Let's talk about games

[campermom]

I'm looking for ideas for presents specific to games.

DS1 is 8 and a strategic thinker. He loves monopoly and chess. He is advanced in a lot of areas so he loves a good challenge.
DD is 6. She is a girly girl but also very smitten with our toddler, so she would also play games with him.

Both big kids live a good game with mom or dad during the toddlers nap. Any ideas for either of these guys?

Then we were thinking a family game that DS2 could "play" or "be on our team".

It's hard to know what is good without going to the actual store and looking at them, but I want to order them online.

Oh I ordered the Melissa and Doug Suspend game-someone on these boards recommended it somewhere so I got it as a family game.

[ilovelucyvv]

I love Ticket to Ride and consider it a great family game for older participants. There is a 6+ kids version now too so that should work for your group.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MQ4IKQJ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1511091712&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ticket+to+ride+kids&dpPl=1&dpID=61jTiXVgJ6L&ref=plSrch

ETA this is more of a strategic game to fit your oldest interests.

[mustardseed2007]

There is a richard scary game where you have look and find stuff. We started playing that with the kids at age 3 and they really liked it.

Another one for the littles is connect 4 or one of those memory games where you flip the cards.

For the older kid, Ticket to Ride is fun and popular (in the world of that kind of game). The 6 year old could probably play also although it's for older kids/teens/adults. Also, my nephew really liked Blokus at that age. It's a pretty fun strategic game that's even easier to play.

[mae0111]

My kids (8 and 4.5) like Eye Found It - like a Where's Waldo type of game.

DD1 loves Clue and Battleship - both pretty strategic. Also Mancala, which takes some planning.

My dad taught me to play cribbage when I was around 8, and I plan on teaching DD1 soon. There's strategy, quick addition, even learning to see the points on the board in groups of 5 helps with they way they teach Math now. It's a fun game, can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players.

[mae0111]

2 more for the younger ones... zingo has a few versions for sight words, just with pictures, etc. Also, sequence makes a version for younger kids. My kids loved it so much that we bought a second one when the first one fell apart and cards got ripped.

[mommyatty]

My kids like the Peaceable Kingdom games, They are collaborative instead of competitive so you win or lose as one team. We are getting Race to the Treasure for Christmas and maybe Hoot Hoot Owl. They get good reviews for around age 4-9.

[waverly]

I remember liking Stratego as a kid for strategy game.

My kids like clue and life of old school games.

DD likes headbands but DS has outgrown it.

We also like playing war and go fish.

[supertrooper1]

There is a new Ticket to Ride that says ages 6 and up:
www.target.com/p/ticket-to-ride-first-journey-board-game/-/A-51093100

I loved Clue as a kid. DS is playing Scrabble Jr. On one side, it already has the words filled in and you just place your letters on top of the words. On the other side of the board is a blank Scrabble board. I just saw on the Target site that The Oregon Trail has a board game now. Rummikub is also fun.

[akafred]

For the older one, Qoridor would be great. Another good one that both older kids could play is Robot Turtles.

[sandandsea]

Settlers of Catan and Risk they could grow into.

Rummikub is my all time favorite. It’s a numbers game they could play now and forever. I still love it.

We also recently got an airplane game called take off and are loving it lately with adult friends and our 5yo.

[186momx]

We like playing Apples to Apples Big Picture. DD has been playing since 3 and just plays with her cards up. It hilarious to watch her choose what picture looks like hilarious. We have lots of laughing when we play.

[erinshelley21]

Mancala was a favorite of mine growing up that might be good for your oldest.

[traveltheworld]

There's Costan Junior. Hoot Owl Hoot was really good for 3 - 6. We also started playing simple card games like Uno with DS and DD who is 2.5 Luke's just holding the cards or sorting them by colour.

[mustardseed2007]

I am taking so much pleasure in the fact that so many people like Ticket to Ride. I'm such a nerd.

[2chatter]

Mastermind. ThinkFun Games have great strategy puzzles for one player. Cover Your Tracks is popular in our house.

Agree with Settlers of Cataan too!

[campermom]

Oh Man there are so many good ideas in this thread-I haven't heard of these! Thanks!

[sandandsea]

I just added blokus to Ds’s wish list. I’ve also been recommended Qwirkle.