This post is all about the best board games for kids.
Struggling to limit screen time this summer? Board games have a magical way of bringing families together, sparking laughter, and creating cherished memories. In today’s digital age, where screens dominate playtime, there’s something timeless and special about gathering around a table with a board game.
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Whether you’re planning a family game night, looking for educational activities, or simply seeking new ways to entertain the kids, the world of board games offers endless possibilities.
Join us as we explore some of the best board games for kids, carefully selected to inspire creativity, encourage strategic thinking, and above all, guarantee hours of wholesome fun for children of all ages.
BEST BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS
1. The Floor Is Lava
The Floor Is Lava is a GREAT board game for kids of all ages! It’s a top choice for kids and parents because not only does it provide mental stimulation, but it also provides an outlet for physical activity. Great way to burn some energy on a rainy day!
- ENDLESS GAMES PRESENTS: The Floor is Lava! is a family board game that promotes physical activity, an active imagination, and engaging excitement for kids and adults.
- ACTIVE FUN: Turn every floor into an exciting “lava jumping” adventure with The Floor is Lava! Get your child up off the couch or away from video games with this fun interactive game!
2. Yeti In My Spaghetti
Yeti In My Spaghetti is a popular choice among young kids, and for good reason! It’s a concept similar to Jenga, but with a fun twist. The Yeti is just chilling on top of the spaghetti noodles, living his best life. Remove one noodle at a time, but try not to let the Yeti fall in the spaghetti!
- BOARD GAMES FOR KIDS: The suspense builds as you remove noodle strands from the bowl. But watch out…don’t let Yeti fall
- KIDS GAMES 4-8: Yeti is the star of the show in this kids’ board game. Add it to your collection of kindergarten games and preschool games
- AWARD-WINNING GAME: Yeti in My Spaghetti game for kids 4-6 is oodles of noodly fun that can bring laughs to family game night
- SIMPLE, EASY TO LEARN: This game is exciting to play while building skills. It can be a learning game as kids practice cause and effect, focus, and hand-eye coordination
3. Don’t Wake Daddy
Don’t Wake Daddy definitely makes the list of best board games for kids! Particularly preschool-kindergarten age children. It’s a fun and suspenseful game of trying to make it to the Rainbow Fridge for a midnight snack. But watch out, Don’t Wake Daddy!
- THE ALARM CLOCK GAME THAT’S SET FOR FUN: In the Don’t Wake Daddy game, players imagine craving a midnight snack and making their way past different obstacles trying to get to the refrigerator
- WATCH OUT FOR NOISY OBSTACLES: Color spaces are safe, but if a player lands on a picture of a noisy event–uh-oh! They must have a card that matches the picture or push the button on Alarm Clock
- SHH! DON’T SET OFF ALARM CLOCK: Suspense builds as players press the Alarm Clock’s button. Will Daddy sleep through the alarm or pop up in bed to send a player back to Start?
- REACH RAINBOW REFRIGERATOR TO WIN: First player to make it past the obstacles and land on the Rainbow Refrigerator space wins
- FUN GAMES FOR PRESCHOOLERS: This easy to learn board game for kids is an exciting indoor game for playdates and it’s one of the best preschool board games for family night
4. Operation
You can’t go wrong with this classic! Operation is a fun board game for kids of all ages. Keep kids laughing with this game, while working on their coordination skills.
- CLASSIC OPERATION GAMEPLAY: A favorite kids game for generations. With the Operation electronic game, kids get to play “the doctor” and perform “surgery” to make Cavity Sam better–or they get the buzzer
- SKILL AND COORDINATION: In this fun board game for kids, players use skill and coordination to remove all kinds of easy-grab wacky ailment pieces with the tweezers without hitting the sides of the cavities
- UNPREDICTABLE AND FUNNY GAME FOR KIDS: When a player hits the sides with the tweezers, kids can giggle as—buzzzzz.—the surprising buzzer goes off and Cavity Sam’s red nose lights up
- COLLECT MOST MONEY TO WIN: Earn money for every successful removal of a Funatomy part that doesn’t set off the buzzer. The player with the most money at the end of the game wins
- PLAY SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS: The Operation board game is an easy to learn family game for kids to play alone or a fun party game with friends
5. Guess In 10
Guess In 10 is Award-Winning fun for the whole family! Ask 10 yes/no questions and guess the animal on the card! Strengthen communication, decision making, problem solving & creative thinking skills with this fun board game for kids.
- ULTIMATE ANIMAL GUESSING GAME: Split into teams, or play one-on-one. Ask up to 10 questions to guess the animal on the game card! Is it a carnivore? Can it fly? Does it live in groups? Think hard, ask up to 10 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, and be the first player to collect 7 game cards to win !
- STRATEGIZE YOUR WAY TO VICTORY: Make use of exciting features such as Clue Cards & Bonus Questions to plan your way to winning 7 cards.
- BUILD KEY SKILLS: Guess in 10’s age-appropriate content and gameplay builds key skills such as Communication, Decision Making, Problem Solving & Creative Thinking Skills.
- AWARD-WINNING FUN FOR THE FAMILY: Winner Of The 2023 National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA) and the 2022 Parents’ Picks Awards. This is the most exciting game you’ll find for Family Game Night that can be thoroughly enjoyed by all ages 6 and up !
