5 Second Rule Jr.

5 Second Rule Jr. - You're going to have to think fast

I've been waiting to find 5 Second Rule Junior ever since it was released, about two years ago. Not willing to pay full price for a game I would play with just a few people, I waited to find it second hand. Today was my lucky day.

Can you spit out three kinds of cereal in five seconds? Whoa, that didn't come out right. Let me try that again. Can you name three types of cereal, fast? As the name of the game implies, you will have only 5 seconds to play on each turn.

The small box in the image above holds 200 category cards and the cards are printed on both sides, so 400 categories all together. For each category you are required to name three things before your five seconds are up. Here are examples of categories:

• Name 3
• Things you wear
• Thing you cut
• Reptiles
• Things in your backpack
• Things you chew
• Things underground
• Sounds
• Berries
• Books
• Places you see stairs
• Things you do in art class

5 Second Rule Jr. has one of the most unique timers you will ever use. The timer is plastic, about 5.25" tall, has a swirled ramp inside and has multiple tiny small metal balls that will roll to the bottom when turned (see image below). It also makes a funny "zoop" sound when it is flipped. To time you, another player will read your category and then flip the plastic timer. Think fast, because five seconds will fly by. Sometimes three things will come out so fast you will have time left. Other times, even though it is a common category, you may stall after one or two. Time pressure may take its toll.

If you look close you can see the balls swirling as they roll down.

The game includes a game board that measures 7.5" x 10" and six plastic pawns. Sometimes we just skip the game board and collect cards instead.

This game requires very quick thinking and is not for everybody. Some people take longer to think, and there is nothing wrong with that. For those people I reduce the requirements to two instead of three or skip playing altogether.

If have also blogged about the original, non-junior version of this game. If you would like to read about it, click here.

Object:
Be the first player to reach the finish line.

Set up:
Place the board on the table between players. Each player chooses one pawn and places it on the start square. Mix the category cards and stand them in the box. Leave the cards in the box where all the writing is covered so that no one can read a category ahead of time and get a head start. Place the timer nearby.

Play:
Players take turns. The person to the left of the player will choose a category card, read it, and then flip the timer. The player has five seconds to name three things in his category. If he succeeds, he moves his pawn one square forward on the board. The same subject is now passed to the next player who must also name three, but cannot repeat any the first player said. If he succeeds, he moves up a square on the game board. Continue in this manner until someone fails to name three. That player will not move on the game board and the next player is presented with a new category. Continue until someone reaches the finish square and wins the game. 

There are three squares on the board that say 5 + 5. If you are sitting on one of those squares when your turn starts, you will get an additional five seconds, 10 total, to answer.

Try this:

• Use a new card for every person instead of continuing the same topic.
• Play with the cards without the board. Set a number ahead of time, such as 10. First player to win that many cards wins the game.
• Pass the category forward to the next person only if the first player fails.
• Change it from name three to name two if the player needs more time.
• Pause a couple seconds after reading the card to flip the timer. That will give the player a couple seconds head start. Five seconds flies by fast.
• Stack the deck before you start so that you can accomplish what you want to with each different individual. 
• Skip the timer, just practice naming three in a category.

In the box: game board, timer, 6 pawns, 200 category cards in a box