When reviewing board games for kids, we obviously want games that both parents and kids will like. But there are also a few things to consider, which I’ll try to mention in our discussion of each game. (Did I promise to do this a long time ago? I guess I did. It’s coming, as soon as I found some pictures taken months ago for the first few reviews.)
First age to play, with help for strategy: Manufacturers often have a recommended age, but most games are perfectly accessible to even younger gamers. But, those little gamers may need help with the strategy, such as instructing them where to place a piece or what tile to turn. Even then, it can be a fun game, but the child may need assistance at most stages of game play.
First age to play, with self-strategy: This age is the age at which the child can finally begin strategizing on his own and play the game largely unassisted. (Whether the child is terribly good at executing that strategy is a different issue.) Most of my reviews won’t be terribly useful in this regard because Tommy is still developing his strategizing skill.
Component loss likelihood: Let’s face it: in an often-messy house with multiple children, games get spilled. Components can get lost. And babies might try to eat or choke on pieces. So I’ll try to mention the likelihood that pieces will be lost.
Non-game play use: Games often have fun, attractive pieces. That might be good, because the game pieces are versatile and can serve as stand-alone toys; or that might be bad, because kids are likely to tear apart the games and carry the bits about the house.
Silliness likelihood: If kids are playing a game, there might a point in the game in which something silly occurs–like the toppling of a tower or the triggering of an alarm. If there are points in a game that might devolve into silliness and effectively end meaningful play of the game, I’ll mention it.
Kid ability to win: Can the kid win? That’s important. Parents can throw the games so their kids win (something I’m loathe to do). But at what stage can the child win on his own, unassisted? In a game like Candy Land, the child can win 50% of the time in a game against a parent because it’s based upon pure luck. Luckier games allow children to win more frequently; games of greater skill require more work from the child to win.