One of the best ways to keep the whole family entertained and having fun together is with games. We have been playing a lot of board games lately, and recently were sent a package of four great games from Spin Master, with something for all ages.
I find that whipping out a game is a brilliant way to lift the mood in the house, banish boredom and reconnect with the kids in a fun way. They’re also ideal to pass the time if we are stuck inside due to bad weather.
This selection of games from Spin Master has something for everyone, with puzzling strategy from Otrio, hilarity from Hedbanz, Jumanji for those of us who have enjoyed the movies (Whether that’s the newer remakes that our kids enjoyed, or the original we remember from our childhood!) and even Baby Shark for the youngest of the family.
Jumanji: The Next Level
The Jumanji game is great for older kids, of around 8 years and up. My boys are 8, 10 and 11 and enjoyed this game. They found it quick to get into and quite easy to understand. In the game, you race to collect your 6 tokens to be the winner, and this is done by using action cards to do things such as battling animals. In some of these things, you need to collaborate with your fellow players, and during the game you can play as different characters from the movie – each with different powers!
There is also a Jumanji Classic Retro board game available from Spin Master Games which is a different version, and has a slightly lower age recommendation.
Baby Shark Lets Go Hunt Fishing Game
This game is really easy to play, so a great introduction to board games for younger children. While playing the game, each person races to catch the most fish, using their shark fishing rod. While you play, the board spins around and plays the catchy song “baby shark” which my youngest (age 3) enjoys a lot!
This game is good for developing motor skills and hand eye coordination for little ones, as they need to time their movements correctly to snap up their fish before it spins away. This game can last as long or short as you like, as you can keep playing for many rounds.
Baby Shark Let’s Go Hunt fishing game is available on Amazon for around 14.99
Hedbandz
This game is so much fun. Its very simple to understand and quick to get started. The aim of the game is to guess which item you’re wearing on your head just by asking questions to the other players, whilst against the timer. The winner is the first one to get three correct answers, but you can easily keep going and guessing more – this game kept our family busy and laughing for ages!
There is also a free companion app that you can download to enhance the game.
Hedbanz is available from Smyths, Argos and Amazon
Otrio
This game is a more complex form of noughts and crosses, which can be played with up to 4 players, and has many more layers. You can win in a variety of ways, making it harder to keep track of your opponents moves and block them, to thwart their victory. This game is recommended for ages 6 and up, and our 8 year old in particular had loads of fun with this although all of the family enjoyed it. If you have a child who enjoys strategy and puzzle games then this is perfect. It’s easy to understand and get into, but not always easy to win! The game involves placing your circular pieces (of three different sizes) in order to create a line of three the same, three in ascending size order, or all three nested together in one space.
Otrio is available from Amazon
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.