Game (board or other) for 8 yr-old girl to play by herself?

[marsmom]

My nearly 8-yr old DD loves to play board games (Scrabble, Quirkle, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry) and card games (Uno, Old Maid) with us and her younger sister. But she would really like something that she can play by herself if we're not free to play. I was envisioning something like Mastermind, until I looked more closely and remembered that no, it does require two people.

Any suggestions?

[One_Girl]

There is an Earth game that could easily be adapted to one player. It comes with a gameboard and dice that and different levels of questions. Some questions answered correctly earn you puzzle pieces and the person who puts in the last puzzle piece wins. It does need a computer to run the part that does the questions, but it isn't like playing a computer game. My dd is almost 8 and good with the mouse so she could put the disk in and do it on her own. You may need to play a few times with her so she understands how it goes, but I bet she will get it quickly. It goes with the Earth video but you don't need that to win. We get lots of questions wrong but still learn new things each time and have fun.

[LaughingHyena]

My DD (6) likes rush hour, we have the original not the jr version.

We've bought several of the other thinkfun games as gifts and they all seem pretty good.

We play tantrix as a family but it also have several puzzles to do with the tiles.

I used to play jenga as a solo game, just keep a not of how high the tower gets before it falls.

[JayGee]

Double Shutter is perfect for one person. DS is 9 (today!) and loves to play it when he's got a few minutes of down time. It's kind of addictive, actually .

[pinky]

A lot of the family pasttimes cooperative games can be played by one person. A particular favorite around here is "The Secret Door."

[emilysmama]

My dd loves this game:
Thinkfun 5x5 magnetic sudoku
They also make an easier 4x4 version that is fun for children who have never played sudoku before. My dd likes these versions (with the numbers), because she claims that the children versions of sudoku that use pictures instead of numbers are more difficult for her.

[pianojazzgirl]

A huge vote for Thinkfun games here!

Also I suggest doing a search for solo games at boardgamegeek.com It's a great place to get good game recommendations!

[LynnS6]

Quiddler -- word game that can be played alone or with others
Set visual perception/pattern finding game that came be played alone or with others
Bananagrams - another word game

[TEAK's Mom]

My 8 year old daughter likes to play Bananagrams solitaire.

[LuckyMommaToo]

DS actually loves to play Solitaire (like with a regular deck of cards), so try teaching her. I am going to look into the ThinkFun games now!
-e

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

Quiddler -- word game that can be played alone or with others
Set visual perception/pattern finding game that came be played alone or with others
Bananagrams - another word game

I find Set is a lot more fun played solo than Quiddler is. I ADORE Quiddler, but don't like it as a solitaire game... not to say that your dd won't though!

[TiredX2]

My kids have also enjoyed the Thinkfun Games.

I'd also recommend "Go Getter":

http://www.amazon.com/Fundex-3463-Go...8555348&sr=1-7

[DevaMajka]

My IL's have an electronic Mastermind game you can play with one player. I don't know if they make it anymore, but I had lots of fun playing it!

a dad at ds's school was telling me about a puzzle type game called traffic jam that he really liked for his dd. It sounded neat. I found it online, but he said his was a game with cards.

[mkksmom]

cranium hulabaloo-- it is an electronic device that tells you top hop to a pad with an instrument, spin to a yellow pad, etc. My dd loves this game.

[Trac]

I bought a Scrabble game that you play against the computer. You can choose whatever level you want to play at...I love it! I've also seen a DS version...haven't played though.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by TEAK's Mom

My 8 year old daughter likes to play Bananagrams solitaire.

This is my 8yo's fave too.

[Mama2Bug]

Originally Posted by DevaMajka

a dad at ds's school was telling me about a puzzle type game called traffic jam that he really liked for his dd. It sounded neat. I found it online, but he said his was a game with cards.

That sounds like Rush Hour. The puzzles that you have to solve are on cards that come with the game.

[annethcz]

My 8yo DD really loves Sudoku puzzles right now. She has a huge book and does a puzzle every day or so.

[marsmom]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I had to choose something quickly for this occasion and so I got her Double Shutter as I was able to find it in Target. She loves it - told me it was really fun!

We have Set, which we love playing together - I'll have to encourage her to try it on her own. And we have Tantrix too, which we've mostly played as adults, have tried using only 3 colors with the kids, but haven't really tried the puzzles so I'll suggest that as well.

I'm going to look into the Think Fun games, Bananagram and that boardgamegeek site to get another game for xmas. Thanks!