Editorial Review

"Once upon a time, King Kandy, the Imperial Head Bonbon and Grand Jujube of Candy Land disappeared." Thus begins the magical journey of Milton Bradley's classic Candy Land board game. Captivated by the story of a kidnapped king and eager to help find him, little ones move their gingerbread pawns along a rainbow path and through a land of candy characters, all subjects of King Kandy's realm.

Playing cards thoughtfully designed for non-readers are coded with colorful squares matching the jeweled stepping-stone path or an occasional token matching one of the characters' symbols: draw a blue card, move to the nearest blue stepping-stone; draw a snowflake and earn a visit to Queen Frostine's iceberg. There are occasional pitfalls, too: land on the wrong square and you might be stuck in Molasses Swamp until a red card is drawn. With all these enticing, sugarcoated images (and King Kandy plainly visible at path's end), children can't help but be delighted by Candy Land. It's delicious! Instructions are in both Spanish and English. Candy Land is for two to four players) --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (54)

I love this game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This game is soooooooo fun to play with. Me and my friend love this game and we play with this game all day.

Fun First Game
I got this game for my 3 yr old and he just loves it and we play with it all the time. this is a great FIRST game.

CandyLand General Reveiw
When I was three, I played this wonderful game with my family and friends. With a great educational value and high fun level, this game was my favorite at the time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Shhh! If you can sneak past sleeping Daddy without waking him, you can have that midnight snack you're craving. But it's going to be tough--there are roadblocks everywhere. Don't step on the cat's tail!And watch out for those roller blades that didn't get put away! The first person to slip around all these obstreperous obstacles to get to the fridge wins. Players spin a spinner to determine what color space they'll move to. If the player's card doesn't match the picture on the space, Daddy's alarm clock button must be pushed the number of times indicated. Just hope that Daddy will sleep through the alarm. If not, he'll pop up and make his nightcap fly off! The game includes "Daddy" in a 9-by-5-inch plastic bed, gameboard, mover bases, deck of cards, spinner, and instructions (English and Spanish). For two to four players. --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (26)

FUN + Educational = GREAT GAME!
My three year old daughter gave this to her daddy for Christmas (so she could play it with him, of course!). Well, the fun has been on-going ever since! We play this game at least once a week (much more than that when we first got it) and it is holding up very well for us. (Our only problem has been that my daughter's younger friend once decided to chew on a couple of cards!...but we can still use them.)

What we like about this game:
-It helps children practice color recognition, counting (as they push the alarm), number recognition, and matching the pictures on the board to the ones on the cards.
-The whole concept of the game is cute and fun! My daughter loves it when daddy's hat flies off, and also LOVES it when she gets to take a card from me (or her dad) when she does wake daddy.

What we think could be improved:
-The alarm is a bit hard to push.
-The people cards all look too much alike. More variety would be nicer and help us remember better which one is ours on the board.
-The people cards should be made out of hard plastic and be self-standing. I've never liked the cardboard ones that you have to shove in and out of the little stands. After a while, the bottom edge of the card gets too frayed, and the whole thing of having to switch them in and out of the stands is just annoying. (There are 8 people cards--4 girls and 4 boys--but only 4 stands.)
-The box should be just a little taller (or the bed just a little shorter) so that the lid can go down tight when you put it away.

So, a few complaints, but we've enjoyed it so much that I still felt it was worth 5 stars.

A complete piece of trash
We played this game a few times (less than 5) before Daddy stopped working.The game is poorly made out of flimsy plastic pieces which don't fit together well.Once you DO assemble the game (which is no easy task), you'll need to DIS-ASSEMBLE it if you want to put it back into its box (otherwise Daddy's headboard is too tall and the box won't close).A TOTAL waste of money.

