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I’ve always imagined rocking family time when I have kids. After all, it is said to be one of the best ways to stay strong as a family.
Then reality set in.
I love the idea of family time, but let’s be honest: with a toddler, a preschooler, a first grader, and a teenager, family nights can be quite a challenge.
It is difficult to come up with an idea everybody would equally enjoy.
Family board games changed the way we do family time.
As I watched my kids play UNO one day, asking me and their dad to join as well, and I have noticed how well we got along and how much fun we had.
“This must be it”- I thought. “I need to find more board games we can enjoy together”.
So I set out on a quest to find the best family board games to make family time a breeze.
If you are looking for a game to play as a family or even just one-on-one with your child, my list will save you the time to research what to choose.
16 Family Board Games Your Kids Will Beg To Play!
1. Qwirkle
Qwirkle is great for a wide age range. The rules of the game are basic: simply build lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape and score points for doing so. However, there more complex the combination, the more you score.
Click here to buy on Amazon
2. Latice
This game is for ages 6 and up, another one that is just as enjoyable for adults as for children.
It’s a strategy game, similar to Quirkle, that even develops cognitive, spacial recognition, planning, and interpersonal skills.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
3. Busy Town: Eye Found It!
Suitable for ages 3+, this game promotes matching skills and attention to detail.
It also encourages teamwork, as there is not one winner. All the players play against the little pigs who want to eat the picnic lunch.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
4. Zingo
A perfect game for pre-readers and readers alike, Zingo is a bingo-based game that encourages language skills and matching. With this new edition, 7 players can play at once. My kids all have played it even before age 4.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
5. Watch Ya’Mouth- Family Edition
In this hilarious game, players use a cheek retractor to say words while others try to guess them. Ages 8+ because reading skills are required.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
5. Sorry
A classic game of bumping other people’s pawns and hide in your safety zone where different colored pawns can’t enter. It’s recommended for ages 6 and up, but many 4-5-year-olds are ready for it.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
6. Jenga
A classic game of trying to avoid crashing the tower while pulling out blocks one at a time. My kids have started playing it around 4, though the box says ages 6+.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
7. Yeti In My Spaghetti
This game is very similar in concept to Jenga, but it is definitely suitable for younger children. You place Yeti on top of the spaghetti and the point is to try removing as many noodles as you can without letting Yeti fall.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
8. Uno
This popular card game had to make the list. I have played it as a kid and now my kids play it too. Besides being fun, Uno reinforces number and color recognition as well as develops planning and strategical thinking abilities. Manufacturer’s recommended age is 7+, but my 4-year-old can join in with a little help.
Manufacturer’s recommended age is 7+, but my 4-year-old can join in with a little help.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
9. Pie Face
I admit I was VERY skeptical about this game at first. My kids tried it at a party and literally couldn’t stop talking about it.
It has been almost a year and they still beg me to buy it. I may give in this Christmas.
Score a point every time you turn the handle without getting “pie in your face”. Whipped cream not included.
If your kid likes whipped cream, they can play this game. Whipped cream not included.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
10. Hoot Owl Hoot!
Another game that encourages cooperation without one specific winner. Players work together to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Ages 4+
Click here to buy on Amazon.
11. Catan and Catan Junior
In Catan, players try to settle different territories on the Isle of Catan while working to avoid enemies and build wealth.
No two games are the same and there are expansions packs to buy as well.
Catan Junior is recommended for ages 6 as the game lets children experience the world of Catan in a simpler way.
These board games have received several awards and have tons of replay value.
Click here to buy Catan or Catan Junior from Amazon.
12. Old Maid
An oldie but a goodie. The purpose of the game is to not be stuck with the Old Maid in the end.
My kids thoroughly enjoy when they manage to pass the Old Maid to me and I love how simple yet fun this game is.
For small hands, get these card holders to help see all of their cards.
Click here to buy the game on Amazon.
13. HedBanz
Everybody wears a headband with a card that shows what object you are. Kids ask yes or no questions to figure out their picture on the card.
I find the recommended age 7+ to be accurate, as younger children can’t read yet and may have trouble asking yes and no questions as well.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
14. Ticket To Ride
In this game, you race to complete your challenge card by buying routes to different destinations while also keeping the other players from expanding their routes. It’s pretty easy to learn and perfect for preteen and teenage kids.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
15. Clue
Be a detective and solve the murder mystery. A fun game that builds upon guessing, finding out facts and putting it all together while keeping a poker face. Ages 8+
Click here to buy on Amazon.
16. Fibber
“Stretch the truth and your nose may grow” states the box. In this hilarious game, the players wear glasses and noses, and as they keep fibbing, the noses grow. It is only for 4 players but the noses can be stuck on without the glasses, so the number of players could be expanded. Ages 7+
Click here to buy on Amazon.
Bonus: HiHo Cherry-O
Help preschool children learn basic math skills while having fun picking fruit in their basket and working on a puzzle.
Click here to buy on Amazon.
I know you will find a few games from this list that your kids will beg to play, making family time even more fun!
Which game is your favorite? What other games would you add to the list?
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