Board Game Fun

Board games have been a family tradition for as long as I can remember. Our little Raley clan could often be found circled around the dining room table or family room coffee table, heads bowed over worn game pieces, Scrabble tiles, or dogeared piles of Monopoly money. While we noshed on snacks, bantered about strategies, and formed alliances, we grew closer and formed priceless memories -- for better or worse.

When I was about nine, "Hop" broke out his 60s-vintage Risk board for the first time, set us up around the dining room table in our house in Dublin, and laid out his only ground rule for this very "adult" game: No crying. Then he commandeered all the black pieces, and swiftly led his armies to victory around the globe -- a feat that would occur more often than not whenever we played as a family. I was the first player to succumb to his black masses, and still remember sitting at the head of the table, directly opposite my enemy, willing the tears not to spill out of my eyes.

Games were sometimes lethal, ending in hurt feelings or hurt pride, but we all soldiered on, and Shawna, Kyle, and I soon became board game aficionados, playing Monopoly tournaments that would stretch over a couple of summer vacation days, engaging in Risk warfare with whatever friends we could persuade to learn the game, and enjoying other favorites like Scrabble, Pictionary, Clue, and Boggle.

Tim's family wasn't quite as into board games, but I've won him over to the dark side, and as a couple, we've loved playing all of the old favorites, in addition to new ones like Settlers of Cataan.

So it was only fitting that we raise up our children with a love for board games. So far, their favorites include:

Pengoloo (called "the Penguin Game" in our house), a darling wooden matching game with penguins hiding sets of different colored eggs.

The Ladybug Game, a great game for non-readers that actually helps build math skills.

Chutes and Ladders (called "Shooting Ladders" here)

Candyland, an old standby!

We also just started playing Boggle -- by simply asking Joey (and his shaker assistant Clara) to make words from the letters in the grid. But we hear that Boggle Jr. is a fun game for little ones, too!

 What are your favorite games to play as a family? We'd love some new recommendations!