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The Best Games for Your Kids This Christmas

Buying your children video games can be a minefield. Pick the wrong title and it could mean £50 down the drain, but get it right and you'll have a game that can keep them entertained throughout the holiday season - maybe even beyond - and something you could enjoy together.

As a dad and uncle, I've become a bit of an expert. I've been reviewing games professionally for nearly twenty years. I spend a lot of time playing them and, since the age of five or so, my daughter has been playing them with me.

After the trauma of Call of Duty: Black Ops and the sleepless nights post-Resident Evil 6 (only joking, honest!) we've spent many happy hours playing everything age-appropriate from Skylanders and Lego Games (both big favourites) to Disney Infinity, various Marios and every Zelda of the last five years (including remakes).

I've also watched nieces, nephews and kids of friends go through racing games, platformers, movie tie-ins and action games. I've witnessed the fiendish lure of Animal Crossing and Tomodachi Life and fallen victim to Toys-to-Life-related pester power. I've seen what works and what doesn't, what captures their imagination and what loses their interest within minutes.

Coming up are my picks for the best games for kids, but first here are a few useful guidelines for parents to consider:

Known characters don't guarantee quality

Favourite characters and familiar names are important to kids, but aren't any guarantee of quality - as anyone who's played this year's Ghostbusters tie-in or Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice will tell you.

Age ratings are the same as the movies... so don't ignore them

Lots of kids may want to play Call of Duty, but that doesn't mean they should. You'd be surprised at how many parents see the 18 rating as a skill level rather than a marker for age-appropriateness. And while you might think that games should be educational, don't make this your primary influence. Kids can learn a lot and have fun playing Civilization VI, for example.

Kids aren't patient so pick games that are accessible

The key is to look for games that are entertaining and accessible - most kids don't have a huge amount of patience - and which tie in to their own personalities and interests.

If your son isn't a fan of football, he might not be bothered by FIFA. If he likes fantasy and building things with Lego, however, then Dragon Quest Builders could be perfect.

Some games have a really broad appeal. I've yet to find many kids who don't like a Mario or Lego game, while Pokémon nearly always hits the mark until they reach the teenage years (and some will carry on playing even then).

Good co-op features make all the difference

This is true for many reasons. On the one hand, this means your kids can play with their siblings or visiting friends, keeping more than one child out of mischief at a time. On the other, this allows you as parents to play, too. Not only can you help younger or less dextrous kids with tricky sections, but you can have a lot of fun working together to achieve common goals.

The Lego and Skylanders franchises are brilliant examples of such games, but they're not alone. Games with competitive multi-player can also be great, so long as they're offline (even family-friendly online games can suffer from issues with bad language) - and you're prepared for a number of "it's not fair, she always wins...." disputes.

9 of the best games for kids

So that's the parenting advice out the way! Next I've picked our 10 brilliant family-friendly games that deserve a place on your Christmas present shortlist. Whether your child is obsessed with Minecraft, Lego, Marvel, Pokémon (or, God help you, all of the above), there's a game here for them.

1) Skylanders Imaginators

Available on: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U
The original "Toys to Life" game has long been a solid choice for kids, but this year's effort is arguably the best one yet. For a start, Skylanders Imaginators has a strong single-player and co-op campaign, which should keep your kids - and possibly even you - busy for the festive season.

Better still, this year's big feature is the ability to create your own Imaginator Skylander, collecting heads, bodies, costumes, armour, power-ups and weapons with which to kit them out as you play.

Getting into Skylanders is an expensive business, but you can use figures released with previous games in this one - and even pick some up through eBay or second-hand. As a bonus, you get the vehicle-racing content from last year's Skylanders SuperChargers. Grab some extra vehicles and you'll get some quality racing thrown in too.

2) Lego Dimensions

Available on: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3
With Disney Infinity dropped by the house of mouse, Lego Dimensions has become Skylanders' only serious Toys to Life rival.

The good news is that it's brilliant, with a lengthy single-player adventure that takes Batman, Gandalf and The Lego Movie's Wyldstyle through the worlds of The Simpsons, DC Super Heroes, Scooby Doo, Ghostbusters and even Portal 2.

The Lego kits actually play their part in the game, too, with a magic Lego portal that you build in real life as part of the game, where placing certain characters will trigger abilities or help you solve puzzles.

Like most Lego games it's fantastic for family co-op sessions, and you can expand it with add-on packs based on your offspring's favourite franchises, with a Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them pack covering the new Harry Potter spin-off film.

3) Pokémon Sun and Moon

Available on: Nintendo 3DS
The biggest-selling Pokémon game ever gained a lot from the success of , yet it's also one of the best Pokémon games ever, keeping everything special from the creature training and collecting series but giving the visuals and mechanics a much-needed refresh.

