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My child is always restless, not interested in board games. What game should we start with?
Game Recommendation
Parents often approach us asking what game we would recommend for a restless 5-6-year-old boy or girl that is quick to play, exciting for adults as well, and as an added bonus, small and easy to take on-the-go. Since it's summer and everyone is outdoors, it's nice to play a game before bedtime, especially when on vacation, as it’s a great way to end the day together.
Here is our recommendation:
Piratatak/Diamoniak from Djeco
It Fits in Your Pocket
This game is card-sized, but it's more than just a card game – you don't need to hold the cards in your hand, which is particularly beneficial for this age group since arranging and understanding the cards alone can still be a significant challenge for them.
Popular Theme
The game's popularity is also evident in its availability in both boy and girl versions, with themes that are sure to excite children. Who wouldn't love pirates and their treasures, or fairies versus witches? For this age group, the theme itself is crucial, as it sparks their imagination while playing. Choosing the right theme is half the success.
Simple Rules
Another essential aspect for this age group is that the game should not be too long, should have exciting twists, and the goal should matter – how the player wins. In this game, children win by building their pirate ship or fairy castle, which consists of six elements. Acquiring them isn't easy, as if a pirate/witch arrives, you have to return three of the acquired cards, even if they are parts of the ship you are building. This unpredictability is what makes the game exciting.
The lack of card dealing also adds to the excitement. The next player decides how many cards to draw from the deck, giving them an opportunity to strategize and take risks. At this point, we might ask: do you continue, do you draw more? And the child has to decide. Many lessons are learned from their decisions. The braver ones take risks and draw more, some players carefully watch how many of the 8 pirates/witches have already appeared and draw cautiously. But if they acquire the cannon/fairy who protects their ship, they play more boldly, joining forces with the fairy and the cannon.
During the game, you can collect shiny treasures, which you can use to buy the missing elements from each other. We strategize, take risks, lose, and acquire new elements.
Although at first glance it seems like a simple, light, luck-based game, there is plenty of room for tactics, strategy, concentration, and observation. At the same time, you can also rely on your luck.
Success is guaranteed!
Therefore, if you want to play a brilliant game with your child, we highly recommend this strategic game, and not just for 5-6-year-olds. Based on our experience, older children also feel the same excitement.
We've tested this fantastic game with hundreds of children. Here are some reviews from our families:
"Good game. It also teaches the child to strategize."
"Bought it as a birthday gift for a 6-year-old boy. Fast-paced game, great that you don't have to hold the cards. The pirate theme is great, and the game's cheerful, exciting atmosphere makes it a hit. I highly recommend it for boys aged 5-8!”
"The first game wasn't exciting enough, even though I chose it based on recommendations. I thought I'd read the rules again, then we tried it a second time, and it became my 5 and 8-year-old sons' favourite. It always comes out first during evening games. Now my goddaughter is getting this too, the version tailored for girls :) Highly recommended, it’s sure to be a success!"
"At first glance, I didn't think it would be such a great game. We played it at a friend's house, and it was equally exciting for my 4-year-old daughter and me. We asked Santa for it, and he brought the girl version, which is also fantastic."
"Truly, a very good game! When I got it, I thought it would be another card game that ends up shoved in a corner, BUT my 9-year-old godson plays it a lot with the family - I’ve tried it too - and it’s probably the only board game that we regularly play (and we have quite a few already!). So it’s definitely worth it!"
"Bought the card game for a 6-year-old boy's birthday. He and his almost 5-year-old brother enjoyed it a lot. After unwrapping the game, they played at least 20-30 rounds in a group of four. Of course, the adult players changed in the meantime... :)"
You can find the game rules and more details here:
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