Scrabble
We’ve been playing games with friends and family for years. We especially love the challenge of word games, and our heated discussions about which ‘unusual’ words are allowed.
Two of our favourite family word games are Boggle and Scrabble. Boggle’s a quick three minute game that you can play when you haven’t much free time, and Scrabble is a more strategic game that will take an hour or so to play. Scrabble has been around since the 1930’s, it’s sold all over the world and it can be addictive!
Scrabble is played with a board and tiled letters. The letters have a points’ value, and the trick is to create a high scoring word and place it in the best position to give you the most points. The person with the most points wins the game. It’s not always the longest word that gets the most points; the strategy is also about placing the word. It’s very satisfying to create only a two or three letter word and get triple points; especially when a smug opponent has just created a long seven letter word and only got half as many points.
Anyone can play, but experienced players will usually wipe the floor with newbies. The child’s version is Junior scrabble, which is perfect to play with friends or family.
Why we like it
Easy rules. Once you’ve got the idea of how to score, it’s just a matter of experience to increase your chance of winning.
It’s strategic, not just a word building game
Any level can play. It’s not necessarily the largest and obscure words that give us the most points.
Fantastic for building children’s vocabulary, and boosting their confidence. (and adults!)
How long does a game last? – This will depend on your skill level and experience, but you’ll need at least an hour.
Age suitability – 10 years upwards
Top tip – You’ll need a dictionary to check words and spellings, and if you really get hooked, check out the Scrabble dictionaries.
