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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Please help me think of games for my slightly awkward family!

47 replies

FreezerBird · 20/08/2018 09:57

2 DC - ds is 13 (will be just 14 at Christmas) and dd is 10. DD has some Sen and plays at the level of a younger child.

We really struggle to find things the four of us can enjoy. Currently we can play Uno (DD still needs a bit of help) and the kids version of dobble.

DD likes orchard games and ds is very patient and will play with her as will we but I'd really like to increase our range of games we can all enjoy a bit more equally. We do have things like headbanz, pig goes pop etc but I'm thinking more of card/board games.

She can do simple things with words and numbers but not if there's a time limit or speed element to the game.

Any ideas?

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 20/08/2018 10:03

We played Quirkle for the first time this summer but I’m not convinced it’s right for your DD. Mine is 12 and she didn’t enjoy it much. There’s no time limit though so there is time to think about your move - you might need to play down to her level though as we did start to get rather tactical!

TheSpottedZebra · 20/08/2018 10:03

What about (our obsession) Rummikub? The only adding really is getting to 30 to to put down initially,but if that's not possible, you could do eg a set of 4. Then it's just matching. We don't play times, so the young ones sometimes take ages to play. And we don't add up what's left in your hand at the end. There's also a kids rummikub, which uses pattern matching rather then numbers I think.

whingeyarse · 20/08/2018 10:03

labyrinth is simple

SoupDragon · 20/08/2018 10:05

Appletters (made by the same people as bananagrams) might work as it’s simpler and quicker and has no time competitiveness.

DunesOfSand · 20/08/2018 10:19

What about Ludo?
Agree with Labyrinth.
And, bare with me in this, I know it's ELC, but this is suprisingly playable. Look for it on the ELC website - I cant access the uk site from here, it defaults to the local site.

bookmum08 · 20/08/2018 10:28

Junior Monopoly is quite good. More simple than the normal one and the game takes about 20 minutes to play (instead of 3 days like the regular one). Ludo/Frustration are faves of mine. Card games - I love Old Maid . Happy Families I have never quite figured the rules properly but when we sort of play it I enjoy it.

shoofly · 20/08/2018 10:42

Monopoly empire works well in our house. DS1 is 12 & DS2 is 7. It's much faster than original monopoly. The kids like the brands and DS2 just needed a little help with the money at the start.

EspressoButler · 20/08/2018 10:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TanFranceFangirl · 20/08/2018 11:06

You could try Forbidden Island which is a cooperative game so players all work together. It's not timed but it can get tense as you get near the end so i don't know if that might cause difficulty?

Kingdomino is fun for younger players and interesting enough for older ones to join in.

Odin's Ravens is a beautiful card game for two players.

King of Tokyo is quite funny - you are monsters battling against each other.

Takenoko is a really sweet game with plenty of interest for older players. Your daughter might need support depending on her ability, but you could have an adult with her helping her?

Mine love Exploding Kittens, too.

auntyflonono · 20/08/2018 11:37

Laberynth

I8toys · 20/08/2018 13:15

I'm obsessed with games and especially taking portal games when we are on holiday or eating out.

Just bought Push It, Soundiculous and Corks. Also mine like Cobra Paw, Jungle Speed and Talking Tables Dipsticks.

We also have exploding kittens, both versions, bears vs babies, the crab one - not played yet and Go Sushi.

I8toys · 20/08/2018 13:16

Portable games even!!

Purpletoes · 20/08/2018 13:18

Pass the bomb junior is good. Picture based and fun.
Also game of life junior as well

hoopdeloop · 20/08/2018 13:20

Cranium?

bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 20/08/2018 13:32

Cranium is great as is the kids articulate, I think you can combine the adults one so it is more of a challenge, only issue may be reading and the timed element, but we combat this for dd age 6 by helping her with the reading and stopping the timer while she thinks of what to say. We also enjoy game of life, monopoly and cluedo- all jr versions. Other cars games with a pack of cards like that one where you make 21 are good too.

TheChatsPyjamas · 20/08/2018 13:34

I just saw a book advertised called Floor is Lava - looks like t might have some games you’ll all enjoy. With mixed ages I think silly games are great because everyone can play at their own level.

BlinkyBill · 20/08/2018 15:05

Sleeping Queens
Two Many Monkeys

Both card games enjoyed by adults and kids in our house

BlinkyBill · 20/08/2018 15:06

Too many monkeys

Original poster

FreezerBird · 20/08/2018 16:04

Oh, thank you eveeyone, lots to look into here .

We have played and enjoyed exploding kittens, but not with DD, I don't think she'd get it, really.

Some of these I've considered and it's good to hear views; lots of others I've never heard of so I will have a good look!

OP posts:

TanFranceFangirl · 20/08/2018 19:47

Sorry OP, if my suggestions were pitched at a level that's not right for your DD. It can be quite hard to judge appropriate age / ability for games I think, and the guidelines on the box don't always help.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 20/08/2018 21:50

Ds was playing Forbidden Island from about 6. He is fairly able but even so as it is a cooperative game it is normal to help each other and work together so you all work as a team.

CherryPlum · 20/08/2018 23:03

Would Picktureka fit the bill? There is an egg timer involved it's kind of gentle as in this game you are looking for pictures, so no numbers/speed maths

Almostthere15 · 21/08/2018 09:18

We really like junior monopoly, it's kept the essence of the game. I'd say it's more 6 upwards. However, we found junior cluedo ridiculously complicated. The gameplay just hasn't transferred well!

I find upwords easier than scrabble for younger children but it does very much depend on the child, and you'd need to lose the time element but one to look at I think.

Xiaoxiong · 21/08/2018 09:22

I know you said card and board games but how about old fashioned parlour games? Giles Brandreth published a great compendium which gave us some new ideas this year (we play them every summer with extended family of all ages). Our current favourites are Bun Biting and Fan the Kipper with kippers cut out of newspaper.

Original poster

FreezerBird · 21/08/2018 10:33

TanFrance oh, don't worry - part of the reason for asking is that as you say, guidelines on the box aren't always helpful so it's really useful to hear what others like. Also it's pretty hard to outline exactly what will / won't work for DD, so having a range of suggestions I can then look into is perfect.

Interesting about Quirkle. It's one I've wondered about and while I think she'd understand the rules I'm not sure it would really grab her.

I think I might go for something to all of us for Christmas which would challenge her a bit - Kingdominos or Labyrinth might fit that bill - and something for her which she'll be able to get on with quite quickly, like Too Many Monkeys.

Keep 'em coming though, this is great!

Also, through this thread I have discovered that rummikub is pronounced 'rummy-cube'.

OP posts:

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