Playtime: Board Games

Tuesday, 25 February 2025 08:00

By Sara Whatley

Don’t underestimate the good old classics when it comes to playing board games and cards with your children, says Sara Whatley

I have such fond memories of sitting around my nanny’s dining table playing Happy Families – in fact I still have the very pack we used to play with. Feeling equal to the adults I was playing with, thrilled when I got a complete happy family and learning to deal with the crushing blow of not always being the winner or even worse, losing to my older brother.

Board games have been around for thousands of years across many different cultures and remain a mainstay of entertainment for adults and children alike. They are not simply fun though; playing games is also superb mental stimulation for keeping the brain in tip top condition, teaching strategy, maths, patience, exploring creativity, building confidence... the list goes on. All in all, games are a multifaceted cornucopia of goodness.

So, if you are not already regulars at the gaming table, what games should you be playing with your children? Let’s start with the ultimate board game, Monopoly. We’ve all spent a long Christmas evening haggling over the Monopoly board, but have you tried Monopoly Junior? It’s much quicker with players having to buy whatever they land on, or paying rent to the landlord, and with loads of different themes there will be a fun child-centred board to keep kids interested.

We often play Dobble in our household (including the odd game of ‘competitive Dobble’ between my husband and me after the children have had enough), and it is also brilliant for taking out and about too. Simple card games such as snap or matching pairs are perfect for smaller children as they can be very quick and easy to understand. Guess Who? or Snakes and Ladders are my daughter’s favourites before bed, and my son loves a frenzied game f Hungry Hippos.

There are loads of games to get the squeals going – try Mouse Trap, Operation, or Articulate for Kids for slightly older children. Catan and Carcassonne are both brilliant strategy games for more mature children and adults, where you build cities, trade and gain victory. Both offer countless replay options so you can build on your game skills and become a master.

Scrabble (and Junior Scrabble) are super for building children’s vocabulary and spelling, and fun for adults too. We had a brilliant family game of Cluedo Junior the other day; the kids loved playing the detective.

To encourage children to get the games out themselves keep them in sight on accessible shelves – we have ours near the dining table so it’s easy to whip out a game before or after dinner. Happy playing!

Playtime: Board Games

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