It’s hard not to love a good board game – they are a great way to break the ice with a new social group, or to connect with your close friends and family. Board games aren’t just a way to have fun – they can also be a great way to learn something new. There are plenty of educational board games on the market that are designed for kids and teens.
Best Educational Board Games
There is such a wide selection of educational board games on the market that it can be difficult to choose the right one for your family. We’ve rounded up some of the top educational board games available right now. These are games that will not only teach your child important new concepts, but are also fun and engaging, and can serve as a fun social experience as well.
Ticket To Ride
This fun strategy game is popular with both kids and adults, and it’s easy to see why. Players strategize to build train lines all over the US while blocking their opponents. Not only does this game teach strategy and critical thinking, but it can also help your children learn about geography. It takes about an hour to play, so it may not be the best option for younger kids, but it’s great for older children and teens.
For younger children, there’s Ticket to Ride: First Journey, which is a simplified version of the game. There are also several expansion packs that allow you to play in different parts of the world.
Bananagrams
This game is great for kids because it is such a simple concept, but it challenges their vocabulary and can help them practice their spelling too. While it’s designed for kids ages 7 and up, it’s also a fun game for adults to play too. The game is a race to see who can build a Scrabble-style word grid before time runs out. Bananagrams is also a great game for kids because it’s portable – all you need is the bag of tiles – so you can take it on family vacations.
Blokus
This is a fun visual board game that helps kids learn to strategize. It is a very simple concept that’s easy to learn, and it also doesn’t take long to play, so it’s great for kids that have short attention spans. Each player starts with a bag of Tetris-style pieces in a specific color, and the goal is to fit all of your pieces on the board before your opponents do. Although this game isn’t complicated, it’s still a great brain workout and a good way to enjoy some healthy competition.
Splendor
Splendor is an excellent strategy game where players use jewels to aquire cards, which are worth points. The goal is to reach a certain number of points before your opponents do, as well as to aquire the valuable ‘noble’ tokens. This game requires each player to develop their own individual strategy while keeping an eye on the other players as well. It helps kids practice their logical thinking skills and basic math, but with a fun, competitive twist.
Codenames
This game is a very fun way to teach your kids social skills and teamwork. It’s great for large groups, but there is also a spinoff version that’s designed for only two people. During the game, each team will search for ‘spies’ using clues given to them by their teammates. Teams compete to see who can find all of their secret identities first. In addition to the focus on teamwork, this is also a word game, so it can help kids practice their vocabulary. It also serves as a great icebreaker for parties or any other event where you’re meeting new people.
The Quest for El Dorado
This adventure-themed game is an engaging option for older kids who are over the age of 10. Players move through the city of El Dorado, racing to see who can claim the treasure from the ruins first. During the game, each player works to build their deck and play action cards that will help them get the treasure faster while blocking their opponents.
This game is a simple but fun introduction to deck building and helps kids practice reading cards and strategizing. This game is also completely different each time you play, so you’ll never get bored of it and you’ll need to develop a new strategy for each game.
Prime Climb
If you’re looking for a game to help you children practice their math skills, this is a great bet. Players move their pawns around the board, with the goal of getting them to the number 101. Each player must use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division throughout the game to get the numbers they are looking for.
In addition to practicing math skills, players must strategize to prevent others from reaching 101 first. The game board has a beautiful, simple design that’s very appealing. This game can be challenging, but for those that love numbers and math, it’s tons of fun.
Educational Board Game Buying Guide
With such a wide variety of educational board games out there, it can be difficult to find the best one for your needs. There are a number of different factors to consider when shopping to help you find the best choice. The first thing to consider is whether it’s a good fit for your child’s interests and skill level. If your child is very young, they are going to need a board game that is simple enough for them to understand.
You’ll also want to consider the number of players the game is suited for. A two-player game may not be the right option for a large family where everyone wants to play, whereas a game designed for a big group might not work as well for a small family. Finally, you’ll want to consider your child’s attention span and how long the game takes. Short games are typically the best option for younger children with limited concentration.
Conclusion
Educational board games are a fantastic way to bond and spend time with your child whilst doing something proactive – there’s only so many Disney films and TV series that you can watch with your kids! Board games give them something physical to do without you having to worry about the negative repercussions (like with video games, which in my opinion are fine in moderation). You could also consider getting a kids science kit too.
If you have a favorite board game to suggest, then please do so in the comments and I’ll add in into the list!
