Does anyone know of a dinosaur game for an 8yr old and can you tell me what the difference tends to be between toys for 8yr olds and 4 yr olds?

[lecce]

Sorry about the ridiculous title!

My ds is 4.9 and mil has told us that she has bought him a dinosaur game that says it is for 8y olds. She says she knows that he will love it but gave no more details than that and dh didn't ask for any.

I was wondering if anyone has a dinosaur gane that specifies 8 yr olds and, if so, whether they could describe it briefly so I can work out whether ds will be able to do it.

I am a bit worried because mil is rather, ahem, intense and she is coming on the big day and will really want him to play with it. I can forsee awkwardness if it is beyond him and he gets upset over not being able to do it or something.

I don't really know if it makes sense to ask about the difference between older kids' toys and younger ones but I know with the three yr old limit it tends to be about small parts and both my dc have had '3yo' toys much younger (under supervision, of course ) but I'm guessing that the typical 4 yo, which ds is, will find a toy for a typical 8 yo pretty much inaccessible. Or not - I don't actually know any 8 yos!

Sorry to waffle on but mil will make a huge palava over her gift (it will be the only one she gets him) and I would like to be prepared if it is likely to be a disaster!

I don't know the particular game - but my recently 5 year old DS can play lots of games where the age specified is 7/8.
Is it a board game type of thing? In which case, if he's struggling you can always partner up into teams and help him.
It suprises me sometimes the ages they put on things - the card game UNO for example is labelled for 7+, when it is actually very simple, my DS was able to play it (well) at 4.

HTH

I would imagine a game for 8 yo's would be a bit more complicated and maybe harder to follow than one aimed at 4 yo's. It could involve writing stuff down or doing sums that 4 yo's might struggle with. If it does seem a bit tricky for him just play in teams and I'm sure he'll be fine.

might be this. thought about getting it for ds once or twice but never got round to it, then he went off dinosaurs.

based around Monopoly so might be bit long winded for a 4yr old. if it is this game, maybe you could shorten the game like monopoly by dealing out properties (or dino equivalent) to players instead of having to spend time going round buying them all.

If all else fails, let him play with the pieces and cry in best loud parenting manner "Oooooo Look Granny, he's enhancing the game play and using his own imagination to get more out of it" and other such inane platitudes joful things. Then when she's gone, put it away until he can manage it.

Yes, I've seen Dinosaur monopoly reviewed and recommended.

There's a dinosaur version of operation which has teeny tiny bones which you excavate. It's rubbish.

I really hope it's not that.

Dino robot?
www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Museum-Dinorobot-Robot-Making/dp/B000EOQXA8/ref=sr_1_3?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1323735030&sr=1-3

Thanks for all the replies. Of course teaming up for board games is the obvious solution - I am an only child with limited extended family so didn't do a lot of board-game playing as a child .

Hope it's not one of the buildy things - that kind of thing is not his forte but I guess not really suitable for busy Christmas day and we will be justified in putting it aside for quiet time on Boxing Day.

Thanks again for the replies.