Haba My Very First Games My First Orchard

Sure, toddlers can participate in board games for older kids, but it can take some handholding from caregivers or (often impatient) older siblings, especially if the game involves reading. It's possible, though, to make games for kids less complex so the little ones can participate - and it's not hard to make those games fun, too!

The My First Orchard game from Haba takes the classic Haba Orchard game down a notch so kids as young as age 2 can participate. My First Orchard is a cooperative game, so there will be no tears from a frustrated kid who comes in last: instead, all of the players are competing against a Raven (or, as one reviewer's child called it, the "bad bird") to collect the fruit first. Working as a team, each child takes turns rolling the dice and either picks a piece of fruit, or advances the Raven down the path; if the team can get all the fruit before the Raven does, everybody wins!

Small children take pride in being able to play the Haba My First Orchard game on their own, since they just need to know basic colors and shapes to play; it also teaches them how to follow rules and take turns. Plus, the game pieces are big, chunky, and visually appealing for toddlers, so kids will enjoy using them for independent pretend play. The Haba My First Orchard game includes four of each fruit (green apples, red apples, blue plums, yellow pears), 5 path cards, 4 trees, 1 color-symbol die, instructions, and, of course, a very mean and greedy Raven. For 1-4 players, ages 2 and up.