The Big List Of Family Board Games We Love
Fun and exciting strategy and board games for families to really enjoy family time and create connections and memories that last.
Family game nights are fantastic for creating memories and strengthening bonds, and there is no reason preschoolers can’t join in on the fun.
With the high amount of technology that we deal with daily, having get-togethers with family and friends is not as popular as it once was.
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Best Board Games For The Really Little Ones
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
This colorful and simple game helps toddlers develop fine motor skills as they use squirrel-shaped tweezers to pick up and place acorns into their logs. It’s suitable for children as young as 2 years old.
Chutes and Ladders
Chutes and Ladders is another classic game that’s suitable for toddlers. It teaches them counting skills as they move their game piece up ladders and down chutes to reach the finish line. This game is typically recommended for children aged 3 and up.
Pop the Pig
In this colorful and interactive game, young players take turns feeding the hungry pig by placing hamburgers into its mouth. As they do so, the pig’s belly expands until it eventually pops open with a playful surprise, delighting kids with laughter and anticipation. It’s a fun way for toddlers to learn about taking turns, counting, and basic motor skills while enjoying a lively and entertaining game.
Elefun
Elefun” is an exciting board game tailored for toddlers. In this whimsical game, kids chase after fluttering butterflies released from a friendly elephant’s trunk using butterfly nets. It encourages active play, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork as toddlers laugh and giggle while trying to catch the colorful butterflies. “Elefun” offers an energetic and joyful gaming experience for young children.
Gator Golf
Gator Golf is a delightful board game for toddlers. Children use miniature golf clubs to hit colorful balls into the gator’s mouth. The game combines fun and skill as toddlers practice their aim and coordination while enjoying the whimsical antics of the gator.
Trouble
Trouble is a classic game that many toddlers enjoy. Players move their game pieces around the board based on the roll of a pop-o-matic bubble, aiming to be the first to get all their pieces to the finish line. It teaches counting, strategy, and anticipation.
Bluey Scavenger Hunt
Based on the popular children’s show Bluey, this game involves searching for specific items around the house or yard, just like Bluey and her family do in the show. It’s a fun way to promote exploration and problem-solving in toddlers.
Yeti in my Spaghetti
In this hilarious game, players place plastic spaghetti strands on top of a plastic bowl with a yeti character inside. The goal is to remove the spaghetti without making the yeti fall into the bowl. It’s a simple yet entertaining game that fosters concentration and fine motor skills.
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos is a classic board game that toddlers adore. Players frantically press levers to make their hungry hippos gobble up as many marbles as possible. It’s a fast-paced and lively game that promotes hand-eye coordination and excitement.
Monopoly Junior
Monopoly Junior is a simplified version of the classic Monopoly board game designed for younger players. It introduces children to the world of property buying and trading in a more accessible way. The game features kid-friendly tokens and properties, making it a great introduction to financial concepts and strategy.
OUTFOXED
OUTFOXED is a cooperative board game where players work together to solve a mystery. In this game, players take on the roles of detective foxes trying to figure out which suspect stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. It’s a great game for encouraging teamwork and deductive reasoning among kids and families.
Perfection
Perfection is a fast-paced game of speed and precision. Players race against the clock to fit different shapes into a puzzle board before the time runs out. It’s a challenging and exciting game that tests players’ dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
Guess Who?
Guess Who? is a classic two-player guessing game where players ask yes or no questions to determine their opponent’s mystery character. It’s a game of deduction and logic that’s been a family favorite for generations.
Connect 4
Connect 4 is a simple yet engaging two-player strategy game. Players take turns dropping colored discs into a grid, aiming to be the first to connect four of their pieces vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. It’s a game that’s easy to learn but offers strategic depth.
Clue Junior
Clue Junior is a child-friendly version of the classic Clue board game. In this version, players try to determine which pet has been “missing” by making deductions based on clues. It’s a great introduction to mystery-solving games for kids.
Kerplunk
Kerplunk is a classic dexterity game where players take turns removing sticks from a cylinder filled with marbles without letting them fall. The goal is to collect the fewest marbles by the end of the game. It’s a test of skill and steady hands.
Game of Life
The Game of Life is a classic board game that simulates a journey through life. Players make choices about education, career, and family as they move through various life stages. It’s a game that reflects the ups and downs of real life in a fun and lighthearted way.
Mouse Trap
Mouse Trap is a whimsical and elaborate board game where players build a Rube Goldberg-style contraption to catch a mouse. It combines elements of strategy and creativity as players work to set up the trap.
Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit is a trivia game that tests players’ knowledge across various categories. Players move around the board, answering questions to collect pieces of the pie and ultimately complete their pie-shaped game piece. It’s a game that challenges general knowledge and memory.
Speed Charades
Speed Charades is a fast-paced word-guessing game where players act out or describe words to their team as quickly as possible. It’s a lively and entertaining party game that requires quick thinking and communication skills.
Sorry!
Sorry! is a classic family board game where players race to move their pawns around the board and into their home base while sending opponents’ pawns back to the start. It’s a game of strategy and luck with elements of revenge and competition.
Battleship
Battleship is a classic strategy game where players take on the roles of naval commanders trying to sink their opponent’s fleet. It’s a game of deduction and strategy as players try to outmaneuver and outguess their opponents.
Bamboozled
Bamboozled is a family game that challenges players to complete various physical and mental challenges while racing against time. It’s a game that encourages creativity and quick thinking.
How Do Board Games Help Child Development?
Children need to feel a connection with their parents; that’s something that everyone needs in life.
Spending time with parents makes them feel joy. Spending time with your kids builds self-confidence and makes them feel important.
I know my kids light up when I bring up the idea of doing an activity together, even if it’s to grab the popcorn and watch a movie.
But What Makes A Family Game Night So Important For Kids?
Playing games with the family is an easy way to spend the time that isn’t hurried and can be super enjoyable.
Not to say we haven’t had some crying and tantrums during our game nights, but each time we play, the kids learn how to self-regulate their emotions more.
Kids learn so much when they play board games.
Some skills and concepts that are learned during a family game night might be:
- Patience While Waiting For Their Turn
- Empathy For Others
- Counting Skills
- Shape Recognition
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Communication Skills
The really great thing about games is they don’t have to be educational in theme. The point of the game is to have fun. Games can be super silly and still teach amazing skills.
My children learn that they can be pretty much for quite a long time within a game, but one roll of the dice can change the way their game is going in an instant.
This can make them very upset sometimes, but this is a great learning moment that you can talk through.
The Losing Conversation
Children take to winning and losing very seriously.
We need to be there to help them with their emotional reaction, especially if its a negative one when they have lost the game.
When we first started to play games, my son would run away to his room because he was upset about losing, or sometimes even losing a turn in the middle of a game.
We need to be there to guide them through their frustration and provide a positive experience during this fun time with the family.
It can be daunting to play a game with a toddler who can explode with unhappiness at any given moment, but it’s essential.
You can always help toddlers win; they need that guidance when playing the game. You will probably want to keep your toddler happy when playing games with the family, to keep the peace.
Remember that even though games are great for learning, they are also great for just plain fun.
I hope you enjoyed this amazing list board games for families. These games have brought my family a lot of joy, some tears, but mostly joy
Remember that kids take to losing seriously and it is really important to walk them through their disappointments when that happens.
I hope you truly enjoy your phone free family games nights with these awesome games.