How to Play the Board Game Candy Land

Set up the game with the board in the center of the playing table. Place the cards face down in a pile where each player can reach them. Give each player a gingerbread playing piece, and position the playing pieces behind the "Start" space.

Begin the game with the youngest player drawing a card. The player moves her playing piece along the Candy Land path that features squares of different colors. For example, if the card has one blue color square, the player moves her playing piece ahead to the first matching blue square. If the card has two yellow color squares, the player moves her playing piece ahead to the second matching yellow square.

Move the playing piece directly to a character square if the card drawn has a character on it. Match the character on the card to the character on the game board square. This may involve moving a game piece forward or backward.

Follow the signposts on the game board to move the game pieces. Each player picks a card and takes a turn with play moving to the left among the players. Two playing pieces can occupy the same game square. If a player lands on Rainbow Trail or Gumdrop Pass, take a shortcut and move the game piece to the square immediately above the shortcut. If a player lands on one of three licorice spaces, the player skips one turn.

Congratulate the player who first reaches the last space on the Candy Land board -- the Candy Castle.