6. Hungry Hungry Hippos – Unicorn Edition
Hungry Hungry Hippos (Unicorn Edition)…another classic board game for kids. This is great for young kids, preschool age and up. It’s a perfect game to start with if your child is still young because the rules are extremely simple, and it doesn’t take very long at all to play a game.
- CHOMPING UNICORNS: It’s a fun twist on Hungry Hungry Hippos, the classic marble chomping game. This Unicorn Edition of Hungry Hungry Hippos features magical unicorns
- READY, SET, CHOMP: Kids can enjoy lots of laughs as they watch their unicorn chomp down the plastic marbles
- FEED THE MAGICAL UNICORNS: Which unicorn will you choose. Players can choose to play as Bubbles, Twinkle, Dazzle, or Sparkle as they race to chomp down the most marbles to win
- PLAY A BONUS GAME: Try a game in which each unicorn chomps down only on the marbles that match their color. The first player who chomps all 5 of their color marble is the winner
8. Matching Game
This Matching Game was a quick family favorite in our household! This is one of my favorite games to play with my little one. Not only is it great for her mental development, but it’s actually fun for adults too!
- FUN LEARNING TOOL: This Disney Classic Matching Game offers a fun and engaging way for kids, aged 3-5, to enhance their focus, memory, and matching skills
- EASY TO UNDERSTAND: Comes with a clear and concise instruction manual – have your little ones playing and enjoying the game within five minutes
- LOVED DISNEY CHARACTERS: The game features delightful illustrations of favorite Disney icons, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Dumbo, The Incredibles, Donald Duck and more
- QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY: Not only a great solo activity for your preschooler, but also a wonderful game for adults to participate and share in the fun
9. Let’s Go Fishin’
If you’ve played Let’s Go Fishin’ before, you know it’s actually a little bit challenging! I swear it seems like kids are better at this game than adults. My little one has beaten me at this game MANY times! She loves it. Another board game for kids that is great for hand-eye coordination and focus. This Amazon Exclusive version also includes a Lucky Ducks Make-A-Match card game for free!
- Fast-paced gameplay: features a rotating pond and fish that open and close their mouths
- Object: players use mini fishing poles to try to catch the most fish
- Fine motor skills: gameplay helps develop hand-eye coordination
- Bonus: this top-selling classic game includes a lucky Ducks make-a-match card game!
- Great gift: for 1-4 players, ages 4 and up
10. Beat The Parents
Perfect for ages 6+, Beat The Parents is the BEST board game for kids if you’re looking for an exciting addition to family game night! It’s an action packed game full of trivia and challenges…kids vs. parents!
- WHO RULES THE HOUSE? In Beat the Parents, it’s kids vs parents in a fun-filled, action-packed showdown of trivia and challenges. There’s a wager at stake – will your team be champions on family game night?
- PICK A WAGER – WHAT WILL YOU DO? Each team writes a wager before the game begins. What will you do if you lose? Take out the trash? Buy pizza for everyone? The stakes have never been higher
- KID-FRIENDLY TRIVIA WITH 25 BONUS CARDS: Kids and parents live in different worlds, so each generation gets their own set of questions. Parents, do you know what your kids know? Kids, just how smart are your parents? For 2 to 6 players, ages 6 and up
11. Connect 4
Another classic board game for kids…Connect 4! It’s a simple enough concept for young kids play, but also great for older kids and adults. As kids get older they will get better at developing different strategies to win.
- Choose yellow or red discs. For 2 players
- Classic Connect 4 game is disc dropping fun
12. Pretty Pretty Princess
A perfect board game for any princess lovers out there…Pretty Pretty Princess! This has been one of my daughter’s favorites for years. Work your way around the board, and collecting princess jewels. (Necklace, earrings, bracelet, rings, crown, etc.) First player to collect a complete set of jewelry wins! (It’s SO cute watching your little one play this game and get all dolled up!)
- DRESS-UP LIKE A PRINCESS: Includes a Crown, Earrings, a Ring, a Bracelet and a Necklace in many different colors!
- LEARN WHILE HAVING FUN: Children learn how to work together and how to lightly strategize in order to become the “real princess!”
13. Beware Of The Bear
Beware Of The Bear is another one of my kid’s favorite board games! She’s always begging us to play this one. Roll the dice to see how many times you will have to poke the bear’s belly, then sneak one of his goodies. But the bear could wake up at any time when you push his belly…don’t be the one to wake him up! It’s so cute to watch the little ones jump and scream when the bear shoots out of the barrel!
- While Papa Bear is snoozing, these tricky cubs are trying to sneak a goodie from his basket…but will he wake up?
- Roll the die to see how many times you will have to poke his belly to make sure he’s asleep, and sneak one of his goodies.
- Watch out – you never know when Papa Bear will wake up and jump out of the cave, adding suspense and excitement to the game!
- No batteries required – this is kid-powered fun!
- For 2-4 players, ages 4 and up
Board games are invaluable for young kids for several compelling reasons. Beyond the sheer enjoyment they provide, these games offer numerous developmental benefits.
Firstly, board games promote crucial social skills such as communication, collaboration, and sportsmanship, as children learn to take turns, follow rules, and interact with peers and family members in a structured yet enjoyable setting.
Additionally, many board games stimulate cognitive abilities like critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning, encouraging children to think ahead and make decisions based on outcomes—a skill set that translates well into academic and real-life scenarios.
So go ahead and check out these best board games for kids and let the fun begin!
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