Neat game but takes a while to play through
Bought this game for my almost-5 year old daughter, mostly due to the reviews on this site.Game is a great step-up game from Candyland & the like in that players have to determine if they hold the correct card for the space they land on, helping them avoid pressing the "alarm clock" that might wake daddy.The pieces for "daddy" fit together very quickly and I was pleasantly suprised to see that this toy does not need batteries (hooray!).A note though:once assembled, daddy in his bed doesn't fit very well into the box.Easy to understand the rules of this game and to play.Only detriment is the gameplay rule that when you do wake up daddy you have to return to the starting point again.Our first few times playing this through the games lasted close to and sometimes exceeded 20 minutes.We modified the rule which helped: when you wake up daddy and he comes flying up out of bed (sending his cap shooting off hilariously), you had to skip a turn.This reduced the gameplay time involved considerably, making it much more enjoyable for our kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games   

Editorial Review

Be the first to move your child-shaped playing piece from square one to square 100 on the Chutes and Ladders game board--but watch out! If you land on the square that shows you ate too much candy--Ouch!--you get a tummy ache and slide down a chute to a square a few numbers below. But if you end your turn on a good-deed square, such as helping sweep up a mess, you'll be rewarded by a ladder-climb up the board.

A fantastic follow-up to Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders is ideal for younger children who are still learning to take turns and just beginning to recognize numbers (the spinner stays in the single digits). It's also a gentle introduction to the higher numbers as players climb to 100 at the top of the board. And, thanks to all those chutes and ladders, it's got enough excitement to keep your 7-year-old on the edge of her seat. English and Spanish instructions are included; no reading is necessary to play. Chutes and Ladders is for two to four players. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (37)

A classic game for young children
As a British child, one of the games I played frequently was Snakes and Ladders. It remains one of the most popular games in Britain for young children. Many years later, I discovered that American children play this game too, but with the snakes replaced by chutes. There are other differences too (at least as far as this particular product is concerned) - the die (a simple, solid cube) used in the British game is replaced by a less durable spinner, while the counters (simple circular pieces of plastic) used in Britain to move around the board are replaced by cardboard characters that fit into plastic stands - again, much less durable than their British equivalents.Perhaps these fancy pieces are designed to make the game seem more interesting. The British game is sufficiently appealing to children without them - the snakes are colourful and much more attractive than chutes can ever be.

Aside from these differences, the British and American games are the same although the layout of the board may vary from one individual product to another. I played the game on several different boards (from different manufacturers) and the positions of the snakes and ladders certainly affected the game. On this particular American version, I can see that having three chutes close together near the end would be particularly frustrating - if a game is too difficult to finish, enthusiasm wanes somewhat.

While it certainly helps if the children playing the game recognize the numbers 1 to 100, it is also true that if they play the game often enough, they should eventually understand which way they have to move their pieces, though parents or older children may need a lot of patience while this process happens.

The result of the game is pure luck with no element of skill so, no matter how often you play, you cannot improve your chances of winning by fair play, so everybody has an equal chance. This is an advantage in a children's game - they learn all about winning and losing and the emotions involved.

This is a fun game for young children of school age. Bright children of pre-school age might also enjoy it but these children will grow out of it at an earlier age than average children.

If you buy this particular product, I recommend replacing the spinner with a die and the cardboard pieces with more durable pieces. Do that and the children will have plenty of fun.

Man, tough game
I mean, I got an education, but those numbers are just plain tough!I usually just cheat, my nephew cant tell if I'm movin three or five squares, and I get to beat him most times when his mom, now my girlfriend, aint lookin.I give it a two because I think this gives the kid a not-realistic view of life, I mean, when was the last time you was walkin along and fell down a chute?Not very durable, either, one time when I lost i tore it in half no sweat.Save your money and get the kid a gun; THAT will teach em about real life!!!

Classic, but poor construction
This is close to the classic snakes & ladders we played as children, but it is not very durable. The playing pieces are little folded cardboard characters that fit into plastic stands. The spinner does not work well. We replaced ours with a die. (I keep extra dice on hand for games like that). My son (age 4) can count to 100, but sometimes he still gets confused as to which way to go and occasionally wants to "climb" a ladder when his spot crosses halfway instead of at the bottom.
Classic? Yes.
Durable? No.
Fun? Not very.
Candy land is much better and if you've got the cash, Balloon Lagoon is a blast. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

In Hasbro's Fishin' Around, eight colorful fish swim up, down, and around a stream, wigglingfrom side to side and opening and closing their mouths. Kids take turns picking cards and using theirdifferent-colored fishing poles to hook and catch the fish pictured on the card that they've chosen. The firstplayer to catch three, wins. Two to four preschoolers through first graders can play this motorized musicalfish-catching game without knowing how to read. The game requires three C batteries, which aren'tincluded.--Rebecca Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (34)

great birthday gift for 3-6 year olds
My son received this as a gift for his 4th birthday and it was a hit with all the kids there, ages 3-50.
It is one of the rare toys that he still plays with a year later.What I loved about this is that he can play it by himself or with friends.It is very easy and entertaining.

