Board game recommendations for nearly six year old and three year old

[sugarlumpwasarockinghorse]

My children are (nearly) six and (just) three and wondering what board games they might like? I haven’t really played any with them before!

I’m not sure she’d follow the rules very well, tbh, and that could lead to some frustration with no1. I don’t think many two year olds will sit and play board games but I do accept MN is a different world with these things!

Snakes and Ladders is one my daughter has played for a little while, I have to admit she is more into card games though.

we have Muddles which is a great little card game and we love using UNO cards for non uno games

I really disagree! When my kids were 6 I'd say less than a quarter of their mates would be players of board games. Most of the rest were still on the imaginary play with toy cars or dolls or lego phase at that age rather than a rules-based turn-taking type rigid play.

And at 3 I'd have said maybe only 1 or 2 of their smartest mates could have followed a game like Uno.

We've just started with games with my 3.5 year old
We've gone for junior uno, dobble and the bug bingo from orchard games. She was able to play them all but preferred bug bingo and liked Uno the least
For Xmas we're going to get junior monopoly, tumbling monkeys, Jenga and connect 4.
I do think you've picked the best time to start now your youngest will get the hang of it,
I think that other poster got out of the wrong side of bed!
There are so many toys/games to play with children that I don't think it's possible to do everything
My 3 year old has barely been out on her balance bike and would probably tell you she doesn't even own a bike (she does!) I'm sure some people would be horrified about that but I think we choose to do things we enjoy ourselves with our children. We read to her a lot and role play and have a lot of building toys

Labyrinth https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1219/labyrinth is definitely accessible for a 6 year old and probably a 3 year old with some support. When we play it with younger kids we play an "open hand" version where we all have our target destinations on display and can all help each other if needed.

I have played Cobra Paw https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/220700/cobra-paw with a 3 year old who was really good at it - there can be some really big emotions because when you "win" a point it's only temporarily yours, and another player can later "win" it away from you, so be prepared for some kind and gentle parenting about how that is OK and it's how the game works

I mean, that’s a point thinking about it - even assuming I’m a terrible neglectful parent (I’m not, but like most people I do some things better than others) - they don’t routinely play board games at nursery or preschool, do they? Which does suggest to me that these games are more for the 5-9 bracket. Difficult when one child is ready for this and the other isn’t quite there yet.

I second labyrinth (you can now get themed versions eg Pokemon)
and outfoxed. Both of which are/can be cooperative.

we played go fish as well (but v boring for the adults !)

mine wouldn’t have sat still enough at 3 tbh!

Thanks all. @bt1234 my ds was zipping everywhere on his balance bike at not quite 2, but dd only recently started using hers. They are all different. Broadly speaking she’s more into sitting and doing things than ds was but I’m not sure she’d follow a complex board game which is why I would need something very simple or something just ds and I could play together!

I always recommend Peaceable Kingdom games for young siblings as they are cooperative and don’t end in fights! They have lots.

Oh and we’ve been enjoying My First Castle Panic lately. Another cooperative one and easy to play. Hurry Up Chicken Butt is good fun too.

All DC are different. My youngest is 6 and still struggles with board games. And that's not for lack of us trying!

Keep it simple and fairly short - snakes and ladders is always a winner.

Not board games, but Pop-up Pirate and Kerplunk are favourite turn-taking games in our house. Hungry hippos is also a big hit but doesn't develop those turn taking skills.

Not strictly board games, but games we enjoy with similar age kids (I say enjoy, pretty much always ends in tears!!)

Orchard games - look in charity shops or Vinted, there are loads, often a similar type of game just a different theme.
Dobble
Grabalo
Guess who (need help reading the name at the end but pretty good at the questions)
Little travel games from the Works - we have a "what I am" card pack.

I pressed 'watch' on this thread when I saw it because I have an almost 3yo and a just turned 5yo and I wondered if there were some games we could play together. Obviously, as that implies, we have shock horror not played board games thus far. Maybe the parenting police can come and give me a dressing down too 😂

@sugarlumpwasarockinghorsei am definitely not an expert as it's all new to me but I would go for 1 orchard game (eg bug bingo), 1 card game (Uno or even snap), 1 more traditional board game (sounds like there's some good recommendations on this thread), and one game like pop up pirates/hungry hippos etc
Then you've got a nice mix of everything

I just got outfoxed and it's excellent for my six year out.

"Whatever next" is fun, a board game with lots of action cards in it. You'd have to read the cards to the youngest I guess, but it has challenges like crawl under the legs of everyone in the room, or pretend to be a frog

We really like Pic Challenge, Ticket to Ride (the easy kids version) and Outfoxed, as well as classics like Snakes&Ladders.

Orchard games are a great start into board/card games, easy to understand and set up. We especially enjoyed the football game, bug bingo, the shopping game.

Zingo is great fun for my almost 3 year old and 4 year old. I play counting games like snakes and ladders with thr older one but picture based games are better for both. Orchard Toys have lots of versions of shopping list / bingo type games and our fav at the moment is crazy chefs.

Another vote for Orchards Games and Dobble which are simple ones and great for that age.

Rhino Hero is also a good one!

I’m glad it isn’t just me as while I did feel the first reply was purposefully provocative it does make you wonder. I was on a thread about Christmas ideas for six year olds and realised I haven’t really done any board games or even many games to be honest. I’m not brilliant at sitting and doing things like games and crafts although my DD used to enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles with me. But it’s just different children and different parents, isn’t it? Let’s go out on an autumn walk - yes, let’s sit down and fall out over snakes and ladders - haven’t braved it yet!

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll have a look at orchard games.

The type of games I found best as an introduction were Memory-types: cards face down and you turn over two in the hope of finding a pair. Especially if they're whatever is popular, Bluey, tractors, etc. Also no-one needs to sit down if that's hard, just cruise around and come back back for their turn.
How disappointing and unhelpful to see the OP criticised for "late starting", how would an inexperienced parent feel receiving that response?

Of course they don’t play them at preschool or school

Board games require adults to teach children how to take turns, how to follow rules, how to learn to count (touch and count is very important). They develop problem solving skills and learn cause and effect; they understand sequencing and thinking ahead.

But it requires an adult to put in that time and effort to teach them these valuable skills, and unfortunately schools and preschools don’t have the adults available to do that.

Hence it’s our job. Children can’t learn what they’ve never been taught, and if they’ve never been taught how to sit still and follow a game then of course you get parents saying their older children can’t do it, because they never took the time to teach them.

Have a look at the orchard games - they have specific age ranges.
We also like dobble (not a board game but a good card game for everyone)
Guess who
Gooey Looie
And Jenga

I have an 8 year old and a 2 year old and we can please these with both and adapt if needed :)

Adults at preschool don’t put in time and effort to children. Goodness, whatever next!

Draughts, Dominos and Connect. It's a skill for both of them one to teach and explain and the other to learn. It's a happy medium.