Monopoly Junior – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Monopoly Junior

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game

68%

WISE Score

4.4

Board Game Geek

Training wheels Monopoly—teaches counting and money basics, but you'll retire it once they can actually add.

Monopoly Junior

Board Game

68%

WISE Score

4.4

Board Game Geek

Training wheels Monopoly—teaches counting and money basics, but you'll retire it once they can actually add.

4.8

4.4

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4.8

4.4/10

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

Monopoly Junior does exactly one thing well: it teaches 5-7 year olds to count money and follow board game rules without making parents want to flip the table. The amusement park theme is cute, transactions are fast, and the 45-minute playtime is merciful.

But let's be honest—this is a gateway drug, not a destination. The BGG community rates it 4.4 for good reason: there's almost no strategy, limited imagination, and once your kid can add to 20, they'll be done with it. One Reddit parent nailed it: 'Since you'll be hard pressed to make a game worse than Monopoly, every iteration with even minor rule changes is actually a better game than the original.'

It's a solid educational tool for early elementary kids. Just don't expect it to stay in rotation past second grade, and definitely don't expect to enjoy playing it yourself. Stock up on patience and remember: this is about them learning, not you having fun.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 5-7 who are learning to count and handle simple money transactions. By age 8-9, most kids will find it too simplistic and be ready for games with actual strategy. Not for adults unless you're actively teaching a young child.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Kid-friendly property trading with amusement park themes (zoo, arcade) instead of cutthroat real estate. Single banknotes keep transactions simple and reduce confusion. The game teaches turn-taking and good sportsmanship in a competitive setting, though bankruptcy mechanics can still sting for sensitive kids. Generally positive social dynamics for family play.

Imaginative

Limited creative expression—this is a roll-and-move game with fixed properties and straightforward transactions. Kids aren't building or inventing anything; they're following a predetermined path around the board. The amusement park theme is more charming than imaginative. It's functional and accessible, but doesn't invite the kind of open-ended thinking that makes board games truly spark creativity.

Safe

Extremely safe for its target age. No mature themes, appropriate artwork, no gambling mechanics beyond dice rolling. The competitive element is mild—kids count cash at the end rather than experiencing dramatic eliminations. Parent reviews consistently note it's stress-free and appropriate. The two-sided board in newer editions offers graduated difficulty, preventing frustration.

Enriching

Solid introduction to counting, simple addition, and money concepts for 5-7 year olds. Parents appreciate it as a math practice tool disguised as fun. Kids learn basic economic concepts (buying, ownership, running out of money). However, it's not deeply strategic—the BGG weight of 1.2 confirms this is very light. Entertainment value is moderate; adults will be bored, and kids may outgrow it quickly once they master basic math.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely good first board game for 5-6 year olds learning to count money and take turns
Way faster than regular Monopoly (45 min vs. the heat death of the universe)
Two-sided board in newer editions grows with your kid from ages 4 to 6+
Parents won't completely lose their minds playing it—low chaos, clear rules
Solid Amazon rating (4.8) and parent reviews confirm it does what it promises

⚠

What to Watch For

Very limited replay value—once kids master basic addition, this gets dull fast
Still has bankruptcy/elimination, which can upset sensitive younger players
BGG rating of 4.4 reflects what it is: a functional teaching tool, not an exciting game
Adults will be bored from round one—this is purely for the kids' benefit

Conversation Starters

"How did you decide which properties to buy? What made you choose the zoo over the arcade?"
"What happens when you run out of money in the game? How is that different from real life?"
"If you could add one new property to this board, what would it be?"
"Did it feel fair when [sibling] landed on your property and had to pay you?"

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