My Grandson loves this game!
This game provided at least 45 minutes of enjoyment for my 2- 1/2 year old grandson.The same day, he went back two or more times for "more".We were amazed that it went over so well as it was mfr. recommended for 3 year olds.He had no trouble with catching the fish, but we are waiting to "deal" the cards as he gets older.The music is fun, but it's easier on the ears if it is on the carpet.
We did have to exchange the first game we bought due to gear problems.The second one works just fine.
It's a great game to keep at "Grandma's house" to give him something special to do with us older folks.A Grandma

Annoying longer than it is fun....
My kids had this toy when they were younger and I HATED it. They were actually pretty interested in it for the first month. After that it only saw occasional use. What I still remember though is how annoyingly repetitive the music was. At least it was in tune, unlike some musical toys.

The pieces are quite durable (I still find them occasionally) but they are easily separated and scattered, making the set less usable. I don't recommend this toy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Preschool   

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Children learn about taking turns and matchmaking in this game as they try to make pairs of elated elephants, panting puppies, smiling suns, and other familiar objects. The 72 (cardboard) cards have lively, colorful drawings that make them easy to remember and a tray for storing them. Played alone, Original Memory is a quiet activity for developing concentration and memory. With more players, it's even more of a memory challenge to remember where the cards are that have already been turned over. And you have to wait your turn, which is sometimes harder than anything. The printed rules in the box set the tone for this child-friendly game: the youngest player always goes first. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Fun game, even young children can play
The cardboard pieces are hard enough that it takes a lot of teething on them to ruin them. THey do not bend easily. My only complaint about the pieces is they are a bit small. The small size makes it a bit difficult for small hands to manipulate them at times.

THere are many small pieces so if you loose one or two, you just take the match out of the pile and toss it away too. The game will be just as fun and no one will be the wiser.

In fact, when we play with our younger children, we often times just use half of the pieces.

THe game is the traditional memory game that almost everyone has played at one point in their life. It develops eye and hand coordination, following rules, taking turns, memory skills, picture skills and more.

Well worth the money.
Enjoy.

This is not the "Original Memory".
I had the original Memory game. This isn't it. The play of the game is the same, but mine had really cool pictures. This has silly cartoon pictures. It's not as nice.

Classic games stand the test of time
You can't go wrong with most of the classic games & this one is no different. Great fun & makes them THINK! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Cards    3. Memory    4. Learning    5. Board Games    6. Family Favorites   

Editorial Review

Two old favorites often make a winning combination when they are brought together, as is proven here in this Pooh edition of Candy Land. Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet, and Tigger, move along the winding path of the game board, picking up treats for a picnic in the 100 Acre Wood. No reading is required to play. Children draw cards and then use their color-recognition and symbol-matching skills to advance to the appropriate location on the board. Many adults will recognize this classic game from their own childhood and will enjoy sharing it with the kids now in their lives. A.A. Milne's familiar and enduring Pooh characters will ease children into the often-difficult concept of taking turns!--Wendy Slotboom ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Pooh Lover but not this game!!
My 4 & 2 1/2 year olds love Pooh but this game is not what I expected.There are MANY pieces that pop into the board to decorate it and they get in the way of the game.But my biggest complaint of this game is the colors.They are NOT your traditional Red, Oragne, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Green they are in between colors like yellow-orange, grenish-blue, orange-red etc.YIKES!!I am trying to teach my kids the colors as we play the game and I have trouble naming the colors.I donated my Pooh game and bought the regular Candy Land!!The colors are more vibrant and not mistakable for another color!!

Not happy with this game.
I wasn't sure about the game before I bought it, and now that I own it.I really dislike it!

This is why:

The game looks more like a Winnie the Pooh Birthday Party than a Picnic.

The gameboard feels very cluttered with all of the winnie the pooh cardboard standing parts.

