For a hand-picked selection of Christmas games and stocking-filler puzzles for every age, browse the seasonal range at educational games for kids.

For the big family session, party and bluffing games carry the day. The Traitors board game and card game, both available from The Happy Puzzle Company, work well with a larger group because they turn on reading each other and keeping a straight face, which suits the after-dinner mood. Keep one of these back for the moment when everyone is round the table and looking for something to do together.

The 3D and giant multi-storey versions bring something new to the classic. Instead of a flat board, counters travel up and around a tall structure, with the snakes and ladders running between levels, which children find far more exciting to watch. Larger garden versions scale the whole thing up for outdoor play, so the game moves from the kitchen table to the lawn on a sunny day.

If you want a shortlist of games tested for family play and https://stressedmum.co.uk/keeping-busy-with-the-happy-puzzle-company/ grouped by how long they take, browse the family and party games chosen by outdoor garden games.

For a hand-picked selection of brain teasers across easy, medium and fiendish levels, have a look at the adult puzzle range at brain games for adults.

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.