Candy Land - A Favorite Childhood Game

Candy Land has been around for a long time. In the 1940s, a young lady named Eleanor Abbott invented the game for children while she was recovering from polio. The game was eventually purchased and published by Hasbro formerly known as the Milton Bradley Company. Candy Land was first advertised as a game that would satisfy a child's sweet tooth.

Last year Candy Land celebrated it's 60th Anniversary on August 19, 2009. For over 60 years many versions of the game and many Candy Land Products, including books, have been updated for a more modern look. For example, Molasses Swamp has been changed to Chocolate Swamp and Peppermint Stick Forest has been changed to Candy Cane Forest.

Strong National Museum of Play
Flickr Photo Courtesy - peretzpup

I remember my version of the classic Candy Land game had me wondering through Peppermint Stick Forest, Gum Drop Mountains, Lollipop Woods and Ice Cream Floats with my Gingerbread Game Character. So Sweet!

Over the years the classic characters and locations on Candy Land have changed with the different versions of the Candy Land game. The basics of the Candy Land game remain the same; drawing cards and moving along the colored squares to the final square to win at Candy Land.

Since Candy Land was first published in 1949 by Hasbro, over 15 different versions of the game have been sold. Many of these versions have had limited distributions and have also been licensed by Candy Land with different characters. Some of these characters have included Dora the Explorer, Winnie the Pooh and Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Candy Land is a game that all members of the family can enjoy. I loved playing Candy Land.

Today, Candy Land is still the most popular 1st Game for Children; aged 3 to 6 years old. Preschoolers will love Candy Land as they don't have to know how to read or count. Well, they can pretend.

With a little help from mom or dad, Candy Land can easily be learned. Children can learn to take turns and can have fun learning to play a board game.

Photo Courtesy - Matt Cobb

Dora the Explorer - Fiesta 2 Poster

Do you Squidoo? I Do!
Click Here to Make a Lens.
It's Free!