En Cavale: learn everything about their investigation games for kids that put a new spin on board games!

Edition En Cavale, is a french publishing house that creates riddle games for kids from 4 to 12 years old. Their goal is to create an immersive and interactive experience for kids, away from screens. The two creators of En Cavale wish to bring us back to a time where technology didn’t exist as a distraction. Their objective? To awaken and connect children to themselves, to others and to the world through screen-free play in this digital age.

En Cavale suggests a variety of puzzle games. The concept is simple: you are now part of the Children’s Spy Academy universe, where you follow agent A.S.T.R.A.U.X., the central character in all investigations, in order to help her solve a series of riddles. As a true member of the Academy, your child even gets a cover alias for total immersion in this fantastical world!

A solution to screen overconsumption

Screens have taken a dominant place in our lives, taking up a significant part of our free time. Whether we’re alone or with our family, it has become difficult to put our devices aside since they follow us everywhere. Facing a commute without a smartphone or tablet in our hands has become a tedious task, and spending a whole weekend without them seems unthinkable.

This overconsumption of screens spares no one, especially children. With an average of nine screens per household, our dear children grow up in an environment where digitalization is an integral part of daily life.

Several scientific studies have highlighted the detrimental effects of this extended exposure on kids’ mental and physical health. Attention deficiency, sleep disturbances, decreased time dedicated to social interactions, risks of obesity, depression and susceptibility to addiction, are all issues that stem from this issue. Beyond its impact on health, digitalization also presents social risks: addiction to social media, cyberbullying, and coming into contact with strangers.

How to regain control?

En Cavale took a closer look at this issue and thought about how to best offer interactive experiences without screens! But then, how? By imagining, designing, illustrating and publishing a series of investigations that come to life in the world of the Children’s Spy Academy. Kids become official investigators and can, for example:

• Conduct an investigation via postal correspondence over a period of time (L’Enquête par courrier),
• Go on vacation with a totally crazy book (L’Enquête aux mille chemins),
• Spend 7 whole days solving a mystery (L’Enquête de 7 jours),
• Wait patiently until Christams with the Calendrier de l’Avent’Ure, a special calendar,
• Celebrate your birthday as an investigaror (l’Enquête anniversaire)

The games are sorted by age category. For the youngest spies (4-6 years old), MiniZenquêtes is just what you need!

Our favorite at Little Guest? L’Enquête de 7 jours ! This is an immersive investigation that takes place over 7 consecutive days, which makes it ideal for a week-long family vacation!

This game takes the shape of a packager containing several sealed and numbered envelopes to be opened throughout the week. Day after day, your child will discover a new series of challenges and riddles to solve, accompanied by one audio episode per day – all, of course, screen-free!

We absolutely love the games’s storyline:

La Carta Exploratus, an ancient map that once belonged to the biggest and most ancient explorers of the world, was stolen from a secret exhibition in Paris.

The fearless Agent A.S.T.R.AU.X. and the surprising investigative hen, Colette Codak (a.k.a. Coco Codak) have been commissioned by the Children’s Spy Academy to travel the world in search of the map. But time is running out: the investigators have just 7 days, and not one more, to get everything back to normal.

This game is particularly well-suited for a week of family relaxation! You are guaranteeing 45 minutes per day of pure fun for your children, without leaving the comfort of your hotel room.

If you wish to find out more, all the adventures can be (re)discovered on the En Cavale website.

 

 

Where to go to lead the En Cavale investigation?

With the 7-day survey, your child will embark on a trip around the world. Our suggestion: seize the opportunity of this trip to enjoy a week in a dream destination. Accompany your child’s wonderful journey by discovering heavenly places with your whole family.

 

Hôtel Royal Evian *****

 

Located on the shores of the azure waters of Lake Geneva and the foothills of the Alps, discover the Hôtel Royal Évian*****. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be amazed by the captivating beauty of the picturesque landscapes that surround it. The resort offers a range of sporting and cultural activities for the whole family. Go hiking in the mountains and observe the riches of nature, take a relaxing stroll in the park, or enjoy the comforts the hotel has to offer. Enjoy a relaxing spa experience with the whole family, thanks to a range of treatments specially designed for children aged 5 and over. The hotel also offers a Mother & Baby program (aged 4-10 months), for 3 days of ultimate relaxation and complicity between mother and baby. To accommodate your children, Hôtel Royal Évian has a Kid’s Resort activity program comprising three different clubs: the Baby Club, the Kid’s Club and the Teen Club, to give them an unforgettable experience of their stay.

