The Ladybug Game
$14.00
Ladybug Game at a Glance
| Game Type Animal Theme Pathway Building Card Game Educational | Play Time 20 mins | Skill/Complexity (1 - 5) Non-Complex Basic Maths (counting) |
| Age 3+ | Publisher(s) Zobmondo!! | Published 2004 |
| Categories Kids Educational / Children's / Family | Players 2 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 9/10 | Cost $14.00 + |
Designed for interactive play between parents and children, kids will be captivated by the story of four ladybugs – Ella Yellow, Tommy Teal, Olivia Orange and Rickie Red and their plucky adventures. Created for 2-4 players it takes around 20 minutes to complete.
About – Description
Quick and simple to learn and teach, this is a fast-paced game that’s fun to play with the youngest members of your family over and over again. Aimed at toddlers and pre-schoolers, its uncomplicated concept, easy-to-manage play pieces and cute characters will hold your child’s attention right from start to finish. In fact, The Ladybug Game was actually designed by a first grader in the USA and has been published and sold across the world since 2004.
Best Suited For Children Aged 3 +
As the game is aimed at players aged 3 and over, The Ladybug Game is an entry-level number that’s designed for 2 to 4 players.
Skill – Complexity
This is very simple, light educational game with low complexity as it’s aimed at young children up to primary school age. It’s more luck than strategy and the direction cards have an outstanding graphic quality so children do not need to be readers to play, however counting out aphids does help with their basic math skills.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Setting Up
Inside the box you’ll find:
- Game Board
- 4 Ladybug Pawns and Stands
- 61 Aphid Chips
- 38 Ladybug Cards
- 8 Praying Mantis Passes
Shuffle the ladybug cards and place them face down within easy reach of all the players. Keep the Praying Mantis Passes in a separate pile nearby. Next, place all the Aphid chips inside the open box and each player should take a ladybug before placing it on the “Start” space.
Top tip: The first time you play, detach the ladybug pawns and Aphid chips from their sheet. Place each ladybug pawn into a stand.
Object of the game
The object of the game is to be the first player to move your ladybug from the “Start” space to the “Home” space. Get there quicker than your opponent and you win – but watch out for aphids, bugs and challenges along the way!
Playing Instructions
The youngest player goes first and play then continues to the left. When it’s your turn, draw out a ladybug card and do whatever it says on it. When you draw a “Move Ahead” card, move ahead by the number of spaces on the card. If you pick up a “Go Back” card, go backward the number of spaces shown. If an Aphid card comes up, you get to collect the number of aphids (chips) on the card but do not make a move. Ladybug cards mean take an extra go.
Your turn is over when you pick a card that doesn’t say “Go Ahead” on it. Place each used card in a discard pile.
Versions – Editions
There are 2 editions of The Ladybug Game, both of which came out in 2004. They are the Blue Opal edition and the Zobmondo edition.
Likes & Dislikes
The wonderful thing about this game is that it was created by a young child so it really ‘speaks’ to kids and captures the imagination. It actually has more to it than your standard spin and move game and is good for teaching math and logical thinking too.
The cute graphics and background story telling makes this game a very popular choice, however with only 30 cards it’s not a very big draw deck. This means that even though it’s a very short game you may well need to shuffle twice.
Final Thoughts
The Ladybug Game is a simple yet highly endearing way to spend 20 minutes with your children. It encourages planning, communication and some strategy, as well as building confidence as players make their way across the board – a task that’s not always smooth sailing!
A fast and colorful game that older siblings are likely to enjoy too, it’s the perfect balance between educational and fun that brings the whole family together.
Awards and Honors
The Parents Choice Foundation calls The Ladybug Game “a colorful and lively little board game for beginner game players.”
