Are you searching for the perfect gift for any occasion? Look no further! Today I am sharing the best family games.
Games make wonderful gifts for so many reasons, including the following:
- They are fun
- Games are educational
- Playing together builds relationships
- Games make memories
- Games provide hours of entertainment!
If you think about it, a game costs less than taking your family to the movies and the best part is that you can play the same game for years and create many memories together.
Best Family Games | Ultimate Guide
Games are the spine of our homeschool and one of my passions as a proponent of play-based education. We play at least one game daily and often more than that, so you can bet these games have been tested again and again by our family!
Looking for ways to pair high-quality read alouds with educational games?
Check out this post:
How to use our Best Family Games Ultimate Gift Guide:
We are a game loving family and therefore it is impossible to narrow our favorite games into a top ten list. Instead, I’ve divided games by category so you can choose the type of game that best matches your unique family. Certain categories, like math and literacy, have been further divided into games for little ones and games for big kids. I’ve also included links to previously published articles about the selected games in case you’d like to read more.
I’ve curated the best family games for the following categories:
- Card games
- Math games
- Logic games
- Science games
- Nature games
- Early literacy games
- Language arts games
- Geography and history games
- One-player games
- Cooperative games
- Games that encourage imagination and creativity
- Funny games
- Movement games
- Classic games
Before diving into each category, I want to share some tips and tricks for selecting the best game for your family.
First things first: How to select the best game for your family
Games are excellent family gifts, but in order to pick the right game you must consider think of the following:
- Recommended number of players – You do not want to purchase a two-player game for a family of five.
- Age recommendations – When selecting a game, be cognizant of the ages of the children and the recommendations made by the game manufacturers.
- Time to play – Families these days are busy, and some families are busier than others. Most games now have an average game length on the side of the box to help with your selection.
- Ease of use – Is this a game that the family can play right out of the box? Will it be easy for all members of the family to understand?
- Fun factor – You want the game to be fun for all ages!
- Challenge – If the game is too easy, the family won’t play it often. The same goes for super-complicated games.
- Longevity – You don’t want to pick a game that the family will outgrow quickly.
(Looking for tips to make your next family game night successful? Check out this post.)
Now, let’s have some fun…
Best Family Games: Mathematics, Reasoning, and Logic
I love to practice math facts and concepts through play. My kids have an absolute blast playing and they have no clue that they are really practicing those all-important math skills. It is stealth learning at its best. For easier navigation, I have divided it into games for little ones and games for big kids.
Our favorite math games for little kids:
Our favorite math, reasoning, and logic games for big kids:
Read more about our favorite math games and books here:
- 10+ Math Games for Your Homeschool
- 6 Amazing Math Games
- Top Logic and Reasoning Games
- The Best Math Storybooks
- If You Read Your Kids a Math Book…
Best Family Games: Science and Nature
Read more about our favorite science and nature resources here:
- 10+ Science Games for Your Homeschool
- 5+ Nature Games for Your Homeschool
- 15+ Books for Your Young Scientist
- Homeschool Science in the Early Years: 5 Ways to Keep it Fun!
- Chemistry Resources Kids Love
- Exploring Nature with Children
- DIY Nature Explorer Pack
Best Family Games: Early Literacy, Vocabulary, and Language Arts
To make this category easier to navigate, I have divided it into games for little ones and games for big kids.
Early Literacy Games for Little Ones
Early Literacy, Vocabulary, and Language Arts for Big Kids
Read more about our favorite early literacy, vocabulary building, and language arts resources here:
- 20+ Fantastic Reading and Language Arts Games for Your Homeschool
- Easy Ways to Foster Early Literacy at Home
- Raising Readers: A Resource Page for Parents
- 10+ Picture Books for Gifted Kids
- How to Start a Family Book Club
- Books to Help Parents Grow Readers
Best Family Games: History and Geography
Love history and geography? Check out these related posts:
- Best Geography Games
- 5 Election Books for Kids
- 6 Books for Teaching Map Skills
- Planning a U.S. Election Unit Study
- A Fun, Hands-On White House Lesson
Best Family Games: One-Player Games
Read more here:
Best Family Games: Cooperative Games
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Read more here:
Best Family Games: Games to Make You Laugh
Read more here:
- 10+ Games to Make You Giggle
- A Basket of Laughter: A Gift to Spread Smiles
- Apples to Apples: Laughter Guaranteed
Best Family Games: Classic Games to Bring Out the Kid in You!
Read more here:
Best Family Games: Card Games
Read more here:
- Best Card Games for Families
- Waterproof Games for the Beach or Pool
- Lunchtime Learning: Games to Play While You Eat!
Best Family Games: Games that Encourage Imagination and Creativity
Read more here:
- Games to Encourage Imagination and Creativity
- The Best Art Books for Kids
- Our Favorite Theater and Performance Books
- The Lost Art of Play
Best Family Games: Games to Make You Move
Read more about how to get your kids moving here:
Looking for more gift ideas?
Be sure to check out our gift guides!
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Also, be sure to follow My Little Poppies on Instagram, as I often share what we are playing each day:
Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: What is your family’s favorite game? Share here!