 

Grecotel La Riviera & Aqua Park *****

 

On the west coast of the Peloponnese, on the shores of the Ionian Sea, lies the Grecotel La Riviera & Aqua Park *****. Let yourself be carried away by the music of the waves breaking on Olympia’s golden sandy beaches and the sweet aromas of the ancient forests that surround it. A true journey through time awaits you at the ruins of ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games were held for centuries! The resort is home to the largest water park of any resort in Greece, the Olympia Aqua Park, guaranteeing ultimate fun for the whole family in complete safety. It also offers a variety of activity programs for your children: GrecoKids (4-6 years old), GrecoJuniors (7-12 years old) and GrecoTeens (13+ years old). Depending on the program, the list of planned activities is long: arts & crafts workshops, water activities, sports tournaments for teens, and much more. For your youngest children (0-3 years old), the hotel has the equipment to help you: strollers, potties, bottle warmers and more. A baby-sitting service is also available.

 

Hyatt Regency Taghazout *****

 

The Hyatt Regency Taghazout ***** hotel is located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. From every point in the hotel, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the majestic ocean. Take advantage of the hotel’s many restaurants for an exceptional culinary experience, as well as live performances to entertain you. Take advantage of the pool bar, where entertainers guarantee fun-filled moments for the young and young at heart. Within the resort, you can enjoy the spa, which offers a variety of treatments that you can personalize to best suit your taste. For younger guests, Camp Hyatt offers your children the opportunity to meet other young people of the same age. This includes creative and stimulating activities such as cooking and treasure hunts, among others. If you’ve got a four-legged friend, the hotel can accommodate you with beds, water bowls and treats, so you can enjoy your vacation with the whole family.

 

The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh *****

Located on the shores of the Red Sea, The Oberoi Beach Resort ***** seems to emerge from a heavenly oriental world. Their spacious suites, abundant with natural light, have an Arabic-style architecture that will take you on a journey to the depths of the Middle East. Take advantage of the many services offered by the hotel for an unforgettable vacation. Suites with private pools, a spa with unique treatments tailored to your needs for an authentic experience, a private boat cruise in the Red Sea and much more! For younger travelers, the hotel offers a babysitting service for children aged 3–10. A Kid’s Club and playground are also available to entertain your 5- to 12-year-olds. For babies, the hotel provides a baby chair and cot, so you’re fully catered for.

 

COMO Point Yamu *****

COMO Point Yamu ***** is located on the east coast of Phuket Island, 25 minutes from the airport. From the top of your suite, enjoy a breathtaking view over the peaceful bay of Phang Nga. The resort offers a range of restaurants serving different cuisines prepared with local products, which you can enjoy on the beach, by the pool or in the privacy of your suite. You’ll also find a spa offering a wide range of services and treatments that combine modern science with ancient practices for a unique experience. A variety of family activities are on offer, including a guided tour of Phuket’s culturally rich old town, a hike to discover Phuket Island’s scenic paradise, and much more. The hotel also offers services for young people. Play by COMO is a program designed to stimulate the creativity of your children (aged 4–12) through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. For teens, the hotel has a Teens Room where they can relax in a luxurious lounge.

 

Discover our suggestions for endless fun!

 

A Potato on a Bike (ages 3-6)

A Potato on a Bike, is a game designed for young children aged 3 – 6. It consists of a board with 15 squares along which you have to move, two packs of 15 cards (potato cards and bike cards) and 8 tokens (2 for each player). To start the game, you take one card from each pack, which together give you a random situation (e.g. « Can a hand bite? », « Can a monster laugh? »). Each player, depending on whether they think it’s possible or not, chooses their token with the corresponding answer. Once all players have chosen, all answers are revealed. If all the answers are the same, you advance on the board. The aim is to reach 8 points or more. This game creates an infinite number of scenarios and amusing hypotheses. You’ll have to put yourself in each other’s shoes to guess the group’s answers, or engage in amusing debates to justify your answers.

 

Where is – Personalized picture book (2-7)

Take your kid on a trip around the world, across 10 destinations with Where is _?. The goal is to search and find different items in the illustrations of the book. You can customize the title of the book by completing its title with your kid’s name to create a more immersive experience. Aside from the book title, create a character that looks exactly like your kid to make the adventure feel even more personalized. When ordering the book, you can leave a personal message that your kid will discover only once they find the secret code to reveal it.

 

Otrio (8+ years old)

With this Tic Tac Toe like game, parents and children can enjoy themselves. Otrio is a strategic game, perfect to play anywhere and, unlike Tic Tac Toe, up to 4 players can participate. Each person has 9 pieces of the same color that create 3 circles total (3 pieces per circle). The aim is to make three pieces in a row, thus creating a whole circle. A fun game where your strategic and analytical abilities will be tested.