Sharon Khan
United Kingdom
Shefford
Bedfordshire
Games, games and more games!
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This review is based on many plays with my 4 year old son and 5 year old daughter.
Fun Components 
I hadn't realised how much this game had to offer in terms of fun components, but with little cars with pegs for men/women, a spinner instead of dice, hills to drive over, as well as a track, and buildings scattered around the board, and cards representing various Status Symbols you can own, the children love playing with this game as much for the bits as the game itself!! Even my 18 month old enjoys himself the whole time we're playing also spinning the spinner and moving his car along the track randomly, especially over the hills, and attempting (and mostly failing) to put the pegs in his car.
Simplicity of rules 
On the first play I found it impossible to get them to understand Share the Wealth cards, so I just removed them from the game and played without. There's nothing else hard in the game, so as long as you have an adult to do all the reading and help with the money side kids have no problems following what they are supposed to do. And they very rapidly learn to read pay and receive, and other key words needed in the game.
Randomness
This game is almost totally random, with only minimal decisions to make, so a child stands just as much chance of winning as an adult.
Did the child enjoy it?
This game has been one of the biggest hits of all the games I've tried, more so becuase other adults are much more willing to play this with them than many of their children's games, and most adults are familiar with it. They really enjoy finding out what happens to them on each square, trying to find the right money each turn, and watching their pile of money get bigger and their car get fuller as time goes on. It's been one of our most requested games, and only its length stops it being played more often.
And how is it from the adult's point of view? 
I used to play this occasionally with my husband anyway, as I had fond memories of it from when I was a child. It is in danger of being overplayed right now, but it's better than many games the children play.
It's also great for them educationally - even my 4 year old can now quite happily give in 20 cash when asked, picking up 2 10s without thinking, and needs only a little help for harder amounts, while my daughter is getting really quick at it. Not to mention the fact that both of them are getting lots of reading practice, trying to read the squares themselves.
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Andy Andersen
United States
Newark
Delaware
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Just waiting for grandkids to start playing The Game of Life again. I think I still have the copy from when I was just a kid. Thanks for the review.
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