I am a big fan of board games. My kids need to be encouraged to play them (instead of the Wii) but when they do, they have fun - especially when we play as a family. The best board games also have educational value and help kids build social skills.
Board games make excellent gifts, particularly when they come from grandparents or other relatives who might otherwise give clothes.
I like the classic versions of board games, not the trendy, licensed versions. I have no interest in playing Harry Potter Clue or Littlest Pet Shop Monopoly.
I do love sitting down with my kids to play the classic board games on this list. Next to each game, I have noted the skills it helps to develop:
- Scrabble and Scrabble Junior are the best games for building language skills.
- Yahtzee helps kids learn math facts (at least for numbers 1 to 6.)
- Mastermind and Mastermind for Kids encourage logical thinking.
- Sorry! is a fun, easy game that everyone can play - great for learning sportsmanship.
- Othello teaches kids to think–and anticipate consequences–before they act.
- Rummikub teaches strategy with numbers.
- Perfection helps kids learn to process information and act quickly under pressure.
- Clue and Clue Jr. promote logical thinking and deductive reasoning.
- Battleship builds concentration and memory skills (which for me are not what they used to be.)
- Boggle and Boggle Jr. help build phonics and language skills.
- Monopoly and Monopoly Jr. provide early training for budding real estate titans.
- Connect Four is fun for younger kids and encourages strategic thinking.
- Pictionary and Pictionary Jr. are great for developing presentation skills and confidence.
Buy these classic board games through Amazon at the KidCrunch Store.
Related Links
- Are You Game? offers a wide selection of quality board games, including some great new games.
