Ages 4 and up

Players 2 to 6

Playing Time 10-20 minutes

The 1980s are remembered for several things: the Rubik's Cube, leg warmers, and big hair just to name a few. One kids' board game that was born in the late 1980s was Cookie Cop. This cute, colorful electronic board game tests how well kids can grab cookies and avoid getting caught by the cop.

The game board features two interlocking plastic pieces that make a circle. in the circle are several spots to place the cardboard cookies. The cookies feature different colored chips on them. Players will roll a die to determine which colored cookie they will try to grab.

In the center of the board, you place Officer Longarm, with his two extended, spinning arms. Press the officer's head to begin your turn. Next roll the die to determine which cookie you need to grab. Then wait for the right moment and grab a cookie without being caught by the cookie cop. If you are caught, Officer Longarm stops spinning and blows his whistle and says something like "Hey put that back!" If you are caught, place the cookie back where you got it from.

Play continues until someone has collected enough cookies to win the game. The number of cookies needed to win the game is determined by how many players are playing the game. In a 6 player game, 4 cookies are needed. 5 cookies are needed for a win for a 5 player game and for 2-4 players, 6 cookies are needed for the win.

Cookie Cop is simple enough for pre-schoolers to understand. It's also sort of fun to time your move correctly as the officer spins one way and then the next. Timing and execution are important to make sure you don't get caught.

This game might be harder to find since it was first released in 1987. If you can find it for a reasonable price, it might just be a fun game for a family with young children.