Board games are a fantastic way to bring people together, and they can also serve as great educational tools for children. Not only do they offer an enjoyable way to spend time, but they can also help kids develop various essential skills such as logic, strategy, creativity, communication, and teamwork.
Here are some of the best educational board games for kids that are both entertaining and educational:
- SCRABBLE:
A classic word game that challenges players to form words with letter tiles on a board. It helps kids improve their vocabulary, spelling, and math skills as they calculate the scores of different words. Suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played by 2 to 4 players.
- TICKET TO RIDE:
This game is about building train routes across different countries or continents. It helps kids learn about geography, history, and culture while planning the best ways to connect cities and complete their tickets. Suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played by 2 to 5 players.
- PANDEMIC:
A cooperative game where players work together as a team of experts to stop a global outbreak of deadly diseases. It helps kids learn about cooperation, problem-solving, and science as they strategize to contain outbreaks and find cures. Suitable for ages 10 and up, and can be played by 2 to 4 players.
- CATAN:
A strategy game about settling on an island and trading resources with other players. It helps kids learn about economics, negotiation, and planning as they decide where to build their settlements and how to acquire the resources they need. Suitable for ages 10 and up, and can be played by 3 to 4 players.
- CODENAMES:
A word-based party game where players try to guess the words their teammate is describing, trying to avoid words that belong to the opposing team. It helps kids learn about language, logic, and deduction. Suitable for ages 10 and up, and can be played by 4 to 8 players.
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR: SWIFTS vs. PREDATORS
- QWIRKLE:
A game about matching tiles with different shapes and colors to form patterns. It helps kids learn about visual perception, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning as they strategize to place their tiles to maximize their score. Suitable for ages 6 and up, and can be played by 2 to 4 players.
- DIXIT:
A game about telling stories based on cards with whimsical illustrations. It helps kids learn about imagination, creativity, and expression as they craft stories inspired by the images on their cards. Suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played by 3 to 6 players.
- FORBIDDEN ISLAND:
A cooperative game about escaping from an island that is sinking into the ocean. It helps kids learn about teamwork, strategy, and risk management as they work together to collect treasures and escape the island before it sinks. Suitable for ages 10 and up, and can be played by 2 to 4 players.
- TIMELINE:
A game about placing cards with historical events in the correct chronological order. It helps kids learn about history, culture, and trivia as they try to correctly place events in relation to each other. Suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played by 2 to 8 players.
- SUSHI GO!:
A fast-paced card game about collecting cards with different types of sushi dishes. It helps kids learn about math, memory, and cuisine as they strategize to collect the best combinations of cards while remembering what cards other players might be collecting. Suitable for ages 8 and up, and can be played by 2 to 5 players.
Bonus mention: CASHFLOW
A Monopoly-like game for 2-6 players that will help kids learn financial literacy, principles of investing, and smart money management from an early age.
Playing board games is a great way for kids to develop important skills while having fun. Whether they are playing a strategic game like CATAN or a creative game like DIXIT, kids will be learning valuable lessons that will serve them well in other areas of life. So next time you are looking for an activity to do with your kids, consider playing one of these educational board games. They are not only entertaining but also a great way to learn and develop new skills.
