Simple Game for Teaching Children

[Foxman]

My kids wanted to play a game with me last night so I pulled out Carcassonne. Now they are 3 and 6 y/o so I wanted to do something that would be interesting to both of them and yet simple enough to play.
For me I concentrated on getting them to make sure that the tiles matched up (city to city/field to field/road to road).


Here are the simple rules I used:

1) No expansions tokens or special tiles (river tiles/the dragon/abby tiles/the mayor etc)

2) Deal each player X tiles (15 or so depending on desired length)

3) Each player takes a turn placing a tile.

4) Each player earns one meeple when they complete a road, a city (or castles as my kids called them), or surround a cloister

5) The player with the most meeple at the end of the game wins.

For the record it was VERY easy to get both kids playing and interested without overwhelming them with strategy at this point. Oh and the 3 y/o won last night

[Joff]

I like this idea of teaching to young children. I particularly think the idea of rewarding children with the meeples and the player with the most at game end wins, is a great rule. I wonder if my 3 year old would grasp it 

[metoth]

This sounds like a great idea.  I have a 4yo, and he always wants to mess around with our extra meeples when hubby and I play with the older kids.  This would be a great way to introduce him to the game.  I may have to come up with a special rule or two to "earn" some of the other pieces, such as the pig, barn (my son calls it a house), wagon, etc.  I'll have to think about it some more.

Marie

[koolkat]

I got a 5yr old daughter that is also addicted to the game (not as me) but can sometimes help adult people to choose where to place tiles. And some times she really does help. I think she'll be a master when she gets older. 

[metoth]

Hubby and I tried playing with our 4yo a week ago.  We separated out about 30 tiles, and then took turns drawing and placing tiles.  Every time someone finished a road or city, he or she got to choose a meeple.  The winner of course was whoever had the most meeples at the end of the game.

With only 30 tiles, no one had an opportunity to finish a cloister, but I might be willing to have that score 2 meeples or something since it's harder to do in the super short span of our game. 

My 4yo caught on very quickly to how to place the tiles, and he one against us once as he had great luck drawing city end cap pieces.

Marie

[koolkat]

Yes Joff, I agree with you. That rule of rewarding children with meeples is really great, but my 5yo daughter likes to play like grownups do. So I think she'll skip that step, although I think she shouldn't.

[scotty13]

My 6 yr old boy plays with us. We use expansions with all the rules and he's really good.

[metoth]

My 6 yr old boy plays with us. We use expansions with all the rules and he's really good.

That is very cool.  Hopefully when my son is 6, he'll be able to sit still through a regular full game with the expansions.  Right now though my 4yo can't sit patiently through something that lasts much longer than 15 minutes.  Maybe someday.

Marie

[koolkat]

My daughter has the same problem, but not with Carcassonne. She really loves it!