is, you might check out Apples to Apples, our favorite game here. The Kids version is for ages 7 and up, but I think that's because it needs that level of reading skill. We got the Junior version, which is for 8 and up, when my dd was 5 or 6, and it isn't complicated or anything, it just requires reading.

Other favorites here are Let's Go Fishing, Guess Who, and Connect 4.
post #4 of 7
Mancala is a good game that would grow with her.

Other favorites that my kids liked at that age:
Kids on Stage (charades)
Cranium Cariboo
Cranium Cadoo (if she can read)
Cranium Hullabaloo (it's electronic, but it's a great game - sort of like silly twister for younger kids)
Guess Who (it says 6 and up, but my kids could easily play it by age 5)

Cooperative Games from Family Pastimes
The Secret Door
The Princess Game
post #5 of 7
I vote Sequence from your list. Zingo is too young, I think, and almost everyone has Uno. Also check out the Gamewright Card games, like Rat-a-tat-cat and Sleeping Queens.
-e
post #6 of 7
If you don't mind reading, cranium is fun to play. Trying to figure out the sculptures is hilarious for the grownups, IMHO.

My son started really enjoying Sorry and Trouble. Also, CLue is good, if you (again) don't mind reading. My kiddo could read at 5, just not well enough to play the games.

A regular deck of cards is great fun, too for Go Fish, Crazy 8's and War!
post #7 of 7
My DD (4.5 yrs) loves Sequence. She has no idea of strategy yet, still working on that aspect. I love the GameWright games! My sister has many many of their products and loves them.
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