Choosing Board Games for Kids: What to Consider

ℹ️ The article is from TheBrainyMommy.com and was written by The Brainy Mommy.

Those who know me know that I love board games and card games. Growing up, my father taught me and my brothers games like Chinese chess and Big Two. I have fond memories of us kids playing against him after he put himself at a disadvantage by removing his most powerful pieces or cards. Needless to say, we still lost many times. When our brains were tired, we siblings played through popular titles like Uno and Monopoly.

Later in life, I discovered that not all games fall under the extremes of being abstract and strategic or largely based on luck. With the rise in popularity of tabletop gaming, we are now spoiled for choice when it comes to board games. Many games are appealing to different ages and have varying levels of depth depending on how much thinking you want to be doing while playing.

With so many choices out there, it’s worth doing a bit of research before you part with your hard-earned money. If you’re picking out a new board game for your child, here are four questions that are worth asking.

Four Questions to Ask When Choosing Board Games for Children

1. Will it be fun for me (as an adult)?

Board games are a structured form of play, and most children, at least in the early stages, will be dependent on you to read the rules, teach them how to play, and be their playmate. You’ll want to choose something that you’ll enjoy as well, or at the very least, not mind playing, because chances are you’ll be playing it over and over again. Also, look for something that’s easy to set up and take down so that your kids don’t run off when it’s time to clean up.

2. Is it appealing and age-appropriate for my child?

There are two things that go into whether your child will enjoy a game or at least remain interested enough to get through one play: enticing characters, illustrations, or theme, and age or skill appropriateness of gameplay. If the rules and game mechanics are too complicated, it will be frustrating for both you and your child.

3. What value do I get for my money?

Look at the quality of the game components and whether they will stand up to being handled by children. You also want to consider how durable the pieces are and whether they will last through repeated play. Another important thing to consider is the game’s potential replay value. In my opinion, a game that is $20 and will be played more than 10 times is a better deal than a game that is $5 but will only be played once.

4. What skills and concepts might my child learn and develop?

My motto is that kids learn best when they’re having fun. Board games are great for social and cognitive development, and the best ones are those that don’t make it too obvious that your child is learning and practicing different skills through play. I also strive to look for games that have varied types of gameplay and can help me teach different concepts.

My Review Process for Board Games

In each of my board game reviews, I’ll help you determine whether a game is fun for both kids and adults, whether it’s likely to appeal to your child if it will be worth your money, and what type of educational and learning opportunities it provides. I’ll also give a rating on each:

Fun

Appeal

Value for money

Education and learning

(or FAVE! Yes, I absolutely tried to make this rating system into an acronym.)

Stay tuned to future posts for some of the first games I introduced my son in his toddler stage. Comment below about some of your favorite games growing up!

Source: TheBrainyMommy.com

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Last Updated on August 28, 2024 by Tania Nizova | Published: August 27, 2024