Kids' Games: Fun Times for the Pre-School Set

By Michele Blandino

Board games have long been a staple of family life. With old stand-bys like Monopoly, Sorry and Trouble, it is easy to pass a rainy afternoon or winter's night.

Many board games, however, are targeted specifically toward older children and adults, which makes it difficult for families with smaller kids to enjoy a family "game night". Fortunately, there are some games that are made specifically for the pre-school crowd. Here is a look at four favorites:

Hi Ho Cherry-O

This one has been around forever. The concept is simple. Each player starts the game with ten cherries on their "tree" and takes turns spinning the dial to see how many cherries they can remove. The first player to remove all of their cherries wins. To keep things interesting, there are some spots on the spinner which require the player to put cherries back on the tree.

This game, which is intended for children between the ages of three and six, provides a fun way to introduce basic counting skills as well as early lessons in taking turns. The game moves rather quickly which helps minimize the chance that the kids will lose interest.

The only negative aspect to this game is that the game pieces are very, very small and could represent a choking hazard. As a result, if you are playing this game with very small children, be sure to watch them carefully. To prevent losing the pieces, secure them in a plastic bag when the game is not in use.

Cranium Hullabaloo

Unlike most kids' games, Cranium Hullabaloo is one that requires a great deal activity. Simply place the colored pads randomly on the floor, turn on "Hullabaloo" and let the kids do the rest. The battery operated "Hullabaloo" unit will provide instructions such as "go to a yellow pad" or "touch your elbow". Each rounds lasts about one minute with the winner declared based on a random selection of color pads.

Again, because the time required to play the game is short, this one manages to hold the attention of even the smallest child. While this game is obviously more fun with several players, it is also suitable for one player.

Candy Land

Truly a classic. Many children describe this as being their very first game. Designed for non-readers, Candy Land is perfect for three and four year olds. In addition to providing opportunities to practice counting skills, this game has enough obstacles and pitfalls to teach children lessons in dealing with setbacks and other disappointments.

Chutes and Ladders

Another classic. In this game, using a spinner, players take turns moving their game pieces along the game board which has spots numbered one through one hundred. There is no reading required, making this another excellent choice for pre-schoolers. An added dimension of suspense is provided by the ladders that can propel you to the winner's circle and the chutes that can send you right back to the beginning.