Highton girl Mia Takos crowned world’s youngest board game creator

A Highton girl has been named the world’s youngest board game creator after designing a game to help her dad manage his ADHD.

Mia Takos created a board game at just six years of age, making her the world's youngest board game inventor. Picture: Alison Wynd

An eight-year-old Geelong girl will be named the world’s youngest board game creator this weekend after designing a game to help her dad manage his ADHD.

Christian College student Mia Takos invented Outfox in the garage of her family’s home Highton at just six years of age.

The game will be officially launched at the Melbourne Toy Fair at the Royal Exhibition Building on Sunday.

Mia was driven to invent the game to help her dad, Chris, develop the concentration skills he lacked due to his ADHD diagnosis.

“I thought noughts and crosses was really boring,” she said.

“So I thought, ‘why don’t I make something more challenging?’”

Mia said she was both excited and nervous ahead of the launch.

“Getting title of world’s youngest board game creator is great, but I think (I’m more excited for) meeting new people – Hasbro, Disney, and all the kids there,” she said.

Mia said Outfox was designed for all ages and involved strategy.

The characters on the board are transparent and players must concentrate as they can’t move the same way twice.

The game has been praised by experts for its cognitive benefits for nursing home residents by improving memory, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Mr Takos said he had experienced first-hand how the game could help manage his ADHD.

“My mind races 100 miles an hour, but this makes you have to concentrate,” he said.

“It’s a simple game but you have to focus or you’ll lose.

“And she’s already invented the next one.”

Mia Takos (second from right) playing the game with classmates Eddie and Sienna, while teacher Lisa Johnson watches on. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Mia’s proud mum, Kristina Bond, said her daughter had tried to show her parents the game a few times, but it took a while before they realised how impressive it was.

“Then she sat down with her dad and finally explained it to him,” she said.

“After that we started playing the game with her, and we really loved playing the game.”

Mia Takos created a board game two years ago, making her the world’s youngest board game inventor. Pictured with her parents, Kristina and Chris, and sister Lexi. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ms Bond said the family kept coming back to play Outfox, and introduced it to friends.

“Everyone thought it’s so much fun,” she said.

“We thought let’s bring this to market.”

She said Mia’s game rivals the strategic demands of chess and challenges players to out-think and out-concentrate their opponents to stay one step ahead.

“I could not be prouder,” she said.

Outfox is billed as a game that combines strategic thinking with concentration skills tactical decision-making, problem-solving and fun.

Originally published as Highton girl Mia Takos crowned world’s youngest board game creator