Candyland or Candyland Castle for a 3 yr old? [Archive] - Baby Bargains & Baby 411 Community

citymama

05-22-2009, 03:01 AM

What's the difference b/w the two, and which do your preschoolers prefer? DD has begged for Candyland and I will look for it on our next trip to Target or my next amazon.com order. She is a little over 3 yrs old. IIRC, a few people on the boards mentioned Candyland Castle as being preferred by their kids. Is this the same game with a different design or a different game altogether? I have seen/played Candyland but not the Castle version. I noticed that Candyland Castle is now $30 - I think it was down to $5.99 on amazon over the holidays 08!

Thanks for your wisdom on this all-important topic! ;)

WatchingThemGrow

05-22-2009, 03:20 AM

I'd say regular if you can't get Castle for a bargain. DD has been matching up the shapes and taking turns with it since 2.5, but the regular version seems to have more difficult directions to grow with a kid. We like Castle fine, though.

citymama

05-22-2009, 03:36 AM

Thanks!

Why are you up this late, pregnant lady? ;)

WatchingThemGrow

05-22-2009, 03:39 AM

DS has a high fever, associated with the throwing up before dinner and possible pink eye he got from DH :). He's taking forever to cool back down and get to bed. Wish DD was up to play Candyland with me right now -NOT!

JTsMom

05-22-2009, 07:59 AM

We have both. The castle came first- I think DS was 2.5. He played with it a LOT. Then around 3.5 we got regular Candyland. He also likes that one a lot, but he doesn't always stay on task through the whole game, and sometimes he gets a little confused about which direction he's supposed to be moving. I think either is fine, but regular Candyland will last you longer.

Melaine

05-22-2009, 08:13 AM

My girls have not grasped the concept of Candyland castle yet, so no way are they ready for the real one. I think the main problem for us is that they both insist on holding the castle for the entire "game" time. So, so far, it has basically been a big argument whenever we try to play. Ahhh...twins.

KrisM

05-22-2009, 08:22 AM

I think Castle is a better first game, but not for $30!

LexyLou

05-22-2009, 09:04 AM

I think Candyland Castle is a better first game but they really are both so different it's nice to have both, but $30 is insane. I think I got our Castle game at Target for like $7.

lovebeingamom

05-22-2009, 09:13 AM

Candyland Castle was highly recommended to us... however, did not want to pay the price for it. Therefore, we purchased the regular Candyland knowing that it would be played with longer and the price was only $5.

My DD is almost 2.5 and she really enjoys playing Candyland. She knows her colors and how many spaces to move - therefore, making the game a lot easier to play with at her age. I still have to help her in which direction to move though, but that is alright - quality time, right?!

She also really enjoys Hi Ho Cherry-o!

MizMojoLaveau

05-22-2009, 11:21 AM

We have both and after several unsuccessful attempts I can say that DC is definitely not ready for regular candyland quite yet at 3 years old, while Castle is a big hit. Castle seems to be conceptually easier as well as a more"physical" game so perhaps that is the appeal at 3. Our reg. candyland is the one that comes in the square plastic box and it seems that either the board is too small or the pieces too lightweight or tiny--hard for a 3YO to have the dexterity not to knock everything over everytime we go to move the men, but it was cheap at Walmart or Target. So, I vote for Castle, but $30 seems high!

katydid1971

05-22-2009, 11:50 AM

I HATE candyland castle (aka candtland casino) but DS did like it for a while. He quickly outgrew it though. I got it at christmas time for $6. He loves candyland. I think hi ho cherry-o is a better first game. FWIW I always buy the special target version with the plastic box, its a lot easier to store and holds up much better.

fivi2

05-23-2009, 10:46 AM

we bought castle first at around 3 yo (but for like $5 or $6). The girls love it and can play alone (twins). It is pretty easy, though. We have tried regular candyland a couple of times at a little over 3 yo and it is too long (or too boring) and quickly descends into chaos.

They LOVE cranium cariboo, btw.

egoldber

05-23-2009, 10:51 AM

Sarah STILL likes to play Candyland LOL!!! But she did not really "get it" until she was closer to 4.

I agree that better first games are Hi Ho Cherry-o (although this can also take a longgggg time if you are unlucky) and also Cranium Cariboo.

Right now Amy can play Hungry Hungry Hippos and also Elefun. Although they are more "games" than games, IYKWIM.

racerl1

05-23-2009, 10:52 AM

We have both. DS got the Castle game for his 2nd birthday, and he got the regular a couple of months later for Christmas. He plays the Castle more right now, as it is a faster game and a little less confusing. He, too, gets confused about which direction to go, bit he enjoys playing the game. Walmart has the Castle for $20 right now. I think that is about what I paid for it 1-1/2 years ago.

Tinkerbell313

05-25-2009, 11:20 PM

I think it depends on the child and their knowledge of colors and shapes. DS got Candyland Castle at age 26 months and was downright bored with it. He already knew his shapes/colors and knew how to match the shape with the shape on the gingerbread man. Also, like PPs have stated, your children will grow out of it very quickly.

He much prefers the regular Candyland as he views it as a race between mommy, daddy, big sister and himself. He enjoys counting as well. So regular Candyland was a better option.

BeachBum

05-26-2009, 08:13 AM

I think it depends on the child and their knowledge of colors and shapes. ..... He already knew his shapes/colors and knew how to match the shape with the shape on the gingerbread man. Also, like PPs have stated, your children will grow out of it very quickly.

I agree. My DS could have played castle well before his second birthday. He is 3.5 now, and will occasionally get it out to play alone. But when we play games together it is never chosen.

We have several games from "family pastimes" that we all enjoy.

citymama

05-26-2009, 12:56 PM

fivi2

05-26-2009, 04:05 PM

Regular Candyland sounds like the right game for us! I will also get Hi-ho cherry ho and put Haba Orchard game on our wishlist/watch list for sales. Thanks everyone!

I don't own Haba orchard, but back when I was doing my game research, I think I read that Hi hi cherry o has a version that is played just like orchard. So it may be overkill to have both. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I think I mentioned it upthread, but Cranium cariboo is a huge fave here.

citymama

05-26-2009, 04:23 PM

I don't own Haba orchard, but back when I was doing my game research, I think I read that Hi hi cherry o has a version that is played just like orchard. So it may be overkill to have both. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks - this is good to know! If someone can point me to the right version online, I'll get it - Hi-Ho is much cheaper than Orchard!

Here's the one on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-44703-Hi-Ho-Cherry-O/dp/B00000IWGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1243369360&sr=1-1

caheinz

05-27-2009, 02:37 AM

Thanks - this is good to know! If someone can point me to the right version online, I'll get it - Hi-Ho is much cheaper than Orchard!

Here's the one on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-44703-Hi-Ho-Cherry-O/dp/B00000IWGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1243369360&sr=1-1

We have both. Hi-Ho Cherry-O is played with very nearly the same rules, but Orchard is simply beautiful. (Orchard has all wooden fruit, whereas Hi-Ho is plastic...)

Our Hi-Ho (looks like the box) has a spinner. I think it might have 7 spots. Orchard has a big die, with 6 sides. So there's one extra option in Hi-Ho. (I think it's a lose-fruit one.)