Please help. Boardgames for young kids?

Moreb · May 02, 2016, 10:47:11 PM

My grandson is very inquisitive and at just over 5 he puts together rather complex Lego sets on his own. Slightly socially awkward, but highly intelligent, I really think he'd enjoy some boardgames beyond the simple ones we'll play such as Trouble, Sorry, and the despicable Operation.

So what games are out there that might be fun, and slightly advanced for his age? Something we'd do together. Possibly co op if there are any at that level.

I'd entertain any kind; simple wargame, zombies, fantasy, he loves Star Wars, from scooby doo to space. Anything.

Can anyone maybe recommend a site that categorizes a large collection of games besides boardgamegeeks?

Thanks in advance

EDIT Whoops. Wrong forum. Sorry.

Moreb · May 02, 2016, 10:49:08 PM

So what games are out there that might be fun, and slightly advanced for his age? Something we'd do together. Possibly co op if there are any at that level.

I'd entertain any kind; simple wargame, zombies, fantasy, he loves Star Wars, from scooby doo to space. Anything.

Can anyone maybe recommend a site that categorizes a large collection of games besides boardgamegeeks?

Thanks in advance

bayonetbrant · May 02, 2016, 10:57:10 PM

Moved & merged

bayonetbrant · May 02, 2016, 11:01:07 PM

Some easy starters might be My First Carcassonne or Catan Junior.

There are a variety of Star Wars board games out there but some are a little pricey. Maybe look into the Star Wars collectible minis game and just get a few figures to work with?

At 5, my son and I played a simplified HeroScape pretty regularly, and he liked putting the terrain together.

Moreb · May 02, 2016, 11:12:46 PM

Thats a good start. I'll give them a look into. Money really isn't an issue if it's a sound product. You're talking with a guy who has almost everything ASL in shrink wrap. What was I thinking? Avalon was about to go out so I bought like crazy. That includes the A3R and Rising Sun.

Arctic Blast · May 03, 2016, 12:23:29 AM

Battle Sheep is a neat little game...call it 'kid's first area control game', only with stacks of bakelite pieces with amusing pictures on them. Flash Point : Fire Rescue is a decent co-op game where you can gradually add more elements and complexity to it before even looking at expansions. If there are more than 2 of you, Sushi Go is a pretty good card drafting game.

Moreb · May 03, 2016, 01:10:31 AM

Excellent suggestions so far. Man this is a great forum. I am leaning most towards Flash Point and Catan Jr. but the latter is a little pricey for what you get in the box. Maybe money is an issue after all. ??? Battle Sheep looks easy enough, but I'm not sure if he'd get too upset if my play blocked him so much that it would become frustrating for him.

I think I'll order tomorrow My First Carcassonne, which I think he'll really enjoy, flashpoint and maybe Battle Sheep.

bayonetbrant · May 03, 2016, 05:20:18 AM

Forbidden Island is an excellent co-op, and from there you can bump up to Forbidden Desert. Both explicitly encourage player interaction to help each other.

Pandemic is the current "ooooh this is the most awesomest thing ever" among the co-op cognoscenti, but the theme might be a bit beyond a 5-year old. Forbidden Island, though, is probably going to be 'cool' for him - escaping from a sinking island with the treasure O0

Capn Darwin · May 03, 2016, 05:33:11 AM

Some simple non coop games we played with our girls the are fun and as a parent you can scale the level of play as the child gets better are "Hey that's my Fish" and "A ticket to ride". Both are quick to learn. Both are also available on iPad.

GJK · May 03, 2016, 06:11:50 AM

Quote from: Moreb on May 02, 2016, 11:12:46 PM
You're talking with a guy who has almost everything ASL in shrink wrap.

Bingo. Start him out young and strong. Break that shrink and start learning it yourself. ;)

Moreb · May 04, 2016, 12:16:02 AM

Meant to reply today to everybodys posts but spent the evening in the ER. I appreciate the comments and suggestions. Will follow up tomorrow.

Thanks again.

bayonetbrant · May 04, 2016, 05:35:48 AM

you guys OK?

Moreb · May 04, 2016, 06:58:08 PM

Yeah. I think so. Had some chest pains and after my wife got done looking up symptoms, she was convinced I had something even worse than Ebola. So I spent all last night in the ER and have to see a specialist monday. I wasnt going to go, but my wife was having none of it.

Thanks for the inquiry.

Quote from: GJK on May 03, 2016, 06:11:50 AM
Quote from: Moreb on May 02, 2016, 11:12:46 PM
You're talking with a guy who has almost everything ASL in shrink wrap.

Bingo. Start him out young and strong. Break that shrink and start learning it yourself. ;)

They're copies. Lol. The Deluxe modules I just have one each and no duplicates. I'm not sure he'd grasp the TEM of a unit being fired on in a fire lane from a unit at long range whose leader is broken. Better save that stuff for later.

Quote from: Capn Darwin on May 03, 2016, 05:33:11 AM
Some simple non coop games we played with our girls the are fun and as a parent you can scale the level of play as the child gets better are "Hey that's my Fish" and "A ticket to ride". Both are quick to learn. Both are also available on iPad.

Next on my list was Ticket to ride. I was already looking at that. Going to order the first batch tonight since I wasn't able to last night. Appreciate the suggestions

Quote from: bayonetbrant on May 03, 2016, 05:20:18 AM
Forbidden Island is an excellent co-op, and from there you can bump up to Forbidden Desert. Both explicitly encourage player interaction to help each other.

Pandemic is the current "ooooh this is the most awesomest thing ever" among the co-op cognoscenti, but the theme might be a bit beyond a 5-year old. Forbidden Island, though, is probably going to be 'cool' for him - escaping from a sinking island with the treasure O0

.

Haven't heard of either of those but Forbidden Island sounds interesting. I'll have to look at that one. I'm actually pretty excited about the prospect. I think it will be good fun for us all. Maybe even try to make a regular show of it?

GJK · May 04, 2016, 10:14:54 PM

Quote from: Moreb on May 04, 2016, 06:58:08 PM
Yeah. I think so. Had some chest pains and after my wife got done looking up symptoms, she was convinced I had something even worse than Ebola. So I spent all last night in the ER and have to see a specialist monday. I wasnt going to go, but my wife was having none of it.

Thanks for the inquiry.

Hope all is well- hate hearing about us aging wargamer's having medical issues. Really though, explain what a "squad" counter is and what a "leader" counter is and just play a faux-pas little ASL game. That's exactly what I did with my boys. To be honest though, I started taking it too seriously when they were way too young and after a few whoopings, they learned to hate the game. Don't make that mistake! However, my youngest (16) very much enjoys Up Front so there's always that option.