Pokemon Sun and Moon each have a slightly different Pokémon line-up. It's incredibly easy to pick up yet packs a surprising amount of depth, as you'll know if you've ever heard kids discussing Poké-tactics for hours on end.

It's also funny, good-looking, well written and weirdly laid-back. If your kids are already pestering you for more Pokémon, it isn't a bad idea to just give in

4) Lego Marvel's The Avengers

Available on: Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U
TT Games has rarely put a foot wrong with the Lego series, but we'd say that its two Lego Marvel games are probably its best.

Lego Marvel's The Avengers just about beats the earlier Lego Marvel Super Heroes , tying in beautifully to the two Avengers movies and associated Marvel films but also using a huge roster of classic Marvel heroes in all kinds of funny and imaginative ways.

The classic mix of platforming, combat and puzzle-solving hits the highest levels, and there are some great new team mechanics that make co-op play even more fun. It's the perfect game for superhero-crazy kids, but one that will go down well even with those who don't know their Black Cat from their Black Widow.

5) Dragon Quest Builders

Available on: PS4
On paper it sounds like nothing special - basically the world's second-favourite Japanese RPG series meets Minecraft. In practice, it's very special indeed.

As the only builder left in a fantasy kingdom, players are tasked with building up their own town and defending it from monsters. But in order to build your houses and draw in residents, you'll need to go out questing for materials and new crafting techniques, which enable you to create better tools and weapons.

It's a huge game, crammed with missions and side-quests, but also offers lots of scope for creativity. The simple action and stylised fighting make it ideal for younger gamers, but it's smart and addictive enough to pull a few grown-ups on board as well.

Buy Now: Dragon Quest Builders at Amazon.co.uk from £42.99 | Amazon.com from $39.99

6) Super Mario Maker

Available on: Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Released last year for the Wii U and recently ported to the 3DS, Super Mario Maker excels as both a DIY gaming package and as a celebration of all things Mario.

On the one hand, it gives you the tools to create your own levels in the 2D style of the original Super Mario Bros, Super Mario 3, Super Mario World or Super Mario Bros U. In the Wii U version you can upload your efforts and share them online - it's a shame this isn't supported on the 3DS.

On the other hand you get a brilliant, imaginative grab-bag of Mario levels - some easy, some fiendishly tricky, but all inventive and full of fun.

Any of the Mario 2D or 3D platformers is perfect for family gaming, and we'd also steer you towards Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U or Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS. This one, however, holds a very special place in Mario fans' hearts.

7) Paper Mario Color Splash

Available on: Wii U
Not that Mario is limited to platforming, however. The Paper Mario series feature strange 2D paper versions of Nintendo's stars in equally oddball, hybrid titles that combine elements of the old 2D platformers with chunks of the graphic adventure or RPG.

In Paper Mario Color Splash, you're bringing colour back to a black-and-white land, duelling Bowser's goons with attacks from magic playing cards and soaking up their stolen pigment to splash around. It's an odd game but fun - and surprisingly accessible.

The silly action and surprisingly sharp dialogue make it almost as much fun to watch as it is to play. It's the kind of game where the whole family can crowd around the TV, shout out ideas and all take part.

8) FIFA 17

Available on: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Lots of parents make the mistake of going straight to the cutesy, family friendly titles when they're buying for children. However, a lot of mainstream games are perfectly suitable for kids.

Sports games, racing games and even some action games have a 3 , 7 or 12 PEGI rating, and if your kids love football, driving or adventure, then they'll be happy to get stuck in.

FIFA 17 is a good example. It has all the features and modes young footie fans might want - although you might want to steer them away from online play - and an optional two-button control scheme that makes the action more accessible for less-experienced players (not to mention mums and dads).

9) Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

Available on: Xbox One, PS4, PC
So, your kids want to play a decent shooter, but you don't want them playing anything too violent or too gruesome. The answer? Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2.

It's a slick third-person shooter, based on the much-loved mobile game, where you can join battle either as a plant or as a zombie, online and offline.

There's a lot of great single-player content for younger gamers to get their teeth into, with some entertaining mini-campaigns and a great choice of different plants and zombies, each with their own special abilities and weapons. They can also play with or against each other in a two-player split-screen mode or meet up with friends online to duke it out.

It's a great-looking shooter with a fantastic sense of humour and well-honed action, but one the whole family can enjoy.

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The 9 best video games for kids to play this Christmas | Trusted Reviews

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The best video games for kids this Christmas - It's the festive season and a time for giving, and if you have kids who love sitting in front of the TV to play video games, you'll want to know which games to buy.

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While the average 12-year-old boy can be found playing video games and hanging out with friends, David Pines spends his days a little differently. What does Pines do in his free time? He reviews different eateries around New York City. Now Pines has published a restaurant guide for kids called, Pines Picks: A Kid's Guide to the Best Things to Eat and Drink in New York City.

