Who doesn’t love a good game night? We love playing all sorts of games with friends and their families but we also love to just have an impromptu family game night of our own. The games have changed as the kids have gotten older which keeps it new and exciting for everyone but there are still a few “little kids classics” we like to play, like Candyland or Don’t Break the Ice.
Aside from fun there are some key educational benefits, especially for kids, to playing games…
- Building soft skills- These are everyday skills that need to be developed in order to function in the real world. Problem solving, collaboration and communication skills are all important for kids to develop at an early age. Not to mention how to lose gracefully!
- Reinforce the basics- Math, reading, science, social studies/geography…depending on the game, chances are it is reinforcing one of these important learning metrics.
- Family bonding- Creating family bonding moments can be easier than planning a family vacation or outing. Just sitting down after dinner to play a game can foster a strong bond of fun, trust and special memories.
- Limits screen time- Opt for a game night over movie night once in a while. Especially if done before bed it limits everyone’s exposure to blue light and makes falling asleep easier.
Here are some of our favorite games that we play regularly and the learning benefits they provide.
{This post contains affiliate links which help keep the blog running + may result in a small commission for me but at no extra cost to you.}
Card Games
UNO– Of course UNO is pretty much a staple game in any household and nothing beats the original version, although we have played the UNO Flip version which lasts A LOT longer than the original game. We have both the Marvel and Minecraft version (tell me you’re a boy mom without telling me you’re a boy mom).
Benefits
- Math (draw 4, draw 2)
- Color and number recognition/matching
- Strategy skills
SPOT IT– There are a couple versions of this as well but the original one is great for both adults and kids. We also have the Junior version and a couple travel ones from Chick-fil-a kids meals 🙂 Spot It goes quickly and it’s easy to throw in your purse (even the non-travel ones) as entertainment on-the-go. We also love to take it camping and I have given lots of these little tins as birthday gifts. Seriously can’t go wrong with this one. And there’s so many different themes: MARVEL (we have this one), Minions, Harry Potter, Mandalorian, Frozen and so much more!
Benefits
- Memory skill
- Sight word recognition
- Matching
- Portable (not a skills development but a huge plus for parents!)
AVOCADO SMASH– Similar to UNO but more fast paced and a bit louder it involves some shouting and slapping (like when you play WAR or Slapjack). Our kids LOVE this game probably for the energy and excitement level!
Benefits
- Color and number recognition
- Visual processing at high speed
QUIDDLER– This game requires you to create words out of a certain number of cards depending on the round. You start with 3, then next round 4…all the way up to 10. This may be a bit harder for kids just learning how to spell but it’s a great game to get them involved in when helping a parent or teaming up with a sibling.
Benefits
- Spelling
- Improving vocabulary
- Critical thinking
CHARADES– If you’re looking for a more lively game night the Chuckle and Roar Family Charades game is where it’s at. Easy enough for little kids to look at the picture but also provides options in just writing (more suitable for older kids/adults).
Benefits
- Reading
- Picture recognition
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Gross motor skills
Dice Games
YAHTZEE– This is by far one of our most favorite games. I bought the National Parks version one year for our camping trip and it quickly became our favorite. Aside from being portable like SPOT IT, I particularly love the National Parks version because it uses both numbers and pictures making it easier for younger kids to play.
Benefits
- Math (adding/multiplying/probability)
- Number/picture recognition
- Strategy
TENZI– We received this as a birthday gift for our oldest son and it is such a fun game with multiple ways to play. You can play individually or in teams. There’s Tenzi split, Tenzi tower and Tenzi steal. It’s fast paced, can sometimes get a little loud and intense but really is a lot of fun. It’s also another great portable game!
Benefits
- Number recognition
- Strategy
- Communication and collaboration
- Fine motor skills (building Tenzi tower)
- Visual processing at high speed
SCATTEGORIES– Another classic game that is great for parties and family game night alike. We just played this last night for an hour!
Benefits
- Critical thinking/speed
- English/Language Arts development and reinforcement
- Strategy
- Improving vocabulary
Board Games
Some of these may not be considered typical board games but this is the category I’m putting them in!
I SPY EAGLE EYE– Each person gets a board and has to match it to card in the pile. When you find a picture that matches one on the card, you ring the bell and shout out what it is that you found. There is also a travel version (playing cards).
Benefits
- Visual processing at high speed
- Memory and picture recognition
BATTLESHIP– If you’re looking for a quieter family game night this is a great one. We have had a couple versions of this game, including the electronic one, but the classic battleship is our go-to.
Benefits
- Strategy
- Critical thinking
- Letter and number recognition
- Math (X,Y axis and coordinate plane)
BANANAGRAMS– While technically a “tile game” this is like a portable (there it is again!) version of scrabble without the board. You basically start creating a word but instead of having one board to play off of, each person plays their own game. There is an adult and kids version. Another good option for a quieter game night.
Benefits
- Letter recognition
- Spelling/Language Arts
- Strategy
BOGGLE and BOGGLE JR.– Choose the version based on your children’s abilities and age. Boggle Jr. is great for kids just learning how to spell while the traditional Boggle can help elevate late primary to middle schoolers skills.
Benefits
- Word/letter recognition
- Spelling
- Matching letters to sounds (Bogle Jr.)
- Strategy
- Math
COOTIES– This was may FAVORITE game as a child and I have fond memories of my parents playing this with me. It’s an easy game for young kids to play and fun enough for adults to not get too bored.
Benefits
- Builds fine motor skills
- Counting
- Reading a chart
- Number identification
- Anatomy (obviously not fully anatomically correct)
A Game We Don’t Have (But Want)
THE ALLOWANCE GAME– This looks super helpful in building basic money skills (and wealth). Kids have to figure out how to spend and save their money. It’s never too early to start teaching kids about responsible money management!
Benefits
- Money Management
- Adding and subtracting currency
- Making change
- Prioritizing spending/saving
We would love to hear what some of your favorite games are to play with family (or friends). Leave a comment below!
