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With the advent of digital entertainment, it’s easy to forget the value of good old-fashioned board games. On average, children spend 4-5 hours per day looking at screens. For teens, it’s about double that.
It’s essential for kids to get away from all of that screen time and be present in the moment. What better to do this than with a classic board game!
Board games can teach kids life skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning. They’re also a great way to bond with family and friends.
If you’re looking for some educational board games to keep your kids entertained, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the twelve best board games to help teach your children essential skills while having fun.
From counting and matching games to strategy games that teach problem-solving, we’ve got something for everyone. Keep reading for our top picks!
Educational Board Games List
The educational board games we will be talking about:
- I Never Forget a Face Memory Matching Game
- BRAIN GAMES KIDS – Warning! This Game Will Blow Your Mind!
- Trekking The National Parks
- Scholastic Race Across the USA Game
- Osmo
- (Junior) Scrabble
- Chutes and Ladders
- Candyland
- (Junior) Monopoly
- Checkers
- Chess
- Boggle
1. I Never Forget a Face Memory Matching Game
The I Never Forget a Face Memory Matching Game is a board game that helps to sharpen the recognition and memory skills of kids from ages three and up. The game is fun for kids to play, and it also enhances focus and attention to detail.
The game celebrates differences by introducing the children to other cultures worldwide. Home countries are identified, allowing children to discover and empathize with other children from foreign countries.
2. BRAIN GAMES KIDS – Warning! This Game Will Blow Your Mind!
The Brain Games Kids board game is designed to test players’ mental abilities with a variety of challenges. The game is for two or more players aged eight and up and includes 128 cards with different challenges.
The game’s objective is to reach the finished space first by correctly answering challenges from the three categories: Puzzling Pictures, Brain Benders, or Body Language. This board game is perfect for family game night or as a party game!
3. Trekking The National Parks
Trekking The National Parks is a board game created by a family who had visited all of the national parks in the US.
The questions in the game are geared towards children aged eight to twelve and will help them improve their geographical knowledge.
The game is perfect for park enthusiasts and nature families who need inspiration for their next trip!
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Trekking The National Parks board game go towards nonprofits. Not only is this game fun and educational, but it is also helping to make a difference in the world.
4. Scholastic Race Across the USA Game
The Scholastic Race Across the USA game is a fun way for kids to learn about the states in the country. Players race to visit six states and answer geography questions, then return to their home states to win the game.
Questions are geared to children who are eight and older and will help them improve their geographical knowledge. They will also need to memorize where each state is on the map to complete the game.
This is an enjoyable game for all the family and makes a fun addition to a homeschooling day.
5. Osmo
If the children are refusing to abandon the iPad, why not try Osmo?
Osmo is a learning game system that uses an iPad or Fire Tablet as a base and hand-held game pieces.
Children become the owner of a pizza shop and learn how to invest in their shop so they can become the “big cheese!”
The game is designed with collaboration in mind and teaches children a variety of skills, including math, business skills, and social interaction.
The game is geared toward children ages five to twelve, and they can be played at different levels depending on the child’s ability.
Osmo is a great way to teach children about real-world concepts in a fun and stress-free environment. The games are also great for helping children develop critical thinking, observation, and problem-solving skills.
If you’re looking for a fun and educational board game for your child, Osmo is a great option.
6. (Junior) Scrabble
One of my favorite board games of all is Scrabble!
Scrabble is a classic board game that has been around for decades. It’s a great game for teaching children important skills such as vocabulary, spelling, and strategic thinking. It’s also a fun way for the whole family to bond!
The goal of the game is to score as many points as possible by forming words from tiles on the board. Players can use any letter tile they want, but they can only use each tile once.
Players take turns adding tiles to the board to form words. They can also play off of other players’ words to score points. The game ends when all of the tiles have been used up.
Scrabble is a great game for kids of all ages. There is also a junior version which is much easier to play.
