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There are some great board games out there this Christmas, and we just love this one.  Like many family board games there are players, question cards and a dice. But be prepared to get physical, in Chalenj! there is also a mega mobility mat (think Twister) and a Target Mat (think huge darts board on the floor) with discs to throw instead of darts and a ball for doing various circus like tricks.

The first Chalenj! is the only one that every one gets to do - it decides who rolls the dice. All players stand 3 paces back from the Target Mat and see who can throw as many discs close to the target as possible. The player with the most goes first. Then the fun starts.

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The dice is thrown by the first winner and a challenge is chosen from the card stack.  Depending on the symbol of the place you land on, the challenges can be mental, physical, mystery or personal. So you might be having to say 'hello' in as many accents as possible, or walking five laps around the Target Mat on your knees while humming 'Here we go round the Mulberry Bush!", seeing how many times you can roly-poly or naming things beginning with G. The trick is the Chalenj! has to be done in 30 seconds. But, unless you land on a personal challenge, you don't have to do your Chalenj! The controlling player makes a bid as to how many of the challenge they think they can do in 30 seconds, and then the challenge gets passed around the table. The next person can either make a higher bid to take the challenge or ask the last bidder to prove themselves.

Every now and then you might land on a Personal Chalenj! Space - in which case no bidding takes place - you're stuck with doing this one. It's no surprise that these are the hardest ones to complete!

At the end of the game, you have to fulfill 3 personal challenges in a row. It's quite easy to get the whole way around the board, but once you reach the personal challenges - 3 in a row are pretty hard to achieve. Just picking the next 3 challenges from the pile in front of me, here are what you could face: Chalenj! 1: "Can you throw the Chelnj! Dice high up into the air and catch it five times, clapping your hands and making seal noises between each throw! Chalenj! 2: Can you rub your belly and pat your head! Chalenj! 3: Balancing the Chalenj! Ball on your head, can you walk continuously around the room without letting it fall!

It's a fantasticly silly game. The kids will love it. The makers suggest you give it a go at the end of your next dinner party. Now given just how physically co-ordinated you have to be for most of the challenges, not to mention mentally alert, you can just imagine the hilarity. Just make sure you have white wine instead of red. A lot of toppling over might be expected.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Re-creation-Group-Plc-Chalenj/dp/B000S82V6K