Best Board Games for Kids

Choosing New Board Games for the Kids

If your family has long discarded all your standard board games, maybe it’s time to look into some lesser known versions. After all, we all have the collection of favorites. From Sorry to Monopoly, our closets are filled with these tried and true board games. But after the box has been used so many times that it’s frayed at the edges and precariously held together by duct tape, you might find that your kids simply pass the game over. Looking for a new challenge, you should restock the game closet with some new and interesting games.

But it can feel more than a bit overwhelming shopping for new board games. With so many different options, it’s hard to tell what’s worth purchasing and what’s all flash and gimmick without any substance. If your kids are interested in games that require a bit more strategy and thought, one great benchmark is to see what kind of awards the game has been given. These kinds of accolades are a good sign that it will be challenging as well as fun and addicting.

Candyland Game for Kids

Candy Land is a colorful board game ideally suited as a child’s first introduction to gaming. The simple play is a great introduction to the concepts of beginning math, the relationship between colors, and taking turns.

Candy Land was first released in 1940, and has seen numerous remakes since that time, including a DVD version of the game which can be played onscreen, as well as several themed and deluxe versions such Winnie the Pooh and Dora the Explorer themed versions.

Candy Land is played via colorful Ginger Bread men, who must make their way across the candy themed game world, avoiding obstacles and pitfalls along the way. There is no reading required, so children as young as 2 should be able to get by without much help. The game board is bursting with colors and expressive locales that will surely delight the children, including the gumdrop mountains, the Lollipop Woods, and the Molasses Swamp.

As players move along the colored path, they’ll draw cards which are also color coded, and indicate the next point to which they should move. In some cases the players will be forced backwards, while at other points they’ll get stuck at a pitfall space, where they must wait until the proper color coded card is drawn. Aside from these few simple twists, the game is a straightforward race to the finish line, King Kandy’s Castle, where they’ll be rewarded with overflowing mounds of candy. Be sure to reward your little game players with some real candy afterwards for their efforts.

The game of Candy Land can be played with 2-4 players, and while adults being present to play along with the kids will help things run smoothly, children should have no trouble playing by themselves (assuming they haven’t had too much candy of their own, and are a little hyper).

Naturally, due to the exceedingly simple premise, Candy Land is firmly in the realm of a kids game only , with no nothing to hold the interest of more mature gamers, save for when playing along with their children. It’s ideal game for children ages 2-5.

Honing Your Kid’s Multiplication Skills

When your child gets to the point in math class where they have to memorize their times tables, it can be frustrating for many kids. Especially children that like to work through and understand a problem, something like multiplication tables can be difficult to grasp. After all, there’s no fundamental question to understand. It’s just a matter of rote memorization. But without that base of memorization, more complex math becomes laborious and difficult.

Therefore, if you want to help you kid work his or her way through these tables, look for a fun way to help them do their memorization. One way is with the math shark. Although it plays like a video game, it will actually help your kid hone multiplication skills and other basic math skills. Not only will it increase your kid’s speed with these kinds of math problems, it will also help your child’s retention. Kids, after all, simply learn better when they’re having fun, and this is a great way to make those tables stick.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Pin the Tail on the Donkey is very popular among kids party games and is fondly played by children all around the world.

The game is as simple to play as all fun party games are. A picture of a donkey that is missing its tail is stuck on the wall at a height where the shortest of the kid is able to reach with her/his hands.

The kid whose turn it is, is blindfolded first of all. Then s/he is handed over a paper tail with a push pin attached to it. Then the kid is spun around so that s/he loses her/his orientation of direction.

Now the kid is supposed to reach the donkey and pin the tail where it is supposed to be. The distance of the tail where the kid pins it from the donkey’s behind becomes a matter of laughter by the entire party of kids.

Everyone gets a chance and the one whose pinning has been closest to the donkey’s behind wins the game. Of course winning the game is not as important as the fun of the light-heartedness that the game provides the party with, is.

The game is played by adults as well turning it into a drinking game where the worst pinning is awarded a shot of a particular variety of alcohol before the next round begins.

Qwirkle Board Game

With a name like Qwirkle, it’s got to be good!

The game of Qwirkle is as simple as matching colors and shapes, but is also requires strategy.

There are 108 wooden blocks with six different shapes in six colors. You create columns and rows of matching colors and shapes while looking for opportunities to make a big score by placing a tile that touches multiple pieces and matches both shapes and colors.

As with most games, the player with the most points win.

Qwirkle is a true family game, with flexibility to match most family situations. It allows 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up.

And it’s an award winning game!

• Games Magazine Award Best Family Game Runner-up 2007
• Mensa Best Mind Game Award Winner 2007; Major Fun Award Winner 2007

“The game is easy to learn, fun to play, and addicting.”
“It’s not just for kids. If you like games – you’ll enjoy Qwirkle.”
“I received Qwirkle for Christmas. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it since it says for ages 6 and up and I’m nearing 30. But it was easy to learn and the strategy got me hooked. I highly recommend this game for all ages.”

For some good family fun, Qwirkle can entertain almost all ages!

Phineas and Ferb Funniest Card Game Ever

This is a great game to play with younger family members who are sure to love the game based on the television show. Phineas and Ferb have interesting senses of humor and very entertaining imaginations. This is a very interactive game that will bring the storylines of the show to your table! It is sure to be a hit for those young ones who already watch the show and would love to be a part of it.