Guest Author - Megan Romer

While Candy Land is a favorite first board game for young children, the magic of the game can fade pretty fast. However, the board is versatile enough that you can use it for many years to make your own games. Here are a couple of ideas:

MAKE THE GAME EDUCATIONAL:

Instead of letting your child simply draw a card on their turn, have them answer a question or complete a task (and get it right) before allowing them to draw their card. Some good questions or tasks might be:

Preschool:
-Give a letter and have them tell you a word that starts with that letter.
-Name a color and have them think of an object in that color.
-Ask simple counting questions, such as "how many fingers on a hand".
-Give them a word and ask them to think of a word that rhymes.
-Clap a simple rhythm pattern and ask them to repeat you.

Grade and High School:
-Spell a word from their school spelling list.
-Define a word from their school vocabulary list.
-Solve a math problem.
-Translate a word or sentence from their foreign-language study list.
-Find a note or play a scale on their musical instrument of choice.
-Compose a haiku (keep a notepad handy and write them down!).

MAKE YOUR OWN VARIETY GAME:

If you have a reasonably well-stocked game closet, you can make your own variety game (like Cranium, Quelf, or Rigamarole). Here's how:

1. Pull out the following games (or similar types of games): Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, Guesstures and Balderdash.

2. Assign each game a color on the board, and make one color "Player's Choice".

3. When a player lands on that color, they must try to win at a round of the game designated.

4. If they win their round, they may take another turn. First one to the end wins.

MAKE YOUR OWN POKER GAME:

1. Get out a deck of cards and some poker chips.

2. Designate each color on the board with one poker game (Suggestions: Texas Hold 'Em, Five Card Draw, Seven Card Stud, Omaha), and leave one color as "Player's Choice".

3. On each player's turn, all players play, but the rolling player gets the "rake" (choose a percentage of the pot).

4. The player with the most money when the first player crosses the finish line is the winner!

Discuss your ideas for using a Candy Land board to make new games in the Board Games Forum!