Board Games for Kids

Board Games are Educational

Kids' games can be much more than fun. Since a board game inevitably involves at least two people and often as many as six, it can be a wonderful activity for the entire family. In addition to fostering a sense of family togetherness, games can be educational, as well. If chosen carefully, board games can help with various skills, including:

• Fine motor
• Turn-taking
• Colors
• Shapes
• Matching
• Memory
• Pre-reading and reading
• Pre-math and math
• Following instructions
• Decision making
• Cooperation
• Strategic planning
• Role playing

Games for Preschoolers

Most preschoolers are just learning to share, cooperate, and follow rules. Therefore, the best board games for this age group will be easy to understand, with simple instructions. The ideal games do not force a young child to wait too long for his turn.

Preschool games often focus on pre-academics, such as letter and number recognition, shapes, and colors. These games usually feature plenty of icons and pictures and few words. Games for the preschool set frequently feature popular children's book and television characters, such as Dora the Explorer, Sesame Steet, and Blue's Clues. Some excellent games for preschoolers include:

• Picture Link (ages 4 - 6)
• Pegs in the Park (ages 4 - 7)
• Chutes and Ladders Sesame Street Edition (ages 3 - 6)
• Go Away Monster! (ages 3 - 6)
• Make It Up! (ages 3 - 7)
• Whac-a-Mole (ages 4 - 8)
• Don't Wake Daddy (ages 3 - 6)

Board Games for Kids

Board games for kids in the elementary years can feature more complicated instructions and words in place of pictures. Many kids in this age bracket are still having difficulty with turn-taking, though, so most games are fast paced. Many of the preschool games are still appropriate for grade-school children. Board games specifically aimed at this age group may introduce money skills and basic geography, and include:

• Disney's Magic Kingdom (ages 6 - 9)
• Guess Who? (ages 6 - 9)
• Great States! (ages 7 and up)
• Smath Math (ages 6 - 12)
• Wordplay for Kids (ages 6 - 12)
• Stare! Junior Edition (ages 6 - 12)
• Moneywise Kids (ages 7 - 10)

Tweens' Recommendations

It can be difficult to buy board games for tweens. Many of the games meant for younger kids are "boring" for preteens, but some of the games for teenagers are too complicated. Many of the most popular tween games deal with brain benders, brain teasers, and mental puzzles. Here are our recommendations for that difficult period between childhood and the teenage years:

• Monopoly (ages 9 and up)
• Mars 2020 (ages 8 and up)
• Like Minds (ages 10 and up)
• Stare! (ages 10 and up)
• Rush Hour (ages 8 and up)
• Visual Brainstorms (ages 11 and up)
• River Crossing Puzzle Game (ages 8 - 12)

Games for Teens

Although teenagers spend much of their time with friends, the family is still an important part of their lives. In fact, teenagers may need their parents even more than they did as young children. Popular games for teens frequently feature hypothetical questions and pop culture. Some board games for teenagers include:

• Mystify (ages 12 and up)
• Wit's End (ages 12 and up)
• Imaginiff (ages 12 and up)
• Loaded Questions (ages 13 and up)
• Empire Builder (ages 12 and up)
• Urban Myth (ages 12 and up)
• Taboo (ages 12 and up)
• Cranium (ages 13 and up)
• Scene It? (ages 13 and up)

In Conclusion

Children are never too old to spend time with their parents, and board games for kids are a wonderful activity for the whole family. In addition to their educational value, games provide a wonderful bonding experience.

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