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Having Fun With John Adams’ New Family Games Range

amomentwithfranca · 11 July 2017 · 30 Comments

We love games! Now that Sienna is getting older we are enjoying playing games together. It is so much fun. We normally do this during the weekends so we can all get involved and play. We were asked by John Adams’ to review their latest family games range which, of course, we were delighted to do. We have not reviewed any John Adams games previously but we have played a few of them before, so we were pretty excited.

We were sent a bundle of 3 games to review. The games were, Don’t be a Donkey, Giggle Wiggle and Mr Bucket. I actually saw all of these games at the Toy Fair back in January and I thought they were fun, so now I am very happy to test them properly with the family.

These games will be available from mid-July from most the typical toy shops such as Amazon, Smyths Toys, Toys R Us, etc. So keep an eye out for their new releases as they will be out pretty soon.

All 3 games are for 2 to 4 players and the age recommended is for 4+. We played all the games with Sienna who is almost 3. Even though she was very keen to play with us and she did a fantastic job, she was still young to understand the games properly. But she had so much fun though.

DON’T BE A DONKEY

Video

Description & How to Play

Don’t be a Donkey is a fast-paced card swapping, carrot grabbing game. All players choose a card from their hand and pass to the next player. Keep swapping until someone gets a set of 4 matching cards. As soon as a player gets 4 matching donkey cards they shout DONKEY and everybody tries to grab a carrot. If you didn’t get a carrot, you lift up one of your donkey ears. If you lose three times you become the donkey!

Contents

  • 4x headbands with ears
  • 3x carrots
  • 1x Set of playing cards
  • 1x donkey nose
  • Instructions

Features

Nick is the donkey!

  • Card swapping, carrot grabbing game
  • As soon as a player gets 4 matching donkey cards, they shout ‘DONKEY’ and grab a carrot
  • Didn’t get a carrot? Lift up one of your donkey ears
  • If you lose 3 times, you’re the DONKEY
  • 2-4 players
  • Age 3-6, 7-9
  • RRP £24.99
  • Batteries not required

See Amazon details below:

Our Thoughts

Sienna is the Donkey!

This game was fun to play but it wasn’t straightforward to understand at first. It took a little time for Sienna to understand it but then once we played one round it was easier. We also played with the rules for 2 players instead as we thought it would be easier for her. She was ‘just’ able to follow playing in this way. She wouldn’t have been able to play otherwise.

For 2 players the rules were different. Players take turns flipping over the top card of their stack into the middle of the table. At the moment someone flips the same colour card on top of the revealed cards, all players need to shout out Donkey and try to grab a carrot. The player who didn’t grab a carrot loses. Everything else is the same.

This is a great game and something for all the family to enjoy.

GIGGLE WIGGLE

Video

Description & How to Play

This is a twisting, turning, race to the top game. You will need to place all your coloured balls in Giggle Wiggle’s hands. Giggle Wiggle is cheeky and may drop balls when he moves. You should start at the bottom, then race to balance the coloured balls on Giggle Wiggle’s hands, as he twists and turns to the music. You need to be careful because if the balls fall, you’ll have to start again. To win you will need to stack all your balls into Giggle Wiggle’s hands first to win!

Content

  • Giggle Wiggle & base
  • 24 Balls (6 of each colour – red, yellow, blue, purple)
  • Sticker
  • Instructions

Features

  • Press the button and Giggle Wiggle will dance to the music
  • Watch Giggle Wiggle dance to the salsa music
  • Stack all your balls into Giggle Wiggle’s hands and win
  • 2-4 Players
  • Age 3-6
  • RRP £24.99
  • Batteries required: 3 x AA (Not included)

See Amazon details below:

Our thoughts

This game is so much fun! My girls really like it. It is hard to do though because it moves a lot and very quick too. I tried it and I actually managed to do it but it wasn’t easy! I had a great time playing it! It’s great for kids of all ages. It’s also a great game to practice motor skills and patience.

MR BUCKET

Video

Description & How to Play

Is the original, racing, chase the bucket game! Scoop up all the balls of your colour as Mr Bucket moves around the floor. Race to be the first to scoop up all of the balls of your colour as Mr Bucket moves around the floor. Catch them and get them back into Mr Bucket before he can shoot them out again! Be the first complete the task and pick up Mr Bucket by his handle to win the game.

Content

  • 1x easy-assemble bucket
  • 2x arms
  • 1x handle
  • 4x shovels
  • 12x balls (3 of each colour: green, blue, yellow and red)
  • Instructions

Features

  • Racing, chasing and scooping action game
  • As he moves and waves his arms, cheeky Mr Bucket will pop balls out of his mouth
  • Grab a shovel and chase Mr Bucket
  • Be quick as he pops out balls almost as fast as you can drop them in
  • Return all three of your coloured balls into Mr Bucket and lift him up by the handle to win!
  • 2-4 Players
  • Age 3-6
  • RRP £24.99
  • Batteries required: 3 x AA (Not included)

See Amazon details below:

Our Thoughts

This game was the only one that needed proper assembly but it was easy to do and didn’t take much time to get everything ready to play. You also need to affix the stickers that were provided.

The game is also perfect for little ones because they get to move around chasing the balls and the bucket. I guess the hard part is getting your 3 coloured balls in the bucket before Mister Bucket spits them out.

