Candyland vs. Chutes and Ladders

[Hahma]

Now that my twin girls have turned four years-old in Feb, we've (the wife and I) been really been getting into playing games with them. While Morgan is a serious player, to the point of trying to stack the deck in Candyland so that she gets to draw the "icecream" card, whereas Paige is more flighty and can barely pay attention during a game.

While both games have similar ideas of following a path and having setbacks along the way, I find that in playing Chutes and Ladders, I invariably land on some long chutes at least 4 or 5 times per game. I've tried both the clockwise and counterclockwise spinner strategies, but neither seems better than the other. The one redeeming factor is that while Morgan is laughing at me every time I slide down a chute, I get to return the favor when she hits the big slide at the top. HAH!

Anyways, these two games have been the favorite lately. We also do the Diego Bingo game, Spiderman Yahtzee, The Little Mermaid game and Hi Ho Cherry O. I've got to get them ready for Heroscape playing in a couple years.

[Onacara]

My 5 year old twins sound like your girls....Ariana is all excited to play until about turn number 6 then she leaves and we finish the game for her...Dylan on the other hand is very competitive...I got him started on HS and he knows players Range/Defense/Attack verbatim for about 90% of the players.


Another good game to help teach kids strategy and that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose is SORRY

[NecroBlade]

I...hate...Candyland... *twitch*

[Agent Minivann]

Chutes and Ladders isn't too bad, but Candyland is irritating. I really hate the candy cards. They are not balanced. ;)

Really, I can't stand playing Candyland unless those cards are removed. Nothing like the kid about to win, or come from behind to win, and they draw one of the cookie or something that takes them back close to the beginning. Chutes and Ladders doesn't have a spot on the wheel that moves you up close to the top and then promptly disappears. Everyone has an equal chance to get the good and the bad squares.

Another good game to help teach kids strategy and that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose is SORRY

Seconded.

[Aldin]

I'm with Mini on this one - nothing quite so frustrating for a kid as to be near the end and draw a card that sends them back to the start. Chutes and ladders is one we all like though - we find that the winner usually ascends from the 80 slot rather than surviving the series of chutes in the 90s.

~Aldin, who prefers playing Pokemon, but that's only a two player game

[Will T]

I'd choose Chutes & Ladders pretty much every time. The only advantage to Candyland is it is more open to Custom Units & House Rules. :wink:

[HSisforcoolkids]

I used to like Chutes & Ladders until all of the exclusives ruined the game. Candyland is OK, but I am really fearing the the oncoming power creep.

[Onacara]

What is this really teaching our children?? (Canadian or otherwise)

http://www.photocasket.com/funny/candyland.jpg

[Onacara]

Candyland is scary to children...especially Cuban Refugee children



http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/img/candyland.jpg

[Hahma]

What is this really teaching our children?? (Canadian or otherwise)

http://www.photocasket.com/funny/candyland.jpg

That's pretty funny Onacara :lol:

After playing more and more Chutes and Ladders lately, it's definitely a good head start for kids to get into. While Paige isn't much of a game player, Morgan is really into it and she is learning to look ahead and count the spaces that I need to land on a chute and how many spaces that she needs to be able to land on a ladder or the finish space. It's funny though that when we played tonight, every time she plotted my course to land on a chute, she was the one that ended up on a chute. She's funny and laughs about it.

[Bummer]

Both of these games are great for young ones and I enjoyed playing both with my son when he was younger. The games are just made to have random winners which is great for the younger kids. My son is now seven and our new game is connect four. I do win better than half the time, but he wins alot with out haveing to let him win. I get so wrapped up in my strategy for the win that I lose by not paying attention to the rest of the board, which is what straregy is all about. I love loseing to him that way. I cant wait for you to expierance the same thing!!!!!! :D On a side note it also made me smile because when we put the game away the first time instead of putting the game in the closet with the other board games he put on top of the heroscape containers in the dineing room. priceless!!!!!

[Homba]

I recently picked up (Dora) Candyland for my nearly-3 daughter, and we've had some fun playing "with" the game, though we've yet to play a proper game.

I noticed something in the rules though - they actually print an optional rule or variant that's pretty good.

You pick two cards each turn instead of just one. Then you decide which one to use - your best option.

So this has two good impacts:

- You avoid the whole going WAY back down the path when you're near the finish (99% of the time), and

- Kids get to learn about considering their options and choosing the better option (pretty good lesson).

I think this rule "fixes" Candyland...

H

[Hahma]

I recently picked up (Dora) Candyland for my nearly-3 daughter, and we've had some fun playing "with" the game, though we've yet to play a proper game.

I noticed something in the rules though - they actually print an optional rule or variant that's pretty good.

You pick two cards each turn instead of just one. Then you decide which one to use - your best option.

So this has two good impacts:

- You avoid the whole going WAY back down the path when you're near the finish (99% of the time), and

- Kids get to learn about considering their options and choosing the better option (pretty good lesson).

I think this rule "fixes" Candyland...

H

Wow Homba, that's a pretty awesome alternative way to play. Like you said, it let's kids learn to make decisions. Thanks for passing that on, we may try that next time.