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Best Board games for kids!

The world of games is a fantasy, be it for a 2year old toddler or a 16 year old teenager. And I have always loved playing board games and if given a chance, I really never forget to play a chance of Scrabble and raise a toast over my win with Lime Mojito! Fun, laugh, giggles, strategy, Board games are really something which a child cannot miss. And the best part is most of the board games are played in group, which makes the evenings all the more fun.

Related Read : Memory games for kids

Reasons to play board games : Why you should play board games with kids

1. Perfect family bonding time :

They just chuck out those digital gadgets and involve lots of fun when a complete family sits to play the game. It is indeed a great quality time spent together to bring us close to one another. Kids can easily be lured away from their gadgets or video’s, if we play board games in group.

2. Great companion while travelling :

Believe me, we are a travel family and none other than story books and board games can be a better companion when you have a kid along with you. They are less messy, takes less of space and creates a great atmosphere. Also, when it is raining or scorching sun above you and you need something indoors, board games are perfect for kids and family.

3.  Help inculcate the basics :

We all as parents have faced the issues of possessiveness, no-sharing attitudes in our kids. Board games are great in a way that they encourage the child to take turns, follow the predefined rules and promotes team work. Board games are best played when in a group (family/friends)for that fun.

4. Better Cognitive skills :

Since board games usually involve factors as learning the rules, reasoning, logics, consequences, decisions, it involves a lot of exercise to the young brains. It helps in building strategic thinking, enhances problem solving skills, encourages creativity, improves focus and attention.

They also help in improving gross and fine motor skills, along with hand – eye coordination.

From the time we grew up, board games have become so interactive and full of engagement. It is not longer just a dice play, but a whole strategic play for kids. Though there are many amazing Board games listed in the market, but we have shortlisted the ones, with multiple developmental aspects and which are quite popular in this age group.

Related Read : Dealing with kids boredom

10 Best board games for kids to play (3-6years) :

1. Domino Board Building blocks :

Buy link :  Amazon Domino Board Building Blocks

What happens when you have magical colourful tiles/blocks? They are not just fun, but also a great mode to ignite that imagination, develop math, science, spatial and tactile Skills over wide range of activities which can be done with it. These blocks can be arranged in so many different forms, which actually is a fun for kids. 

Perfect for ages : 3+

2. Go Fish :

Buy link : Amazon Go Fish

Go Fish is a superb way for young kids to learn how to play cards. It involves kids in how to read the numbers, how to take the turns and it is a perfect colourful card game for kids. Full family can sit and play this creative and colourful board game which will enhance the social interaction skills, as well as challenge kids while devising the strategies needed to play. Go start off the play card game for you child with Go Fish.

Perfect for ages : 3+

3. Boggle Junior –

Buy Link : Amazon Boggle Junior

This is a step for the major Boggle game, which is one of the best learning games for children. In Boggle Junior, kids link pictures to letters and words. The game has 6-sided letter cubes and numerous picture cards with the name of the image spelled out at the bottom of the card. Kids place the card on the tray and then use 3/4 letter cubes to match the spelling. It is  a perfect game for preschoolers / Kindergartner’s, to introduce them to the colourful world of spellings, objects, matching.

Perfect for ages : 3+

4. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game :

Buy Link : Amazon Sneaky Squirrel game

This preschool game supports matching and sorting skills, hand-eye coordination, formulating strategies, and even fine motor skills.  All what you need to do is, spin the spinner, squeeze the matching coloured acorn with Squirrel Squeezers, and now match it while placing into your log. Fill all the acorns into the log and yay, you’re the winner. You need to be strategic here, as stealing acorns could be a high, since once you come on the sneaky squirrel icon on the spinner, you get to steal one of your opponent’s acorns. And incase you come on the wind icon, you need to put all the acorns you have collected, sad, isn’t it? But its a super fun to play.

Perfect for kids 3+ and best when there are 2-3 players.

5. Scrabble Junior :

Buy Link : Amazon Scrabble Junior

Well, none needs any introduction to Scrabble. But this scrabble junior is perfect for these graders. With small words (as per this age group) and colourful pictures , it has a grid on which kids need to match the tile to make the word. It fosters literacy and language skills as reading, spelling and vocabulary along with matching power and yes helps improves math, as kids keep on counting their scores. It also works wonders in enhancing attention span of kids.

Perfect for kids 4+ with 2 players.

6. Ladders :

Buy Link for Marvel version : Ladders

Its a little different version of snakes and ladders , which can teach kids life lessons. Go where the spinner tells you but be aware as you play. The one who reaches 100 fastest is the winner here.

Perfect for kids 4+ with 2 or more players.

7. Candy Land :

Buy Link : Amazon Candy land

I gifted this to my niece few years back and it was an instant hit with her. This is a very old board game and it involves so much of happiness with the colourful cards and yummy treats all along the passage. Children pick the coloured cards and move their plastic gingerbread playing tokens to the next square of the same color. Who doesn’t loves to pass via the ice cream sea? I want to, so go ahead and get this candy treat for your kids!

Perfect for kids 3+

8. Zingo :

Buy Link : Amazon Zingo

I remember playing Bingo when we were around 10-12 years old and I so much enjoyed playing it. So, Zingo is a version for small kids, a Bingo style matching game. So here the player needs to be really quick to spot the picture (as in flower or Cat) and match them to the words on the play cards. The first one to finish complete line of items wins, yay!

It is a great board game for matching skills, quick thinking. It improves memory skills, basically it is an exercise for the brain. It comes in different versions as various shapes also.

Perfect for kids 4+

9. Go Away Monster! :

Buy Link : Amazon Go away Monster 

Here each player has a game board with bedroom filling items and a monster. While one adds all the bedroom items to the board, if you grab a monster, one will shout “Go away, monster!” and you lose your turn. The theme sometimes sounds silly but it is fun and helps kids with their memory, recognitions, fine motor skills.  The game doesn’t end until all players complete their bedrooms, thus none loses.

Perfect for kids 2-5 years, with 2 or more players.

10. Uno

Buy Link : Amazon Uno

Well Uno needs no introduction, though it is a hit with older kids, even 3-5 year kids can get involved in playing Uno. It teaches kids to pay attention to the rules, focus on the cards. It helps in pattern recognition, logic building and reasoning.

Perfect for kids 4+

I’m sure you would have fallen in love with board games by now:). This list of our best board games is indeed worth every smile.

So, what is your favourite board game? And what are you planning to get for your children this summer? It’s hot and holiday time. Why not have this family fun time!

With lots of love and Fun,

Jhilmil