173. What to do when staying at home? 4. Games for kids and with kids (Part 1)

You have children, and you want to spend time with them.... but it is so difficult.

You don't want to play their toys... and they definitely prefer to be glued to a device or another. In fact you too.

With suitable board games, parents and children can take a well needed break from IT and spend quality time together.... here are some examples of how I spend time with my 8yo boy and 11 yo girl:

Fireball Island: Curse of Vul Kar

This is a beautifully designed 3D island where you and your kids get to roll and flick fireballs (orange and red marbles) down the island.

Are your opponents in the way? Look out!

A 2-4 player game, children will enjoy the trill of treasure hunting and using cards to move around, with the most fun usually being knocking your opponents over with the fireball marbles while hoping your own people are missed!!!

Suitable for 8+ i believe.

Slide Quest

This is a dexterity game for 2-4 players where everyone works together pressing and releasing levers at all four sides of the board to move the heroic "Blue Knight" around the board, completing quests.

Extremely nerve wrecking, but a wholesome game, as it encourages all players to work together, take pride in completing quests together, and when there are setbacks, to motivate and encourage one another.

I think 6+ with adult supervision and playing together is okay.

At the end of the day, spending time with your kids playing these actual tactile physically rendered games are very refreshing experiences, and with many of us in lockdown mode at home, do carve out time to do things like this together more, not merely spend more time working or studying only.

Make memories at home.... Part 2 next week will look at games for slightly older or more matured children....