Best first board games for a 2/3 year old?

[ElusiveMoose]

My DS is 2.6 and very keen on numbers and puzzles. We've just got the latest Chuggington magazine, and it's got a very simple board game page in it. Quite by accident, I have now discovered that DS absolutely loves the concept of a board game - throwing the dice and counting the spaces (I had thought he would be too young for board games still). I'd now like to invest in a couple of easy board games to keep him interested. Can anyone recommend some good ones to get him started? Obviously simple ones, and preferably non-branded (my patience with Chuggington is limited at best, and anyway I would like something with a longer shelf life). Thanks!

I was really impressed with this as a first game:

www.charliesdirect.co.uk/products/ravensburger-snails-pace-race-board-game

If he's good with a dice, you could try beetle, you don't need a game for that, just a die

Personally I like the orchard toys stuff, though not sure how many board games they have for 2-3 year olds, think they're more matching games at that age. I'd go for things like snakes n ladders, traditional, but simple is good.

Ditto Haba but also a huge fan of Orchard Toys. They have some fab games such as The Spotty Dog game and Dotty Dinosaurs and there's normally an easy version of each game for little ones.

Snakes and ladders a firm fave with mine and drafts too!

Giant snakes and ladders, pop n hop and shopping list were big early hits here.

Do you have a toy library nearby - we tried many games that way before we bought them.

Try Orchard Toys. We have a few of them and DS loves them.

Snakes and Ladders

Thanks for the ideas. I think Snakes and Ladders would definitely be a hit, and I'll check out the others. What I've found from a quick look is that the ones that are conceptually easy enough for him tend to avoid using numbers and counting, which is one of the aspects he realy likes... Will check out your recommendations, though.

MaryBS, what's beetle?

spotty dog game defo uses counting - you have to collect a dog with the correct number of spots and then count the bones in the basket to see who is the winner.

Reviving this thread as I'm on the look out for some more board or boxed games recommendations for toddlers too. Cranium cariboo is a big winner in our house. As is Orchard Toys' Spotty Dogs, The Shopping List Game and Soundtracks sound spotting lotto game. Anyone got more suggestions to share?

Cock A Doodle Moo from Orchard Toys. Its brill.

Tummy Ache! Easy peasy for all ages.

our boys love games and we've always loved the Haba games .. the orchard game is lovely and we just found a new version for younger children at funky moose www.funkymoose.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3426