Meddling Kids

I've been a gamer for many years (20+) and one thing that the different groups I have gamed with have always struggled with is how to introduce gaming to younger players. We've always had children around our gaming groups (usually playing in the next room on their own), but inevitably one or more of the kids will wander into the room and want to play. Since most established games like D & D, Star Wars, and Cyberpunk are rules-heavy this can make things tough. The kids aren't going to understand those systems, but they want to stretch their imaginations and play with the grown-ups. What to do? Enter Pandahead Productions and their wonderful game "Meddling Kids". The game is loosely based on the Hannah-Barbara formula we all grew up watching: those meddling kids and their dog or monkey or ghost or whatever collect clues, unravel a mystery, and save their theme park, school, or town from some monster or ghost (usually a town residence in a rubber mask). The book itself is wonderfully laid out, with rules presented in a clear, easy to understand fashion for both new kids and gaming veterans alike. The rules are fast and fun, and can be learned easily even by younger gamers. The age listed on the book is seven and up, but I would have no problem letting my six year old nephew read it. This is a great way to get younger kids into gaming, and I can see it being a wonderful first step towards more complex games. Best of all, if you have a mix of adults (who are willing to play with kids) and children, it can be a really fun way to integrate younger players to your established group.