How to make your kids rich (Monopoly Junior)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Monopoly Junior
Date:	06/02/08 (307 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

As a family we enjoy playing board games especially on a wet Sunday afternoon! My youngest son is 5 and it is not always easy finding a game that he can play with his older 10-year-old brother that both will enjoy. We already have a full size monopoly but the game is just too involved for my younger son to fully grasp. Last Christmas he asked for a new board game, not too much to ask in this electronic age! Looking around the shops I spotted junior monopoly and felt this would be an idea game for all our family to play.

What's in the box?
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There is a playing board, 4 plastic coloured cars, money in various denominations, a set of chance cards, a die and 48 plastic ticket booths in colours to match the cars. The box itself shows colourful cartoon children travelling around the board in a fair ground type car. The box certainly makes this game look appealing and attractive to children. There is an easy to follow instruction leaflet.

How to play.
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Like its big brother the object of the game is to acquire as much money as possible. Each player selects a coloured car. Money is distributed by the banker, to each player, everyone receives the same amount. We always let the youngest player start the game.

Unlike adult monopoly this version is based on a fair ground. All the squares are based on this theme and instead of London streets there are rides and stalls.

The die is thrown and the player moves that number of squares around the board. Each square has an instruction to follow. There are squares with amusements to buy. Unlike its big brother, buying the amusement is compulsory. The amount to pay is marked on the square and ranges from £1 to £5.Once purchased the player places a plastic ticket booth on the square to match their car colour. Now if other players land on your ticket booth square they have to pay for the privilege.

There are squares with the chance symbol where you take a chance card from the pile. Each card has a different instruction to follow. The best ones are those that give you a free ticket booth! Unlike adult monopoly if there is another players ticket booth already on site you can knock them of and replace it with your own colour.

There are squares with trains a bit like the stations of the adult version, but here you get another go and don't have the option to buy. Like adult monopoly there are fees to pay usually for watching a magic or water show. All fees paid are placed on the Mr monopolys loose change square, land on this square and you win the money! Players are awarded pocket money of £2 each time they pass go.

The game is over when a player runs out of money. Unlike adult monopoly there is no option to borrow money to stay in the game! The winner is the player with the most money. On average the game should take about 30 minutes to play.

My thoughts.
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This is probably the best family game we have. It is a game that everyone can enjoy and it is not easy to let the youngest win either! It helps children to count as they roll the die and have to move the appropriate number of squares around the board. There is simple text to decipher and money to count. I'm not sure I mentioned that the money is in small denominations from £1-£5 so making it easier for young children to count. It is also great to help children learn to take turns and not always to win. This concept is not one that my youngest son finds easy!
I really like the fact this game is based on a fair ground, something most children can identify with. For older children buying ticket booths and collecting fees seems to appeal. I like the way that free ticket booths are awarded too.

The game normally only takes about 30 minutes to play, with each turn being completed quickly. This means no one gets fed up waiting for his or her turn.

Junior monopoly is recommended for children from 5 to 8 years. However my 10 year old enjoys playing. The game can be played by 2 to 4 players. Junior monopoly is made by Hasbro and is widely available .I bought mine from Tesco and paid around £10. Highly recommended!

Summary: A junior version of the adult classic.