Games- What We've Done

I have a 4 and 5 year old and 20 and 2 month old. Since the time we were married we have had Candyland, Shoots and Ladders, Cooties, Jenga...... I remember being frustrated that the children were not quite at the age where they understood concepts of the game. We even went out and bought a duck game where the ducks go around in a revolving circle and you try and get your designated shape before the other players (for age 3 supposedly). Still a little advanced. Last year we got Operation which was a hit. With all the games we have just tried to play them than adapted to the children's "adaptations" of the games. They have made the games age appropriate themselves by creating some new way of playing them. I just have had to watch real closely that they didn't lose or destroy parts. Now my two oldest are starting to understand shapes and counting and are playing the "normal" way but they still have adapted them to their own game rules. Our 20 month old is at the point where she wants to play but is making her own rules. With the duck game- it's a game in and of itself to just pull the ducks on and off and she loves it when Mom and Dad join in. Cooties- it's always been a game to just create their own cootie without rolling dice etc.- just create...........hope that helped. Oh, and yeah, concentration has always been a big hit. You have to find or create watered down versions but they love to find the other duck or bear or something.

Tiffany J