5 Best Board Games for Kids that you have to have!
Board games are part of some of our earliest memories, and they are excellent for building interpersonal skills, creating that intentional connection with your children, and of course, having fun together!
But which are the best board games for kids-and which you simply have to have for their childhood?
This post will cover 5 classic board games that your family might just adopt as a 'favourite'- and help you create a family tradition that will bind your family together for all time!
Best Board Games for Kids and creating family relationships. Have fun with your child with these best board games for kids-toddlers and up! Great inside activities for kids. #boardgames #boardgamesforkids #kidsactivities
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Best Board Games for kids that you have to have!
1: Monopoly-the all-time-favourite property buy and sell game
Want to pass GO and collect $200?
Best for kids aged 8 and over, Monopoly is a traditional favourite game for families across the world, and has been the source of thousands of hours of fun-and that's just in my own childhood! Originally created using the streets of England, this much-loved favourite has since been updated and adapted to different versions, including Australian and even Kids' Monopoly!
I personally like the original version and the Australian version, because it means as the kids get old enough we can all play-and I know the rules inside out, which means I can teach them bit by bit.
Do you like Monopoly? access it here from Amazon!
2: Mousetrap-the classic game where you hunt the cheese, but really it's about construction!
Those who did not have Mousetrap as a child, wanted Mousetrap as a child. It was far less about actually playing the game than making sure the mouse was caught every single time!
This was literally one of the best board games for kids, when I was a kid.
(and it's still going strong)
The object of the game is to get the cheese, but the best part of this game was setting up the elaborate trap and secretly hoping someone would make it go off!
Mousetrap has a lot of interacting parts-which is all part of the fun!
Marbles, fake nets, carefully balanced poles and so on, and you've got yourself a seriously fun game which teaches kids about physics through construction, balance, and uses Mathematics too for counting.
If you want a game that will make your 4-10 year old smile when they unwrap it, this is it!
Buy Mousetrap here now - I dare you to not get involved!
3: Jenga-the great Old game!
Jenga is definitely one of the best board games for kids - because it’s a game with strategy - but even small children can join in with this easily, with an even chance of success! It starts with stacking - but then it’s all about pulling it down without actually letting it fall!
Jenga is a super-old game, with variations played for years.
Now if you have ever watched my tutorials on Youtube or my lives on parenting tips in my Confident Authentic Mama's group, you will know how much I use block-building as an example with all things toddler and preschooler.
Well, this is why Jenga is so accessible for them. From age 3 onwards, you can play Jenga with your child and build that connection that you want-while playing a fun game!
By playing Jenga, your child learns all these and more:
Fine motor skills (which really need practising around age 3 and 4)
Counting ( you can count how many stacks you get up to before it falls down)
Taking turns - a very important social/emotional skill to know before starting school
Physics understandings like how to build a strong tower
They build a better relationship with you as their parent
How to manage their big feelings and frustration when the tower comes tumbling down!!
You will not regret buying Jenga for your child, and it's something any age over 3 can play-which means when Grandma is here, they can be building memories with her, too!
(Get it out on Christmas Day!)
Want to grab it? here>>>
4: Bubble-pop ludo-style games
When I was a child, it was called Trouble. Now there are multiple bubble-pop board games all over-and they are SO much fun for both parents and child!
Basically, you have some 'people' counters, and you have to move them around the board to get to home base.
Some rules to remember:
You need to roll a '6' to leave the original Home.
You can usually 'pop' other people off, sending them home if you land on their head at the end of your turn.
The best part about this game is that it's small-child friendly (after age 3-watch the small counters, that's all). It creates a fun space to learn counting, and a wonderful introduction to board games.
I kid you not, this game type is the most popular in my house by far. The kids love it, we can play a quick round whenever we like; and it’s wonderful for learning numbers and strategy at the kids’ level.
My final selection in these 5 best board games for kids is a loud but popular winner!
5: Hippopotamuses....and they're hungry!
Want to help your poor Hungry Hungry Hippo get some food?
Then put the balls in the middle, say 'Ready, Set, Go' - and SNAP for your life!
This game is another one we always loved playing as kids, and so wished we had it in our home. The idea is to just absolutely go for it, and then see at the end which colour hippo has the most balls in their tummy space!
We sometimes play 2-player and use 2 hippos each. We also sometimes put one ball in at a time and go like crazy for just that one… it’s so much fun and very engaging for the small kids as well!
I bought it for my kids-and WOW do they LOVE it.
Note: It's a little loud, but it's so much fun!
Does this game help with learning?
A little, because the idea is to get the most balls inside your hippo, you have to count them at the end - and always need to make sure you still have the full 20 balls once you have completely finished.
This game is not great for babies and small kids under 3, due to the size of the balls.
But mostly, Hungry Hungry Hippos just creates animated fun for people of all ages 3+!
(above 3, again)
So which do you think are the best board games for kids?
Which will you choose? These all make great Christmas presents, birthday, or even 'just because'... because the fun just keeps on giving!
Do you remember any of these games from childhood?
Which one was your favourite?
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