By: Kylie Prymus • Owner of Games Unlimited (2115 Murrary Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217)
In this increasingly digital age, children and parents spending more and more time playing video games, looking at their phones, or watching television. Because of the importance of pretend play and human interaction, Jeremiah’s Place does not use any screen time with our children. There is not a television or tablets on the floor with children!
This holiday season, we would love to challenge you to unplug and spend time with your little ones at a table playing some games. Table top games have come a long way from when you were a kid. Sure Candyland and Guess Who are still around, but there are so many more options out there to engage your family in interesting and fun ways!
This month, we have partnered with Kylie Prymus, owner of Games Unlimited in Squirrel Hill to present you with 10 great games for families with young children!
My First Castle Panic
Ages 4+
$19.99
Released earlier this year, this is a streamlined version of the popular cooperative family game. Players work together to combat goblins and put them in the dungeon before they can break down the walls to the castle. If you don’t have a useful card this turn, ask for help from another player!
Encourages teamwork and communication.
Ticket to Ride First Journey
Ages 6+
$34.99
Ticket to Ride is one of the best-selling board games of all time, and this version makes it more accessible to younger players.
Pick up cards to help place your trains on routes between cities, trying to connect the destinations in your hand. Choose between a USA or European map to help kids learn geography!
Unicorn Glitterluck / Dragon Rapid Fire
Ages 3+
$16.99
Great games to teach turn taking and counting to the youngest players in the house. Roll the die and move your unicorn or dragon along the path, and if you land on a crystal space roll the die to see how many crystals you get!
A perfect introduction to games and easy enough for children to teach each other how to play.
My First Carcassonne
Ages 4+
$34.99
Easy enough to learn and play, but one of the earliest ages where a child can develop a sense of strategy. Based on the best-selling tile game Carcassonne, in this version you will place a tile anywhere on the board - there are no restrictions - and if you complete the road you and the other players get to place pieces in your color.
Great, critical-thinking fun!
Fishing Day
Ages 5+
$19.99
Cast your line and try to catch fish, frogs, or even a boot from the pond.
It’s a game of quick reflexes and pattern recognition as only certain colors of items will get you points each round. Pay attention and be the best angler of the day!
Ice Cool
Ages 6+
This award-winning game features a 3-dimensional board and weeble-wobble penguins for you and your children to flick across (or over!) the board. Try to be the first penguin to collect 3 fish first to win.
Crazy flicking and awesome fun!
Tiny Park
Ages 5+
In Tiny Park, players are rolling dice, similar to Yahtzee, to make sets of patterns to build attractions in an amusement park.
The attractions are on Tetris-shaped tiles, so fitting them in can be tricky. But don’t worry, there are tiles of all sizes, so they will all fit!
Animal Upon Animal
Ages 4+
In Animal Upon Animal, players must carefully stack wooden animals upon animals (that’s the name of the game!).
Each player starts the game an assortment of animals, and they will place an animal every turn. If they call, you must try again on your next turn.
The first player to successfully stack all of their animals wins!
Dragon's Breath
Ages 5+
The dragons have found a frozen tower of gems!
Players must guess which color gems will fall out of the tower on each turn. On each turn, players must remove rings from the center of the board to let color gems to spill out onto the board. Who guessed right?
Rhino Hero
Ages 5+
Players must keep their hands steady as they build a card tower together and move Rhino Hero to the top of the tower!
Try not to knock it over, or else you’ll lose the game!
About the Author
Kylie Prymus is the owner of Games Unlimited in Squirrel Hill located at 2115 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15217.
He and his friendly staff will help you find the right game for you and your family!