games for 5yo, 3yo, 2yo and 1yo to play together?

[cheeseandmarmitesandwich]

My DSis and her kids are coming for christmas this year, she has a 5.6 yo and 2.5 yo while we have a 3.6yo and an 18 month old.

Are there any games I could get that they would play together? (Or at least the older ones would play and the younger ones wouldn't destroy!)

I thought about Guess Who, or Elefun- any more suggestions?

Thanks!

Not Guess Who. Dreadful game, and only for two children at a time. Elefun is good; so is hungry hippos.

I find everyone likes Playdoh round the table.

Neither of my children is at all interested in rules so stuff that involves running around seems a good idea. Musical bumps is good.

How about Hullabaloo? This one is stupidly expensive - I paid more like £20 I think, but it was one of the first games my dds could actually play together when they were about 2 and 4.

Nooo, playdoh too messy, and I imagine my little one will just eat it

Elefun sounds a safe bet then, will check out hulabaloo. And I had forgotten about hungry hippos, used to love that!

what about something like buckaroo? www.amazon.co.uk/MB-Games-Hasbro-48380-Buckaroo/dp/B0006GWQ1E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322520997&sr=8-1here cant remember if the pieces would be 18 month old friendly though

I find my 3 yo is a great detecctive of playdough in the mouth (plus I make ours so know what's in it) and a supergrass too!

The problem with elefun is that you spend for ever collecting up the butterflies and putting them back in, only for them to be all out on the floor again 30 seconds later. The children love it though...

not sure, but all of mine love that moondough stuff and will happily play together for hours with it (their ages ranged last Christmas from 2-7). but if you think playdough is too messy....

Pop up Pirate is the one you need. No batteries. No skill required so even the littlest ones get a turn to win. Take turns putting the swords in and when the right slot gets hit, the pirate in the middle pops up. No irritating noises. No tiny bits. Seriously. Can't go wrong.

You can't beat snakes and ladders . And yes to pop up pirate , but what will actually happen is they will just run riot , good luck

Normally I don't mind playdough, but in a 3 bed terrace with 5 adults and 4 kids (my dad is coming too) I think it would be a recipe for disaster!

I did think of getting a big marble run as one of DD1's xmas presents, as I have fond memories of spending hours playing with one with my cousins, but DH thinks they're too young. Never heard of Pop up Pirate! thank you!

definitely hullaballo - mine loved it when they were little and still do

elefun is absolute rubbish. the motor isn't very powerful and the kids lose interest very quickly

my two love our marble run from ELC. we got it when we had a new baby and a 3 year old and it's been played with ever since. you have to build the run - but the biggest problem is persuading them to share the marbles and take turns to put them down the run. we have the pop up dragon (like pop up pirate) and it has been popular too.

the motor of elefun is as powerful as the batteries you put in it.

As for children losing interest, I am generally sick of the noise it makes long before the children lose interest!

Have a look at ELC, they do various toddler games that are pretty good. My DD's current favs are Manic martians and Jitterbugs.
www.elc.co.uk/children%27s-games/5601,default,sc.html

DD's love Elefun here ( Def agree about the difference in the motor when you use crap batteries!) and the big man in Red is bringing Pop up Pirate! :)

Not a game - but at those ages my four DC liked nothing more than a disco, complete with disco ball. Loud boppy music, lots of jumping and shouting. The house shakes, adults cringe, and children love it.