fbpx
My Little Poppies

The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool

by 12 Comments

My Little Poppies LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links from Amazon or other programs are used on this website. For more information, please refer to our disclosure statement.

   

Do you use games in your homeschool? We sure do!


I consider games to be an important part of our homeschool routine. Today, I am going to share how you can use games in your homeschool to build relationships, connect with your children, make memories, have fun, and learn in the process!

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, the-power-of-play-using-games-in-your-homeschool-my-little-poppies

How to Use Games in Your Homeschool

If you’ve been following our site for any length of time, you’re already fully aware that we are a bit game obsessed over here. Among the biggest of homeschooling perks in my world is the fact that our family is able to play games frequently. We don’t have to try to squeeze in a family game night on an already jam-packed weekend, but rather we can play daily and sometimes multiple times daily if we desire. Board games are an integral part of our homeschool routine.

Children are doing so much more than simply having fun when they are engaged in play. Playing games works on a host of skills, including:

  • Verbal communication
  • Self-regulation
  • Turn-taking
  • Sharing
  • Listening
  • Cooperation
  • Focus and attention
  • Following directions
  • Creativity
  • Social skills
  • Learning to handle wins and losses
  • Cognitive skills such as counting, color/shape/pattern recognition, strategy, problem solving, early literacy, etc.

learn-more-about-my-subscriber-community
Play is the science of childhood. Children learn how to navigate their world through play. And, when parents play alongside their children, they have the opportunity to work on those precious social skills while having fun. Playing a game presents many opportunities for teachable moments and you are building relationships and making memories in the process! While direct instruction of social skills has its place, there is something to be said for the hands-on, experiential learning that playing games together provides.

Looking for ways to pair high-quality read alouds with educational games in your homeschool?

Check out this post:

100 Games and Picture Books for Play-Based Family Learning | My Little Poppies

This week I’ll be sharing some of our family’s absolute favorites! Be sure to check back here, folks, because I’ll be adding one new link each day!

And here is a guide to selecting the perfect games to use in your homeschool:

Ultimate Gift Guide: Family Games | My Little Poppies Here is the ultimate list of the best family games on the market today, as tested by a school psychologist, proponent of play-based education, mom to three, unexpected homeschooler.

Fantastic games to use in your homeschool, listed by subject:

6 Amazing Math Games

Do you think that math can’t be fun? Think again! Here are six fantastically-fun math games for your homeschool or game closet. Your children will be having such a blast that they won’t realize they are growing those math skills!math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

One-Player Games that Kids Love

Let’s be honest… as much as I love a good board game, there are times when I cannot play due to various obligations, from work to laundry to bills. One-player games come in quite handy on these occasions, and also when you need a little quiet time. These are some of our family’s absolute favorites.

One player games that kids love, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

Non-Competitive Games for Non-Competitive Kids

Temperament is an interesting thing, is it not? Some folks are born competitive while others balk at the thought of competition. Do you have a non-competitive child in your family? I am raising my hand, folks! Here are some of our favorite non-competitive, cooperative games!

games, board games, competition, cooperative games, family, imagination, parenting, homeschool, creativity, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

Games that Promote Logic and Reasoning

I love logic games, always have and always will. Let me tell you, that proverbial apple does not fall far, folks! My kids love logic games, too. Here are some of our family’s favorites.

The Best Logic Games for Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies

Classic Games for the Kid in You

These are the games that transport you back to your 5-year-old self. What is your favorite classic game?? And, be sure to check out how we use one classic to improve our understanding of map skills!

Classic Games for the Kid in You, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

Games that Teach Map Skills

Take your Geography lessons to the next level by adding some fun board games to reinforce key concepts!

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting

Games that Encourage Imagination and Creativity

These are the games that inspire conversation, imagination, and creativity. Boost those story-telling skills and encourage outside-of-the-box thinking with these favorites.

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, Games that encourage imagination and creativity

Gift-Worthy Games

When birthdays and holidays roll around, I love to give books and games. Board games are an affordable supplement to your homeschool curriculum. At less than the cost of a movie ticket, games are the perfect gift as they will provide years of family memories and learning. Here are our favorite gift-worthy games!

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids

Do you love Gameschooling?

I rely heavily on educational games in our homeschool. Read more here:


The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, 10+ Amazing Math Games for Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, math facts, practice math, play,

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, 10+ Games to Make You Giggle My Little Poppies, funny games, family games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling

5+ Nature Games for Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, 10+ Family-Friendly Card Games for Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, homeschooling, games, board games, educational games

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, 10+ Games to Get Kids Moving My Little Poppies

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, Lunchtime Learning Games to Play While You Eat! My Little Poppies, games, board games, table top games, siblings, educational games

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling,

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , 10+ Waterproof Games for the Beach or Pool | My Little Poppies 10 Waterproof Games for the Beach or Pool pin, board games, card games

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school

Now, I’d love to hear from YOU! Do you use games in your homeschool? Share here!

This post has been a part of the iHomeschool Network Summer 2015 Hopscotch. Click the image below to continue to other fantastic series.

The Best Family Games For Your Homeschool My Little Poppies, games, play, The Power of Play: Using Games in Your Homeschool | My Little Poppies, educational games, learning, hands on learning, play matters, experiential learning, skill building, homeschooler, homeschooling, , board games, family games, gaming, play, homeschool, parenting, gift ideas for kids, Games that encourage imagination and creativity, geography homeschool mapping map skills board games family parenting, math, board games, games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, mathematics, Using Games in Your Homeschool, games, board games, tabletop games, 5 days of family games, family games, play, play matters, card games, fun games, educational games, homeschool, homeschooling, homeschooler, iHomeschool Network, 5 Fantastic ThinkFun Games for Families, giveaway, educational games, back to school, the-power-of-play-using-games-in-your-homeschool, education, educational games, homeschooling, homeschooler

stealth-homeschooling-01806

Hopcotch2015

FamilyNight

Share213
Pin272
Tweet123
Email

  • Spot It (we got our’s in a Chick-fil-a kid’s meal) and Find-It-Fast ($1 bin at Target; uses sight words similar to Spot it). My son loves both!
    I haven’t tried this yet, but my hippie/back to our roots/massage therapist self plans to buy this: http://learningherbs.com/wildcraft/#wildcraft_intro. It is so important for kids to understand the world around them, where things truly come from, and even some basic survival skills. I do not even know everything on this game and am excited to learn with our 4 year old! We even made and are maintaining a small family garden. Seems like a good science application too!

    Reply

  • I fully agree play is a big part of homeschooling and this article really helped me. As a home schooling mum you sometimes need external ideas to keep things fresh so great article and thanks.

    Reply

    • Qries

    >