Things Worth Buying Thursday: Board Games
Board games… what can I say? They’re amazing toys that the whole family can enjoy together. They’re one of those things that you can collect, and I feel like you can never have too many- board games are worth buying!
When someone asks what to get my daughter as a gift, I often suggest a game because it’s something that doesn’t become clutter in my eyes. They sit on a shelf most of the time- but when you need an activity on a rainy day, board games are there. When family or friends come over, we pull out a bunch of games and everyone has a great time. And I love a good family game night!
Skill building
Board games aren’t just fun, they’re tools that teach and develop a multitude of important skills including:
Communication
Emotional control
Taking turns
Rule following
Winning & losing
Strategizing & planning ahead
Problem solving & critical thinking
Pattern recognition
Math skills
Fine Motor Skills
Board games are amazing and offer so many learning opportunities for kids. They’re also a wonderful way to spend quality time together as a family, connect, relax, and have some down time.
Choosing games to buy
There are so many games out there and it’s hard to decide what to spend money on. I listed some of my family’s favorites below, although we have more games than I listed here. The games on this list are appropriate to introduce and begin playing with older toddlers through kindergarten age, and they can certainly be enjoyed by older kids and adults too! Many of these games we’ve been playing since my daughter was around 3-years-old, but for some games we would adjust the rules and how we played when she was younger.
I really appreciate sustainably made games with wooden pieces, such as the Mader pile-up disaster game. You also can’t go wrong with games from Haba - they’re sustainably made, beautiful, and designed with children’s development in mind. They offer games for a variety of ages, and I appreciate the cooperative games they offer for younger kids.
Classic games are always hit - like Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, and Monopoly Junior. These games are usually very affordable, but often times they can also be found used. I got most of our classic games from my community’s buy nothing group and as hand me downs from family members.
Family Favorite Board Games
Pile-Up Disaster (Mader)
This game is a challenge! It’s reccomended for ages 7+ and it’s really fun for the entire family. For my 5-year-old we use less wooden sticks when we play to make it more developmentally appropriate.
Feelings Adventure (Slumberkins)
A cooperative game that teaches social emotional skills. I love how engaging this game is. It includes movement, builds self-awareness and confidence, and it’s very calming to play.
Ariadne's Thread (Milaniwood)
A beautiful game that engages the sense of touch and builds visual and tactile discrimination skills.
First Orchard (HABA)
This game is from HABA’s ‘my very first games’ collection, and I have to say it’s truly the perfect game for toddlers (my 5-year-old still enjoys it too!). I appreciate that this is a cooperative game. You play together to try and collect all the fruit before the raven makes it to the garden.
Unicorn Glitterluck - Cloud Stacking (HABA)
Another wonderful cooperative game from HABA. This game is pure magic with unicorns, glitter, crystals, and clouds. It offers fine motor skill practice, and the rules are a slightly more complex than the first games collection - perfect for preschoolers and up.
Prima Ballerina Mini Game (HABA)
An engaging and interactive cooperative game with lots movement, opportunities to practice communication and teamwork, and memory skills. It’s also a mini game, so it doesn’t take up much space and it’s perfect to take on trips!
On the Hunt for Dinos Mini Game (HABA)
An engaging game for dino lovers that offers opportunities to practice strategy, critical thinking, and memory skills. This is another mini game, so it doesn’t take up much space and it’s perfect to take on trips!
The World of Eric Carle: Mini Memory Match Game
There’s so many memory games available out there! I don’t know how we acquired this one, but it’s beautiful, good quality, and perfect for any family that enjoys Eric Carle books!
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
This card game is AMAZING- it’s fun, it’s funny, it’s fast paced! It’s great for practicing pattern recognition, sequencing, strategy, reaction time, language, and more! We have the Halloween version, and they sell several different decks with other themes for holidays and seasons. This makes a great gift too!
Rush Hour Junior (ThinkFun)
This is a great logic game! There are different levels of difficulty included, so it can be used by a wide range of ages (including some puzzles difficult enough for adults). I would say this is our most played game!
Guess Who? Animal Friends Game (Hasbro)
A fun spin on the classic! We have an old version of the classic game that my daughter loves playing. She’s very into animals so when I found this game. It’s great for practicing skills such as language, categorizing, critical thinking, strategy, and the process of elimination.
Monopoly Junior (Hasbro)
The junior version plays faster than the original, so it’s perfect for kids. I think we started playing this when my daughter was around 4-years-old. It’s a classic, perfect for family game night, and great for practicing math skills!
Candy Land (Hasbro)
It’s simple, it’s timeless, it’s fun! We’ve been playing this since my daughter was 3-years-old. I would say this classic is a perfect intro to the world of board games.
What are some of your favorite board games? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!