The gameboard is even worse because because the colored squares seem extra small, and the playing pieces are extra big.

Eeyore, if placed on the board with his head facing forward, will take up 3 spaces.

The colors are not simple colors making the teaching value of this game very poor.

I suggest buying the original game, because this one is truly not that good.

Very Cute
My 4 year old son loves Candy Land, but having his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood in the game adds tons more fun.He definitely enjoys this very playful version a lot more than the original.A must first game for your Pooh lover! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Family Favorites    4. Preschool   

Reviews (1)

A little difficult and not much to hold your interest
I remember having an ants in the pants toy when I was young so when I saw this SpongeBob version I thought my 4 year old would love it since she loves everything Spongebob.

It was way to difficult for her to be able to get the ants to fly. But even my 6, 7 and 9 year old had trouble with it. They are usually very easy to please and enjoy most games and toys. But they found this to be a little difficult and just not enough to keep them interested for more than about 3 or 4 minutes. Now these kids are not the type that get bored easily or are hard to please but this one didn't do it for them at all. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Especially appealing to energetic little critters, the classic toddler game Ants in the Pants requires no reading or waiting for turns. It's "One--two--three--Go!" and everyone is racing to pop all four of their bugs into Fido's bloomers. It's that simple. Plastic "ants" are big enough (2.5 inches) that even little fingers find it easy to perform feats of insect trajectory. A hilarious hit with the shorter set. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Lots of fun, but can be frustrating for little ones
I purchased this game (and others) as a Christmas present for my daycare kids this year.We opened it today and spent a long time all playing it on the kitchen floor.I had 2 & 3 yr olds and 9 yr olds (and me!) all playing.The very youngest ones got a little frustrated but I think with some practice they'll get it.They all still had fun with it and didn't want to put it away.I think this toy is great for working on their eye/hand coordination and problem solving.They also had to use some teamwork to retrieve each other's misses.

Since we got it today I can't say much about the durability.The bottom is plastic and the top is cardboard.The cardboard is thick, but I can see it deteriorating over time.. especially with a daycare!

Overall I think this is one of those great simple games that every kid should get to experience.

Not Durable and too difficult
We bought this for our daughter when she was younger. It was too frustrating. The ants are not made like they once were and it is near impossible to get them into the pants. We would cheat for her and pretend they went in after a long while of trying. Even we could not get them in. Plus the material is so cheesy that they break very easily. Save your money and buy a better game instead.

Fun toy for young children
I had this game when I was a kid and I loved playing with it.
The pieces are charming, even though it tend to be pretty difficult operating if the muscle coordination is not good. I would not recommend this game to toddlers if they want to chew on the game pieces. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Preschool   

Editorial Review

Candy Land comes to life in this electronic game for young kids. Six games of varying degrees of complexity are included: the simplest challenges kids to catch falling plums in a basket, and the hardest has players looking for matching gum drops beneath rows of peanut brittle. Other games ask kids to repeat sequences of flashing lights or to count the number of visible lollipops on the game's screen. Candy Land character Mr. Mint leads players through all the fun, helping them develop skills in counting, sorting, etc. Youngsters who don't have any preconceived ideas that this game could be hard should have no problem figuring it all out very quickly. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Wish it had a good volume control...
as it's not something to take in the car unless you have a very quiet one!

I bought this for my son, and it doesn't hold his attention very well.The screen is quite small, so I wouldn't recommend it if you have a child with visual problems.

Not good for 4 yr old
I was very disappointed with this product.My daughter often finds the devise too hard to operate and the games are too easy.
As a result, it didn't hold her interest for very long.She is 4 yrs old and is used to operating video games, computer games, etc...but this game is more annoying to try to play than it is fun.

Waste of money
I bought this for my 4-year-old who is now almost five - neither of us are too "dumb", I have a grad degree and she's starting read - and neither of us can figure this thing out!!!:)If we get it to play the game she wants, it's purely by accident.Audio doesn't even sound like a real voice - very difficult to understand, video is too small to see very well.I don't think it's a game a child could figure out independently until they are 7 or 8 and I get too frustrated with the thing to help her out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Games    2. Board Games    3. Electronic    4. Handheld    5. Learning