According to The New York Daily News, Pines started writing his restaurant guide after noticing that there were lots of guides instructing people to go to a specific restaurant, but none helping them find the best version of a specific food. "If I wanted a grilled cheese, I wanted to know to go to the Melt Shop and not just some random place," said the sixth grader.
More From Delish: Top Chef Kids in the Kitchen
In addition to finding his personal niche in the food world, Pines astutely points out the flaws of adult foodies. He explains, "Adults make too many judgments based on the appearance of the restaurants. They get mad because the glasses weren't all there when they walked in. I'm like, who cares? How did the food taste?" With an open mind and an empty stomach, Pines convinced his parents and grandparents to take him on what he described as "food hunts." Pines would scribble notes on a pad under the table while tasting the food.

Despite the fact that Pines penned a restaurant guide for kids, his methodology was fairly mature. Pines told The New York Daily News that he tries to eat the same types of foods together so he can taste the difference. "Most times it is obvious which is better if you eat them at the same time," he said.

Pines also wants to put rumors to rest that his parents wrote the restaurant guide for him. While the writing process was tough for him, Pines expanded his vocabulary and improved his writing skills. For example, he learned to use words like "flaky" or "airy" instead of repeating the word "light" to describe the foods he was eating.
More From Delish: Popular Recipes for Kids
The Village Voice reports that the sixth grader's writing is charming. In his review of the fries at Pommes Frites in New York City, Pines wrote, "The fries come out really hot and have a perfect crunch: you will never want to stop eating them. You really get the crunch and then your teeth get to the softness of the French fry and YUMMMMMM!"

Be prepared to see more of Pines in the future - the middle school foodie hopes to update his book every year. "One day I want it to be as big as one of those major food guides," he says of Pines Picks. His restaurant guide is available at PinesPicks.com and Amazon.

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12-Year-Old Boy Pens New York City Restaurant Guide

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While the average 12-year-old boy can be found playing video games and hanging out with friends, David Pines spends his days a little differently. What does Pines do in his free time? He reviews different eateries around New York City.

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A Dog's Purpose Movie Review - Reviewed by on Jan 26, 2017

( Rating:

)

Kidzworld saw A Dog's Purpose, the story of a dog who lives several lives and the people he influences. Is it ultimately an uplifting film about Man's best friend? Read our movie review!

By: Lynn Barker

In A Dog's Purpose, a puppy is born and wonders why he's here. When he lives several doggie lives and kind of comes full circle, back to some familiar human faces, he realizes that maybe dogs are just here to have fun, save people, lick them and just be here NOW.

Bailey

Hoping to sell him, two thugs "adopt" a golden retriever puppy but, thoughtless, leave him in their hot car without water. He's rescued by 8-year-old Ethan (Bryce Cheisar) and his mom (Juliet Rylance) and his alcoholic dad (Luke Kirby) allows him to keep the dog whom he names Bailey. As Ethan grows into a teen (K.J. Apa), he becomes a hot football player and Bailey helps him get girlfriend Hannah (Britt Robertson). All is happy until Ethan's football future is dashed and he sends Hannah away. Having lived a full life, Bailey passes away.

Bailey is Ellie

Hey, I'm back! Bailey's soul has now passed into Ellie, a female German Shepherd working in the K-9 unit of the Chicago P.D. with her partner Carlos (John Ortiz), who is a lonely cop who becomes deeply attached to her. Ellie gives her life in the line of duty.

Tino

Back again, this time as a tiny Corgi-type dog adopted and named Tino by a cute college student (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) who is lonely until she gets a boyfriend, gets married and has several kids. Tino lives a happy life with the family until it's again time for him to go.

Buddy

Nameless, "Buddy", an Australian Shepherd/St. Bernard mix, is adopted by a white trash woman whose husband/boyfriend? never likes him. He spends the first few years of his life chained up in the yard with little to no love. When he is dumped on the road by the man, he catches a familiar scent and follows it to some old friends who name him Buddy and realize there is something very familiar about him. Will Buddy finally come full circle back to his happiest life?

Wrapping Up

I have mixed feelings about this film. There are many sad moments and you might feel manipulated to get emotionally upset about them. There are plenty of happy, sweet and funny moments as well and (who voiced snowman Olaf in ) does a wonderful job of voicing the various incarnations of lead dog Bailey.

Dog actors are very winning and great. The video on YouTube showing German Shepherd actor Hercules being forced repeatedly to jump into fast moving water for a scene has caused a big uproar in the animal rights movement. He is fine now but obviously was frightened at the time. Is this sort of training right? You will have to decide how you feel about animals appearing in films but this is a separate issue. I am only judging the value of the movie alone for kids and teens.

