4KookieKids Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 ... or at least, less common ones? We like games in our house, and I've found a few that are really fun for my kids that are less well known, and am looking for more ideas! So, beyond the more well known candy land, chutes and ladders, UNO, go fish, hungry hungry hippo, fishing, trouble (don't get me wrong -- my kids love all of those as well!), we really like some games like Qwirkle, Ricochet Robots, Imagine Iff..., and Othello (more well-known, I know, but usually not with the young crowd). Obviously, we modify them a little (primarily, we just don't keep score when playing with the littles), but they're still a lot of fun. So what else have you guys found off the beaten path and enjoyed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 ZOOREKA! by Cranium Crackers is hands down the favorite game here. Mine also love Hullabalo by Cranium Crackers, too. Battleship...well-known but mine have all played since they were young. Chess, Apples to Apples Jr...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 We love cooperative games here...Look up "Family Pasttimes" on Amazon and you'll see a ton of good ones, every one of their games we've played have been great.Blokus and Swish are fun as well, as is Katamino. (It's a bit pricey, though.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soufflegirl Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Sneaky Snacky Squirrel is a huge hit with my kids. It's geared towards littles, but it's really cute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 Ohh, this is good. I haven't heard of most of these! Well, battleship and blokus aside... :) But my 4 year old seems to think Blokus is more for making cool pictures than playing a game. While I'm totally cool with that, I fear we've lost pieces and will have to buy a new one when he actually is old enough to play it! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 King of Tokyo, Takenoko, and Robo Rally are our current favourites. ETA: I just realized you are talking about a 4yo. My 6yo plays the games I mentioned but he has had a lot of exposure to strategy games. For a 4yo I would recommend Loopin' Louie for pure fun (that all ages can play together). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Another great source of cooperative games: Peaceable Kingdom. We have Lost Puppies and Hoot Owl Hoot, both of which a 4YO could play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Another great source of cooperative games: Peaceable Kingdom. We have Lost Puppies and Hoot Owl Hoot, both of which a 4YO could play. We have Hoot, and we also love Feed the Woozle! It has had us all doubled over laughing. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I never know what is considered well known... My almost 4yo likes Toss Up! and Rat A Tat Cat, neither of which I run into often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinlunachick Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Spot It (or pretty much anything by Blue Orange Games) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahB82 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Sneaky Snacky Squirrel is a huge hit with my kids. It's geared towards littles, but it's really cute. We love Sneaky Snacky Squirrel. He loves Busy, Busy Airport and Rush Hour Jr. I don't know what is considered unheard of either. He plays Hi Ho Cherry-O, Jake and the Neverland Pirates board game, Find It tube thing where you look for stuff, and other stuff I can't think of right now. We love games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 I don't think they're making it any more, but when my kids were little, Bzz Out! from Gamewright was by far their favorite game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echoterry Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Sequence is fun. I have two older girls who can play the game and with my 4 year old, I just have her match her card to the board. She has actually won the game doing that with no strategy! Fun game. We also like Set. My little ones likes to play along as well though she mainly just says "set" and nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittanyM Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 My 3 and 5 yr old love to play Set Jr. The Busytown game was also a hit, although it is a co-op game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indian summer Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Dominion is our hands down favourite. I heard about it on the Sonlight forums, many posters raved about it. Everyone here loves it and we play it almost daily - a game takes about a half hour. ETA I should mention its labeled for ages 13+ but my 7y/o enjoys it with us and can compete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerdybird Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 HERE is a link to a site with a few good ideas for simple games for little ones. You can make these yourself. All of mine like Roll-a-cise. Our version is a bit different than the one pictured on the page, but it works for us. Alphabet Exercise is fun for everyone too. It totally counts as gym class too. ;) Mancala is a simple game that little ones can play. Sight Word Jenga is a good educational version of a standard game. I have done this with phonics sounds and math facts for my kids as well. Kerplunk, Topple, Don't Break the Ice, Trouble...all of those are pretty common, but my kids still like them. They are hands on games that require a bit of coordination and skill. Discovery Bottles are fun too. Not really a game, but still fun to make. I-Spy Bottles are good way to keep kids busy. I use bigger containers, like snack containers from Sam's Club or old olive oil containers for this. Pick It Up: A Fine Motor Skills Game Fun and useful. Scavenger Hunts are games. It's a good excuse to go outside and do some nature study too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschoolmom3 Posted February 16, 2015 Share Posted February 16, 2015 My favorites that aren't too common for my 3 1/2 yr. old: Richard Scarry's BusyTown Boggle Jr. Super Y ABC Letter Game Perfection Snail's Pace Race (for color recognition & counting) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 My 3 and 5 yr old love to play Set Jr. The Busytown game was also a hit, although it is a co-op game. I had no idea that there was a Set Junior. In Amazon cart now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 My DD got this as a Christmas gift and loves it! Pretty fun for adults too. We actually just played a few rounds this afternoon. :) http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Mystery-Garden-ChildrenS-Game/dp/B004KZ74OQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1424203792&sr=1-1&keywords=Ravensburger+Mystery+Garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted February 17, 2015 Share Posted February 17, 2015 Hey! That's My Fish and Duck Duck Bruce spring to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaileyLeaf Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 My 5 yr old loves Sum Swamp, even though I really thought we would just use it for some addition/subtraction reinforcement. She asks to play it every day! We also like Tsuro and Robot Turtles. Great for her age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 In addition to other games already listed, my kids liked Labyrinth and Skip Bo Jr at that age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 We love games here! My DSs, ages 4, 6, and 9 all love the game Camp (esp DS4). They also all really like Monopoly Junior. We play these almost daily right now. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 dp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking Squirrels Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Race to the Treasure! So simple but both my kids LOVE it. Discovery Garden - Also been a very big hit with both. Labyrinth - More my 6yo, but my little one gets the general idea and I think will be playing with us soon. She loses interest quickly now, but she's only 2.5! 6yo also loves Forbidden Island and Catan Jr. We got both when she was about 5.5 and she picked them up quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Spot It! Tsuro Busytown Snail's pace Race (This one: http://smile.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Snails-Pace-Race-Childrens/dp/B004KZ8P2Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424376537&sr=8-1&keywords=Snail%27s+Pace+race) The card game HISSS! Haba Orchard a picture domino set We have Candyland and used to have Chutes and Ladders but neither gets played very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DhanyaCali Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Did someone already mention Pass the Pigs? That was a household staple growing up. Has some math. Has pigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punchie Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 For preschool/K or for the whole family? For us, preschool/K: Sneaky Snacky SquirrelHoot Owl HootFruttirelliHoppin' PoppiesChicken Cha Cha ChaHisss!Splish SplashSpot It! Jr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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