It is worth thinking about the setting too. Games with a drawstring bag or a tin survive being thrown in a rucksack better than a large flat box. For a caravan or a beach hut with limited space, pick a few small games rather than one big one, so you can match the game to the mood without taking up a whole shelf.

For the big family session, party and bluffing games carry the day. The Traitors board game and card game, both available from The Happy Puzzle Company, work well with a larger group because they turn on reading each other and keeping a straight face, which suits the after-dinner mood. Keep one of these back for the moment when everyone is round the table and looking for something to do together.

Fast games are the backbone of the evening. Card and tile games such as Flip 7 and Mobi play in a few minutes, so a child who loses a round is straight back in for the next one. Dexterity and throwing games like Tossit get everyone up and moving, which helps if the little ones have been sitting still for a while. These are all available from The Happy Puzzle Company alongside its own titles.

To see jigsaws grouped by piece count and theme, from first puzzles for toddlers to harder pieces for adults, take a look at the jigsaw collection at outdoor garden games.

For gift ideas sorted by age band, with the number of players and rough playing time listed for each, browse the games-by-age pages at outdoor garden games.

By eight to twelve, most children enjoy games with a little strategy or a competitive edge. Word and number games, such as WordSnap XL, and family favourites like Snakes and Ladders in its bigger 3D snakes and ladders versions give them something to plan around and enjoy together. Mixed-age families get on best with games that scale, so older and younger siblings can play the same round.