Games and Puzzles

Five Crowns is a card game a bit like Rummy but with five suits, Stars being the extra suit. The idea is to be the first to lay down your hand by assembling sequences (6,7,8,9 for example) or sets (three Jacks) for example. It takes skill and a good dose of luck  Each game takes about 45 minutes.

1-7 players

Age suitability: 8+

Here is a good explanatory video from the Board Game Museum:

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Children can play darts without damaging themselves or the plasterwork with this magnetic darts set.

Two levels of difficulty: on one side is a large conventional target with smaller targets on the rear.

Comes with six darts which you lob gently at the board.

Board measures 65 x 44 cm but rolls up for easy storage.

Age suitability: 4-8 years old.

Introduce the delights of Scrabble to younger children.

For children starting to spell, one side of the board has pictures and clues for children to guess words that are already on the board (for example f--h paired with a picture of a fish).

On the other side of the board, older children can play a more conventional game of Scrabble, making up their own words but with bigger tiles and simpler scoring.

Contains : Double-sided board, 84 word tiles, 30 counters for scoring, and instructions.

2 - 4 players.

Age suitability: 6+

Here is a video from youtube with a very American voiceover:

The classic stacking game.

Set up the tower. Then, with one hand, remove a block and stick it on top.  Easy at first, but as the tower starts to sway ....

For one or more players.

Age suitability: 6+

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This is one of my son's favourite games, not least because he always beats me.

Always voted as being in the top ten family board games, Cluedo is a bit of a classic. Millionaire Samuel Black has been murdered.  One of his disfunctional guests did it so who was it, how did they do it and where?  As you move round the house and ask questions of your competitors, can you pice together the truth?  Was it Mrs Peacock, the Rev. Green or the new character, the mysterious Dr Orchid and what weapon did they use and where?

2-6 players

Age suitability: 8+

Here is an American video showing how to play (it's called Clue over there):

 

Four rather worried-looking wooden eggs and matching wooden spoons for a cleaner, safer egg-and-spoon race.

Eggs are 6 x 4.5cm and painted with water-based paint.

FSC® wood.

Age suitability: 3+years.