I grew up playing a few boardgames that have now become as classic as psychedelic socks and scrunchies were in the 90’s. While we should be relieved that neon colours and banana clips are now a thing of the past, I’m happy that those boardgames stood the test of time and we can now play them with our children.
Titles like Monopoly, Cluedo and Operation are still a favourite with many families, and even better is that you can now get them in so many different versions to suit your interests. Boardgames are a great way to spend family time together, and children really have fun and learn new skills with them. They make a wonderful gift for Christmas and the upcoming holiday season, but the variety available can be daunting if you’re new to this awesome hobby. Here’s a list of my top pick of Hasbro boardgames for family game nights this Christmas, guaranteeing happy children and fun times this holiday!
Monopoly
Earlier this year over 4.3 million fans from around the world voted for their favourite tokens for Monopoly. The new set includes the Scottie dog, top hat, car, battleship, cat, T-rex, rubber ducky and penguin (the thimble, wheelbarrow, and boot are not included anymore). You can stick with classic Monopoly, or choose one of the newer editions that are now available. There’s Monopoly Junior, as well as Monopoly Junior: My Little Pony or Monopoly Junior: Frozen, both perfect for little girls who love these characters, or even Monopoly Star Wars to spoil the boys (hubby included!).
The gamers among us will be excited to learn more about Monopoly Gamer, a brand new game that sees Monopoly teaming up with Nintendo. You’ll be able to play as popular Super Mario character tokens, including Mario, Princess Peach, Yoshi and Donkey Kong, each with special powers within gameplay. In true gaming style you’ll need to collect coins, roll a power-up die to activate the characters’ special abilities, battle bosses along the way, and even defeat Bowser at the end to finish the game. Gamers will also be happy to know that you’ll be able to collect more Super Mario characters with the Monopoly Gamer Power Packs. Each Power Pack will include a character token, character card and character sticker. So get collecting with Wario, Luigi, Toad, Boo, Rosalina, Diddy Kong, Fire Mario and Tanooki Mario!
Mousetrap
Mousetrap is a fun game for kids, the object of which is to try and trap your opponent’s mouse. Spin the cheese wedge and move along the board, launching the mouse trap if you land on a boot space and there is a mouse in the cheesy trap area. Setting off the trap causes a chain reaction that will make your children laugh. If you trap the opponent’s mouse you win, but if not you can reset the trap and keep playing! It’s a simple concept for even the little ones to grasp and with it being a quick game it will hold their attention too. Mouse Trap is a great way to introduce your kiddies to the fun that boardgames can be. 
Operation
Buying your child a doctor’s kit to add to their toy collection is a smart choice. Most kids seem to love spending time pretending to fix the family Labrador, listening to your heartbeat with their stethoscope or pretending to take their little brother’s temperature with the thermometer. So the game Operation is sure to be a hit with little ones, challenging them to be the doctor and help Cavity Sam or be caught by the buzzer. Use the tweezers to operate and remove his funny ailments…the frog in his throat or his pulled muscle. But avoid the sides because if you have anything but the steadiest hand his nose will light up red and your turn will be over. Remove the most ailment parts to win the round!
Toilet Trouble
Toilet Trouble is a bit of good (clean) fun. Each player takes turns to spin the toilet roll, and must then flush the toilet that number of times. If you just hear the flush sound, you can pass the toilet on. But should you flush the toilet and be sprayed then you will be out of the game. The player who is the last toilet flusher standing without getting sprayed is the winner. Expect lots of shrieking and laughing with Toilet Trouble, a short game that will appeal to even younger players and your mates too of course!
Fantastic Gymnastics
Get ready to practise and then go head-to-head with a friend in this game that challenges you to flip a gymnast figure from the high bar and try to achieve a perfect landing. You’ll need to time your speed and rhythm, and when the figure has the right momentum release him and see if he lands on the mat with his feet. It’s difficult to master, and slightly addictive to practise for the perfect landing.
Jenga
An oldie but a goodie. It’s a fun game that both adults and children can enjoy together, a quick game but one that the kids can understand and have fun with. Stack your tower of Jenga bricks, with each player having one turn to remove one brick. With each brick removed the tower will become a little less stable, and eventually topple. To even the playing fields a little, make the moms and dads remove the bricks with only one hand.
Grab and Go
If you’re going away on holiday with the family Hasbro also has a great selection of portable Grab and Go titles. Perfect for on-the-go gaming the range includes Monopoly, Cluedo, Battleship, Connect 4, and Guess Who? You can also keep an eye out for other Hasbro boardgames including Pie Face, Speak Out, and Twister.
Sunday and boardgame
In today’s world where technology is on every corner and has become so ingrained in every aspect of our lives, we need to challenge ourselves to offer our children as much screen-free time as we can. Boardgames are fun, can teach valuable skills to your little ones, and are a good way to spend quality family time together.
So how about instead of Netflix and Chill, we do Sunday and boardgame? Try it out and let me know what you think!
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