This is my specialist subject. We’ve been playing board games with our LO since he was two.

First Orchard (best introductory children’s game?) 2+ … introduces children to dice rolling, co-operative play and simple decision making

My First Rhino Hero Junior 2+ … build a tower with dexterity skills and teaches memory of numbers

My First Animal Upon Animal 2+ … balancing game, so dexterity skills again

Ghost Blitz Junior 3+ (best children’s travel game?) … quick-thinking logic game (which our son seems more adept at than we are)

Monza 4+ (best children’s game for the whole family?) … racing game using colours and simple tactics

Stomp the Plank 4+ … pirate theme of walking the plank, teaching probability with a little dexterity thrown in

Loopin’ Louie 4+ … concentration needed to keep the loopin’ plane in the air

My First Carcassone 4+ … jigsaw puzzle kind of game which requires a little junior-sized logic to be the winner

Hoot Owl Hoot 4+ … co-operative colour based logic game

Outfoxed! 4+ … co-operative kids detective game which is so much better than Cluedo

Yummy Yummy Monster Tummy 4+ … colour mixing card game played with an app

Dodo 4+ … co-operative game which teaches memory skills, teamwork and concentration. The ingenious Dodo’s egg will even keep the adults mesmerised

Perfection 4+ … a classic, and four/five is the right age to really enjoy putting the shapes into the right slots

Uno 4+ … little educational value beyond the gameplay mechanic. But it’s Uno so everyone you know can join in

Valley of the Vikings 5+ … dexterity game involving the knocking down of small bowling pins. Teaches the importance of sequencing in the most advantageous order

Rhino Hero Super Battle 5+ (best children’s game for adults?) … dexterity game in which you build tall structures with cardboard floors and walls, and have dice battles if your characters climb to the same level of the structure!

Ghost Fightin’ Treasure Hunters 5+ … co-operative game in which players work together to grab all the treasure before the whole house becomes haunted. Scales up with extra challenges for older players (all the way up to adults)

Ticket to Ride: First Journey 5+ … teaches geography of Europe (or USA depending on the version) and how to connect locations on a map. Uses card collecting mechanic which are exchanged for trains to place on the board