In Junior Scrabble, children can match the letters on the board to form complete words. It also comes with picture clues and fun character tokens that enhance gameplay.
If you’re looking for an educational board game that the whole family can enjoy, Scrabble is a great option!
7. Chutes and Ladders
Chutes and Ladders is a popular board game for preschoolers that teaches important skills like counting and probability. The goal of the game is to be the first player to reach the finish by climbing up ladders and avoiding chutes.
Players take turns rolling a dice and moving their pieces along the board. If they land on a space with a ladder, they can climb up to the next space. However, if they land on a space with a chute, they must slide down to the next space.
The game is for two to four players and is recommended for ages three and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids counting, number recognition, and basic math skills.
8. Candyland
Candyland is a classic board game that is perfect for young children. It’s a simple game with a sweet theme that kids from three will love!
The goal of the game is to be the first player to reach the finish by drawing cards and moving their piece along the board. Players take turns drawing cards and moving their pieces based on the color of the card they drew.
The game is for two to four players and is recommended for ages three and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids colors, matching, following directions, and taking turns.
9. (Junior) Monopoly
Monopoly is a classic board game that is great for teaching kids about money and basic math skills. The aim of the game is to be the richest player by buying, selling, and trading properties.
Players take turns rolling dice and moving around the board. They can buy properties when they land on them and collect rent from other players who land on their properties.
The game is for two to eight players and is recommended for ages eight and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids about money, math, and basic economics.
There is also a junior kid-friendly version of the game where players can buy properties such as movie theatres and zoos. This is an excellent version for kids ages five to eight years old.
9. Checkers
Checkers is a classic board game that is great for teaching kids strategic thinking. The goal of the game is to capture all of the opponent’s pieces by jumping over them with your own pieces.
Players take turns moving their pieces around the board. They can only move forward and capture the opponent’s pieces by jumping over them with one of their own pieces.
The game is for two players and is recommended for ages four and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids strategic thinking, problem-solving and focus.
10. Chess
Ever seen the Netflix show called the Queen’s Gambit? That sent chess sales through the roof!
Chess is an excellent game for teaching kids strategic thinking. The goal of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king by moving your pieces around the board.
Players take turns moving their pieces around the board. They can move one piece at a time, and each piece has its own rules for movement.
The game is for two players and is recommended for ages eight and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids abstract thinking, problem-solving, and patience.
11. Othello
Othello is a popular board game that is great for teaching kids about strategy. The goal of the game is to have the most pieces of your color on the board at the end of the game.
Players take turns placing their pieces on the board. They can place their pieces on any empty space, but they can only flip over the opponent’s pieces if your own pieces surround them.
The game is for two players and is recommended for ages eight and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids about strategy, planning, and spatial reasoning skills.
12. Boggle
Boggle is a popular board game that teaches kids about spelling and vocabulary. The game’s goal is to find as many words as possible in the grid of letters.
Players take turns shaking the box of letter tiles and making words with them. They can only use each letter tile once, and they have to connect the letter tiles in a straight line.
The game is for two to four players and is recommended for ages eight and up.
This game is a great way to teach kids about spelling, vocabulary, and basic literacy skills.
In Conclusion
These are just a few of the many educational board games available for kids. These games are great for teaching kids important academic skills while also being fun and entertaining. Do you have any favorite educational board games for kids? Let us know in the comments below!
Useful Links
- Kindergarden or Kindergarten: Which is Correct?
- Kindergarten Sight Words (With Free Printable)
- Short and long ‘i’ Word Sounds
- 13 Must-Read Stories for Kids That Teach Life Lessons
- 9 Surprising Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Child
I'm an Irish tutor and founder of TPR Teaching. I started teaching in 2016 and have since taught in the UK, Spain, and online.
I love learning new things about the English language and how to teach it better. I'm always trying to improve my knowledge, so I can better meet the needs of others!
I enjoy traveling, nature walks, and soaking up a new culture. Please share the posts if you find them helpful!