I have not read the novel upon which the film is based so I can't say how close the movie comes to it. Would the novel make you want to cry more than laugh or smile? Decide whether to check it out or not.

What A Dog's Purpose does do successfully is cement just how important pets are in our lives, how they help form our young personalities, stick with us through thick and thin and become a part of our families. Maybe this is their purpose on Earth. I will reveal that the movie has a happy ending but, getting there might just be too upsetting for younger kids. We will go three stars.

A Dog's Purpose Movie Rating:

A Dog's Purpose is in theaters now!

Have Your Say

Do you have pet dogs? Do you think they are part of your family? Talk about all things doggie-related below.

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A Dog's Purpose Movie Review - Reviewed by on Jan 26, 2017 ( Rating: ) Kidzworld saw A Dog's Purpose, the story of a dog who lives several lives and the people he influences. Is it ultimately an uplifting film about Man's best friend? Read our movie review!

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Stacy McAnulty | The Children's Book Review | February 9, 2017

Five? I can only pick five books that are special to my family? Yikes, this is going to be hard. Anytime I need to make shelf space, I love to donate the older-perhaps outgrown- books to our local elementary school. Seems like it should be an easy process. Grab some books. Put them in a box. And lift with your legs. But too often, I sit crisscross apple sauce on the floor and flip through these well-loved books, remembering the nights I read them to my kiddos. So many books hold these types of memories. But I guess I'll give it a try. Here are my five.
Written and Illustrated by Jan Thomas
Not to brag, but I do a great Mouse voice. This is such a fun read aloud because you can definitely get into character. The range of emotions that Mouse experiences is Oscar-worthy. And I don't want to give away the ending, but it's fabulous. Perfect amount of twist and humor.

Ages 4-7 | Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | 2008 | ISBN-13: 978-0152065331
Written by Chris Barton Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
When we first heard the librarian at school read this book, I had to have it. The dueling characters are a hoot. Secretly, I've always rooted for Shark to win, but Barton and Litchenheld's solution is more appropriate. My apologies to any train lovers.

Ages 4-7 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0316007627
Written and Illustrated by Sandra Boynton
"The sun has set not long ago. Now everyone goes below..." I can still recite this book by heart. We read this board book so much that I was forced to buy a second copy. It fell apart! No fault of the manufacturer's. The books are probably only made to withstand ten thousand readings. (There are a lot of Sandra Boyton books that could be on this list.)

Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Little Simon | 1982 | ISBN-13: 978-0671449025
Written and Illustrated by Anna Dewdney
All the Llama Llama books are terrific, but this one is our favorite. Llama's meltdown always felt so realistic, and the resolution is filled with heart. Now, Dewdney's Llama Mama is a lot more patient and forgiving than I've ever been. Isn't it amazing that a book starring llamas (one of whom wears pearls) can make you want to be a better parent?

Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers | 2007 | ISBN-13: 978-0670062409
Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Remember a few years ago when everyone was going crazy for that sleepy rabbit book from Europe? Well, this was my family's sleepy book. It would be the last in our pile each night. I'd read it slowly in my softest voice. And at the end, I can remember my son's satisfied sigh. Perfection.

Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Greenwillow Books | 2004 | ISBN-13: 978-0060588281

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Written by Stacy McAnulty Illustrated by Edward Hemingway
Publisher's Synopsis: Mr. Fuzzbuster knew he was Lily's favorite. They did everything together. Naps. Story time. Walks. And more naps. But now four more animals lived in the house....

To prove he's still Lily's favorite, Mr. Fuzzbuster will have to ask her, but will her answer surprise him? This funny, heartwarming story is for every child who has ever wondered if there's a favorite in the house.

Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Two Lions | 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1503948389
Available Here:
About the Author

STACY MCANULTY is certain she's her mom's favorite. Her younger brother disagrees. She's the author of Beautiful, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach; and 101 Reasons Why I'm Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. Originally from upstate New York, she now lives in Kernersville, North Carolina, with her three children, two dogs, and one husband. She doesn't have a favorite. You can find her online at www.stacymcanulty.com .

Did you know Mr. Fuzzbuster loves writing notes? He wants to send cards to young readers across the country. Maybe he will be your favorite.

More information can be found at http://www.stacymcanulty.com/fuzzbuster-email

Stacy McAnulty, author of Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite, selected these five family favorites. Discover more articles on The Children's Book Review tagged with Family Favorites, President's Day Books, and Women's History.

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Stacy McAnulty, Author of Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite : The Childrens Book Review

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Stacy McAnulty | The Children's Book Review | February 9, 2017 Five? I can only pick five books that are special to my family? Yikes, this is going to be hard. Anytime I need to make shelf space, I love to donate the older-perhaps outgrown- books to our local elementary school.