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Is it time for a family game night? Looking for the best board games that won’t leave you bored?
Do you have board games in your house that your children can play over and over again and never grow tired? We do too!
I love board games because they are perfect for family game night. I also love how educational they are and the giggles they create.
Best Board Games for Ages 7 and Under
When the kids were little, this was our go-to game on rainy days. I love that you can follow the rules or use it for patterning, shapes, counting and so much more. It’s also easy to take on vacation because everything is contained in one canvas bag. And, it’s a game they can grow up with as it stays entertaining… even for adults.
The best board game ever for preschoolers! This is one game that everyone in the family can play but it doesn’t take a ton of time (especially if you load the deck with the special cards in the right order – hint, hint.)
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When we needed to build Lira’s pincher grip, our therapist recommended playing Operation. While we were nervous that the buzz would put Lira into a sensory meltdown, our fears were unnecessary. Now, it is a family favorite board game.
Another great game for building fine motor skills and so much more. Beat the clock. Match the shapes. We love to play it together or alone.
Even my 9 year old loves to play this board game with his younger sister. It’s easy to play alone or with a friend. This game is great for teaching a gentle touch as well as cause and effect.
This game by ThinkFun has been a family favorite board game for years. The children still love to play this bingo-style game that is great for multiple ages to play together. Looking for a game that will enhance your child’s reading? Zingo is it!
You know the balloon will pop… but you have no idea when. Roll the dice, click your stick, and cross your fingers. You don’t want the balloon to pop on your turn.
Gentle hands are needed as you pick and choose which strand of spaghetti to remove while keeping the yeti precariously perched on top. The littles will love this silly game and learn to be observant as they remove each stick from the spaghetti pile.
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While it’s limited to two players, I consider this game a must for teaching children to recognize emotions and grow comfortable looking into human faces. Guess Who teaches children to watch for identifying characteristics while building their deductive reasoning skills. Plus, it’s great fun!
When given his choice of all our games, my youngest son would always choose Sorry for family game night. This was his all-time favorite board game. The game is simple to play but made extra fun by power-up disks that give you super powers.
Family Game Night for Ages 8 and Up
Want to teach your children how to strategize while having a really great time? Exploding Kittens is not as dangerous as the name sounds but is great for giggles. The card imagery is super funny but you will need to add the Imploding Kittens expansion pack if you have more than 5 players.
But a word of caution… DO NOT accidentally purchase the NSFW Edition as it contains explicit content.
While not technically a board game, this takes charades to the next level. You have to move really fast to act out the word on your card and grab it when someone guess correctly… before it falls and you did all that work for nothing.
This classic murder mystery game is always fun. It’s a great way to teach children deductive reasoning as they eliminate possibilities using clues they gather.
I remember loving the game of Lief as a kid! Now, my children beg to play it. Teach your children to make decisions while spinning your way into fun. So many choices!
Prepare for a serious attack of the giggles when you slip a dental guard into your mouth and try to say these crazy phrases. Spit and sputter your way through a sentence, trying to get your team members to guess what you are saying.
Let’s be honest… Monopoly isn’t my favorite game because it takes so long to play. But, if you want to stretch family game night into more than one night, Monopoly is fabulous. We love teaching our children to think like entrepreneurs and encourage them to negotiate with one another.
You can even get specialty boards that match your family’s interest like Monopoly Gamer (featuring Super Mario) or a gazillion other themes.
It’s all about finding perfect balance in Suspend by Melissa and Doug. Children (and adults) not only develop problem-solving skills but also better hand-eye coordination. Which way will it lean? Where can you place your strand that it will balance and stay? Don’t bump it! Super fun game to play.
What’s your favorites for Family Game Night?
Leave me a comment! We have tons of games in our closet but are always looking to add more. What are your favorites for family game night?
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Lots of good ones on your list. We especially like Qwirkle and Clue. Some of our other favorites are: Rumikub, Guacamole, The Ungame, Pictureka, Bohnanza, flip 4, scattegories, blockus, Blurt, Phase 10, Skipbo, and mexican train or chicken foot in dominoes. There are also lots of fun card games to play with a deck or two of cards: Canasta, hearts, go fish, etc. We love game nights and have even started hosting periodic game nites at our house for all of our peeps. A fun group game is Quelf but people have to be willing to get really silly!!
Oh my goodness, Janee! I have not heard of most these board games on your list. Looks like I have some shopping to do for our next family game night. Thanks!
The best board games are ones that everyone can join in on, have a variety of ways to win, and keep everyone engaged. If you’re tired of playing the same old board games with your family, or are looking for a new tabletop game to play with friends, here are some of our favorite board games we’ve played recently. Most board games are best played with 3-5 players, so they’re great for family game night. There’s no need to buy all of these games at once. You’ll probably find you enjoy some more than others. If you don’t like one, give it away and try something new! Well, there are some amazing casino games that you can play with your friends and you could also get rich by winning them, I know friend who get a lot of money through playing casino games.