This is also how we do it. Works well for e.g. Set or Zoff im Zoo.
Other alternatives:
if you have many (mostly adult) players the kid can play with one player and they let the kid execute the turn (e.g. place a card or execute pieces, throw dice and move etc.). The next level here is that the kid suggest moves and the adult supervises. This works best for traditional board games like Ludo, Malefiz. But also with Catan or Robo Ralley.
The games overall goes as usual and the kid plays one role—but errors are OK or are corrected if that makes sense. One traditional example in germany is Oma Skat. But it works with many games. Poker works, Bluff/Perudo is another good example. This changes the dynamic of the game for the other players because they have to accommodate a level of ‘randomness’. Works best if winning is not essential for the kid and being able to make reasonable moves is rewarding enough.
Scaling the game by skill level. Our kids all wanted to join in Boggle and partly learned reading from it. The scoring was scaled down by allowing single letter words and any mis-spellings and scoring up to 3 less letters.
Games like Take it easy where everybody has their own board.
The result is that the kids reach a surprising level of proficiency very quickly. We routinely play Talisman, Risk (legacy!) with an 8-year-old.
This is also how we do it. Works well for e.g. Set or Zoff im Zoo.
Other alternatives:
if you have many (mostly adult) players the kid can play with one player and they let the kid execute the turn (e.g. place a card or execute pieces, throw dice and move etc.). The next level here is that the kid suggest moves and the adult supervises. This works best for traditional board games like Ludo, Malefiz. But also with Catan or Robo Ralley.
The games overall goes as usual and the kid plays one role—but errors are OK or are corrected if that makes sense. One traditional example in germany is Oma Skat. But it works with many games. Poker works, Bluff/Perudo is another good example. This changes the dynamic of the game for the other players because they have to accommodate a level of ‘randomness’. Works best if winning is not essential for the kid and being able to make reasonable moves is rewarding enough.
Scaling the game by skill level. Our kids all wanted to join in Boggle and partly learned reading from it. The scoring was scaled down by allowing single letter words and any mis-spellings and scoring up to 3 less letters.
Games like Take it easy where everybody has their own board.
The result is that the kids reach a surprising level of proficiency very quickly. We routinely play Talisman, Risk (legacy!) with an 8-year-old.