Snakes and Ladders is one of the first board games most children learn, and for good reason. The rules could not be simpler: roll the dice, move your counter, climb a ladder if you land at the foot of one and slide back down if you meet a snake. There is no reading and no strategy to master, so even three and four-year-olds can join in and stand a fair chance of winning.

Brain teaser puzzles for adults come in a few broad styles. There are mechanical puzzles, such as interlocking metal or wooden pieces you have to take apart and put back together, logic puzzles that ask you to work out a single correct arrangement, and spatial puzzles where you fit shapes into a fixed space. Knowing which type someone enjoys makes it much easier to choose one they will actually sit down with.

Matching a game to a child''s age saves a lot of guesswork. For four and five-year-olds, look for chunky, simple games with clear rules and short rounds, so there is not much waiting between turns. Bee Genius, pitched at younger children, is one example that uses big pieces and a single, easy-to-grasp goal.

It is worth thinking about the setting too. Games with a drawstring bag or a tin survive being thrown in a rucksack better than a large flat box. For a caravan or a beach hut with limited space, pick a few small games rather than one big one, so you can match the game to the mood without taking up a whole shelf.

The Genius Square has become a favourite for families and solo puzzlers who want a game that sets up in seconds and plays differently every time. You roll the seven dice, place a blocker on each grid square the dice point to, then fit the nine coloured shapes into the space that is left. There is always at least one solution, and often more than one, so nobody gets stuck on an impossible board.

To see the traditional board alongside the 3D, giant and garden editions, have a look at the Snakes and Ladders range at Recommended Internet page.