Games have become a BIG part of our lives in the last 18 months. Whether it was the extra time at home or the fact my kids are getting older, it’s unclear… but I’m here for it! I compiled a list of the ten favorite games in our repertoire. James is in first grade (almost 7) and Rose is in kindergarten. Some of these games require reading, so adult engagement may be required (depending on your child). However, the glory of a game is that once they’ve mastered it, children can play it independently with a friend or sibling. WINNING.
Most of these games are available on Amazon or at Target. While there isn’t a run on board games yet, it might be smart to stock up on a few for the winter ahead. Enjoy!
Dragon Dash: A game of strategy and chance, Dragon Dash is actually quite fun for adults too! James first encountered this game at school and begged me to buy one for us at home. Dragons aside, it promotes “problem” solving and lots of laughs!
Scrambled States of America: I’m a total geography nerd (and an American Studies grad), so when I happened upon this game… I knew I had to have it. uh, I mean, I needed to get it for my kids. Thankfully, they enjoy it just as much as I do. It introduces basic US geography, with fun facts about the states, color recognition, directions, and more. It’s a winner in their book (and mine!).
Sleeping Queens: With amazing reviews on Amazon, it was a quick add to my cart. You can sneakily add a little math into their days and keep them entertained at the same time.
Slam Ships Sight Words Game: My best friend, Rachael, had this game on hand for the kids on a visit to their house. Combine some healthy competition with some sight words… and you get Slam Ships!
Guess Who?: We added Guess Who? to our game cabinet last summer and it was a big hit from day one. I didn’t expect this game to encourage conversations about race and gender, but it did!
Go Fish by Oliver Jeffers: This is maybe the most obvious game to include in such a round-up, but we love this version because of its beautiful illustrations. (It is also considered a “3-in-1” pack, including Concentration and Snap.) The velcro closure is also a huge bonus.
Family Charades: We have a few different versions of charades at our house — and this is, by far, the winner. The cards are clear and they are easy for all ages to act out and understand!
Dominoes: These dominoes aren’t your run of the mill dominoes, they’re giant! They don’t make as much noise as the “original” dominoes (that you likely already have), which is a win in my book. Having this set won’t make or break the fun — simply getting kids to recognize the rules and the numbers is a huge win!
Kings on the Corner: I always learned this game as Kings ON the Corner, but my research showed it is actually Kings IN the Corner. You’ll need a basic deck of cards for this game, which most folks likely have on hand. I played this with my grandparents, but I was thrilled to see our awesome nanny playing it with the kids this summer.
Banana Blast: I won’t like, this is one of my least favorite games — but it is one of James’ favorites. (He even wrote about it in school!) There is an element of surprise and a lot of silliness involved.
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