Solve problems. Make decisions. Stay focused. Take turns. Practice fine motor skills. And above all else, get the green guy to the Candy Castle!        

 

What makes a great board game for your little kids? It’s got to be short (sorry Risk, all in good time), and sensory stimulating. My kids are partial to flicking spinners. They’ve got to be able to “read” the game pieces themselves, and it’s a bonus if kids can set it up on their own. The classic games that have been around since us parents were kids have a special place of pride at our table. Also, we’ve omitted games with tiny pieces that could serve as choking hazards for younger siblings (stay hungry, hippos). 

 

Here are a few that have earned their keep at our game nights:

 

  1. Duck-A-Roo! – Flip a token and your duck “swims” to the front of the line. Get all your ducks in a row.
  2. Wonder Forge Baby Animals Matching Game – Match pictures of cute baby animal pictures to each other.
  3. Daniel Tiger’s Welcome to Main Street – Great for Daniel Tiger fans. Visit the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and match colorful cards to win.
  4. Candy Land – Classic game where you move gingerbread pieces along a rainbow path to get to King Kandy’s Castle to win.
  5. Chutes and Ladders – Another classic game that has players navigate a path to get to the end climbing up ladders and without sliding down a chute.
  6. Oops Scoops Game – This is a cute game that encourages players to scoop, stack and score.
  7. Wonder Forge Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party Game – A sweet game of stacking different cupcake combinations together. 
  8. Don’t Break The Ice – A controversial choice – loved by kids, detested by adults for the long setup and short payoff. 
  9. I Never Forget a Face Memory Matching Game – Another great matching game that encourages paying attention to details.
  10. Richard Scarry’s Busytown – Search for objects in Busytown and discover surprises along the way.