Sienna loved chasing the balls but not so much putting them in the bucket, LOL! Bella played the game very well and understood it straight away. Nick and Bella played the game once against each other, which Bella won! This is another fun and different game to play at home with the family.

Do you like games with your family? Have you played any John Adams’ games before? What do you think of these games? Which do you like the look of the most? Will you buy any to play at home?

*Disclosure: We were sent a bundle of the latest John Adams’ Family Games range to review for the purpose of this blog post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca  💋

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Filed Under: Toys & Games, Family, Review, Reviews Tagged With: Games

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie ReadsWell says

    12 July 2017 at

    I don’t really play games. But my kids do love playing. Don’t be a donkey–I should introduce it to my kid 🙂

    Reply
  2. The Mummy bubble says

    5 August 2017 at

    What gorgeous pics of your family! I was just saying to my husband this week that we don’t have enough games to play as a family when it’s raining outside. It’s nice to see there’s some new, fun games coming to the shops! X #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      5 August 2017 at

      And we do have so many rainy days lately, right? Lol yes we need lots of games to entertain our hyper girls at home! 😉 x

      Reply
  3. Lydia C. Lee says

    5 August 2017 at

    The donkey one looks like a laugh! #KALCOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      5 August 2017 at

      Yes it was! Lol x

      Reply
  4. wendy says

    5 August 2017 at

    These games sound amazing, I think my Leo would love the giggle wiggle one, sounds like great fun. It’s lovely that you all enjoy playing games as a family x #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      5 August 2017 at

      They are all super fun! Yes the giggle wiggle is great! Not easy though! 🙂 x

      Reply
  5. Helen @talking_mums says

    6 August 2017 at

    I love the idea of the ‘don’t be a donkey’ looks like loads of fun.
    #kcacols

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      6 August 2017 at

      Yes it is! 🙂 x

      Reply
  6. Laura says

    6 August 2017 at

    These look so much fun. Our boys are really starting to get into games now, their favourite is Looping’ Louie 🙂 #KCACOLS

    Reply
  7. Sarah | Digital Motherhood says

    7 August 2017 at

    These look fab. Our favourites are the Junior Monopoly and Guess Who! #KCACOLS

    Reply
    • amomentwithfranca says

      7 August 2017 at

      I need to get the Junior Monopoly. I think my eldest would love it, 🙂 x

      Reply
  8. Life as Mum says

    8 August 2017 at

    Fantastic review lovely. Games like these are the best! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  9. Helena says

    8 August 2017 at

    We love traditional games like this here. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  10. bread says

    11 August 2017 at

    Giggle Wiggle looms like the most fun. I love a good game night. #kcacols

    Reply
  11. Acorn Books says

    12 August 2017 at

    These games look really fun. My eldest is enjoying playing games now so I think he would definitely like these. #kcacols

    Reply
  12. Rachel says

    12 August 2017 at

    All 3 look like so much fun! I think Giggle Wiggle is my fav although maybe not the easiest! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  13. Musings of a tired mummy...zzz... says

    13 August 2017 at

    These look like such fun games that the whole family can enjoy. I wish I’d seen this post at the start of the wet summer holidays… #kcacols

    Reply
  14. Ali Duke says

    13 August 2017 at

    Giggle wiggle looks great fun x
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  15. Pen says

    13 August 2017 at

    These look like a lot of fun. Pen x #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Petite Words says

    15 August 2017 at

    HA HA HA! Brilliant review and hilarious photos. (: #KCACOLS

    Reply
  17. crummy mummy says

    16 August 2017 at

    The donkey one looks like a lot of fun! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  18. Laura @ Dot Makes 4 says

    16 August 2017 at

    These look like brilliant games! I love the look of Don’t be a Donkey, but I can see that Dot would love Giggle Wiggle!
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  19. Cassie says

    16 August 2017 at

    Bless Sienna. She looks like she’s having loads of fun but is totally unsure what’s just gone down in the donkey game lol

    I remember Giggle Wiggle when I was a kid. So much fun.
    We love playing board games with George now he’s getting older. We play a lot of orchard games as they are perfect for his age at the moment. Looking forward to many more years of board games.

    #KCACOLS

    Fab review. Loved watching the video.

    Reply
  20. Cheryl @ tea or wine says

    17 August 2017 at

    Ooh these look fun! We love playing board games, our kids are really getting into them. #KCACOLS x

    Reply
  21. Rainbows are too beautiful says

    17 August 2017 at

    I like the bucket one. #kcacols

    Reply
  22. Jenny (Accidental Hipster Mum) says

    17 August 2017 at

    I think I need all of these! Emma loves this sort of thing, I think letter to Santa might be very specific this year!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  23. Tracey Bowden says

    17 August 2017 at

    We love games like this. The donkey one looks like a lot of fun #kcacols

    Reply
  24. Oldhouseintheshires says

    19 August 2017 at

    We love games in our family. Father Christmas stills brings one every year even though my children are teenagers!!! These look like a lot of fun for little ones! Sorry for the delay in commenting! I linked, forgot and went away! It’s my age! #kcacols

    Reply
  25. Jenny (Mummy Saver, Money Maker) says

    26 August 2017 at

    These games look ace! I love the look of the donkey one, so funny!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply

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HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca. Blogger for 9 yrs, exploring lifestyle, family, travel. Ex-lawyer turned full-time digital creator. Love testing and reviewing new products, services, and destinations. Read More…

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