For young and old alike, playing board games can be a real treat. But there has to be a start to everything. For the little ones, it is important to take into account certain criteria before choosing a suitable board game.
When should they start playing board games?
For toddlers, the ideal age to start playing board games is around their third year. However, there are board games that are developed for children as young as 2 years old. But even if these games are made so that they can be handled by children of this age, the chances of these children being able to sit down at the table and start a game is very slim, if not nil. A two year old will simply play with the materials and can imitate the grown-ups throwing the dice and that's it.
Which board games for which ages?
Children begin to be interested in board games from the age of three. At this age, cooperative rather than competitive games should be favoured in order to develop group strategies, constructive dialogue and to assume collective victories (and defeats). Around 4-5 years old, children can play competitive board games but gently with simple rules to allow the more attentive to win. Between 6 and 8 years old, you can offer them more sophisticated games with more complex rules that highlight their thinking skills. From this age group on, children are able to develop their concentration over the entire duration of a game and where they can start playing in total autonomy.
What to consider before choosing a children's board game?
The first criterion for choosing a board game for children is their age. Most children's board game boxes include the age at which the game can be played. These displayed ages correspond to the child's evolving ability to understand, analyse and interact with other people. The world in which the board game is played and the child's preferences should also be taken into account. Without forgetting the mechanics of the game or the different interactions that one has with the game.