Is your toddler using board games for fun?

[gbailey]

I'm getting DD a Memory game while they're on sale for $4.99. I thought it would be something fun to try and play. Is your DC using any kind of board games for fun? If so, which ones?

For the holidays this year, I'd liketo get DD a couple of games we can play together.

[elmh23]

How old is she?

When dd was newly 2, we got CandyLand and Shoots and Ladders and she loved them! Memory is actually a really easy game to make with pictures (dd loved matching her cousins, lol) and we played that a lot.

My ds (3.5) is a different kind of kid and doesn't really enjoy playing board games, though he LOVES playing with any figurines that come with it.

[sapphire_chan]

We're no where close to being able to really play, but dd likes, and can pretend to play Connect Four and Don't Break the Ice. She also likes the Animal Families memory, but only wants to look through the cards and name the animals. She also likes rolling dice and the backgammon set is really good for that--since she likes me to "play game!" with her, I move the counters around based on what she rolls.

[limabean]

We play board games a lot, but we don't play most of them the proper way with DD (2.5yo). She likes to "play" Connect Four, but that just means dropping the checkers into the grid randomly. She likes to get out the Pictionary cards and have us give her oral clues so she can guess the word (like we'll say, "What are you wearing on your feet?" for "shoes"). She likes to play with Memory cards, but usually we'll just put them all face up and do matching. We've been playing Cariboo a lot lately, but we don't use the cards -- we just name the pictures on each little door and try to find the balls.

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by elmh23

How old is she?

When dd was newly 2, we got CandyLand and Shoots and Ladders and she loved them! Memory is actually a really easy game to make with pictures (dd loved matching her cousins, lol) and we played that a lot.

My ds (3.5) is a different kind of kid and doesn't really enjoy playing board games, though he LOVES playing with any figurines that come with it.

Thanks! She's almost 2.5 and Candy Land happens to be on sale for $4.99 too I think Shoots is as well.

Sapphire, where did you find your animal memories game?

Limabean, Connect Four was and is still my favorite game. I bet my DD would love it. I'll check out Cariboo too.Great tips mamas.

[fnwilliams]

My DD is similar--likes to play with the pieces and such. One game that works well in my daycare is one with a chip (one side +1 other side +2), and large cards with different configurations of the numbers to 5 or 6 (dice style). I lay the cards out ( a few to start) and each child takes turns flipping the chip. They then take either one or two colored chips and cover the dots on the cards ( you can use cereal pieces as well). The person that completes a card by covering all the dots, gets to keep that card. Each card has the same "value" whether there is one or six dots on it. The child gradually learns where to strategically place their chips to increase the chance they will have a chance to complete a card. Until they get to that stage, it is a good intro to the values 1 and 2, as well as reinforcing the value of the numbers to 6. I also put the numeral on the back of the card and show it to them when they earn the card. I model how to count the total dots. Later, you can also have them practice counting the number of dots on a card after earning it in order to receive the point. I like it because 2 year olds understand enough to play, but I've used it with a 5 year old as well and he still finds it challenging. You just add more cards and go to 10.

[St. Margaret]

We didn't like shoots and ladders-- DH saw it when he parents tried to give it to DD, and he said it was all about being good or bad and getting to go up or getting punished. Just putting that out there for the no-punishment parents I think there are different versions floating around out there, maybe.

We loved Hi Ho Cherry-Oh! and Harvest Time (that's probably our favorite). We also have a couple matching games. Simple games from High Five magazine have also been fun for DD (she even plays them on her own, or with her stuffed animals).

[blizzard_babe]

DS (2.5) likes Hi-Ho Cherry-O, but then again numbers and counting are kind of his thing right now. It's pretty brain-numbing for the over-five set, but really, what toddler game isn't? I was surprised at how quickly he caught on to the whole "taking turns" aspect of game play.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by gbailey

Sapphire, where did you find your animal memories game?

DD found it in a stack of games in the attic of the house I grew up in. : it appears to not exist any more.

Really, with a memory game, I'd make tiles myself to fit the child's interests. We happened to have an animals one available, but previously I'd made cards with family pictures and other stuff dd likes.

[taramoon13]

ds loves the richard scarry books & we recently discovered that there was a richard scarry game "busytown" and he LOVES it. highly recommend it.

[elmh23]

Originally Posted by St. Margaret

We didn't like shoots and ladders-- DH saw it when he parents tried to give it to DD, and he said it was all about being good or bad and getting to go up or getting punished. Just putting that out there for the no-punishment parents I think there are different versions floating around out there, maybe.

We have the Sesame Street Version (thanks to my SIL) and I think it had good deeds on it. Like you help big bird take out the trash, go up a ladder. Oh, you littered, go down the ladder. I think. I really hate that game.