Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it.
- Claude Monet
Dad Suggests was created to share with others the many different things that we have loved sharing with our own children.
Our hope is that - by reading or visiting our children’s bookstore - you will find something special to enjoy with your own family.
- Ryan
All in Board Games
The fact that my son was so enamored with the idea of booby trapping the entire house has definitely endeared this classic movie to me - even more than the power of my own nostalgia. I simply had to buy this board game when I saw it.
As a father of kids ages 6 and 2, junior versions of board games are a trend I greatly appreciate. In case you’re unaware, junior versions of board games are basically simplified versions of their better-known adult versions. Whether they say “junior”, “for kids”, or “my first”, they all mean the same thing - better access to the fun for the young ones.
First Orchard by HABA is perhaps the very best board game to be your child’s first board game. This cooperative game teaches basic skills like taking turns and rolling the die - and the wooden game pieces are high-quality enough to be toys by themselves.
These are the benefits of teaching chess to kids. Chess is very good for a child’s brain. Playing chess strengthens their executive functions (cognitive control) at a time in their development when they need it the most, and when it can make the biggest impact on the rest of their lives.
These are the best logic games for kids. Children aren’t born with the ability to masterfully resist their impulses and weigh the potential consequences of their actions. For that reason, learning logic through games is not only a lot of fun, it truly grows an incredibly useful skillset.
The Dad Suggests 2018 Holiday Gift Guide. These are all personal recommendations for books, games, and toys to give as gifts to your family. They caught our attention this year and sparked the imagination of our own children (currently ages 6 and 2). And, to be perfectly honest, they all blow me away with their quality too.
Shadows in the Forest is a board game from ThinkFun that you play in the dark. I knew intuitively that my son’s face would light up when he heard there was a board game you had to play in the dark. I knew the wheels in his head would start to turn thinking of the possibilities.
These are the best cooperative board games for 5-year-olds. We think it’s helpful to be able to share our strategies and logic with the little ones. And playing cooperatively with a common mission is a great way to introduce children to the whole point of playing board games - to have fun.
Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters is a fantastic family board game that reminds us of playing Luigi’s Mansion - and it makes us happy for many of the same reasons. The artwork and the ghost figurines are very high-quality, and cooperating with the family in a haunted house is a true pleasure.
Should you let your kids win in a game of skill? Is it better parenting to do your best when playing against your children, or to go easy on them? Have you ever had a despondent child state that they don’t want to play a game anymore because they never win? What should a parent do?
Mole Rats in Space - a cooperative family board game by Matt Leacock and Peaceable Kingdom - definitely inspires us to use our imagination and do a little role playing. These mole rats are in space? We better put on our astronaut costume!
Iello’s King of Tokyo is one of those rare family board games that are legitimately enjoyed by the entire family. Not only can younger children and older children play together, but parents will just as happily play this game without their kids. Look no further, Godzilla fans, this is your perfect board game.
Race to the Treasure! by Peaceable Kingdom definitely belongs in that elusive category of games made for kids that parents legitimately enjoy playing too. It also happens to be a fantastic introduction to strategy for your children. And, since it was our son’s first game, we’ll certainly have fond memories of it forever.
