With most kids spending more and more time in front of screens, tabletop games are a great alternative. Not only does it take them away from their devices, but it also allows them to socialize and form deeper bonds with their friends and family. It’s a fun and stress-free way for you to spend time with your children and can be great for their development.
Many of these games involve tactics and analyzing, which can help their brains. These skills will be vital for them in the future. Critical thinking is hugely underrated and can help your children to make more logical and better choices going forward. Rather than sitting them down in front of books all day, think of these games as a learning mechanism.
Even if they are messing about with friends, they are learning to play. Playing is crucial for determining how to form friendships and compete without becoming overzealous or cruel. But more than anything, these tabletop games are a lot of fun! Life is complicated as it is and these are a fantastic way to let your kids continue to be children for a little while longer.
You’d be surprised at how many different tabletop games there are on the market. With more evidence showing that screens and devices can be harmful, there has been a sudden resurgent of these physical tabletop games. Many of them are remakes of the boards that we played on as children, which can make it fun for you to play along as a parent.
We considered three primary factors when looking through the options:
Of course, you want the game to be exciting enough to grab your kids attention. But it also needs to be at the right skill level, which is why we’ve included a big range in this list. Finally, it can’t break the bank and must offer great value for money.
Our research is unique. We look through a large amount of crowdsourced data in the form of online reviews. By doing so, we can get a better idea of the quality of a game by aggregating the experiences of thousands of kids. Therefore, we believe we can give you a great list to make purchasing a tabletop product more accessible and more straightforward.
One of the most popular games of all time, Candy Land Kingdom of Sweet Adventures is a remake of an old game that many of us played as children. The same rules apply, and it even uses cards like the previous version, unlike many newer iterations which have swapped to a spinner or dice.
The game is somewhat similar to snake and ladders. The purpose is to get your gingerbread figure from the start to the kingdom of candy at the end! The graphics are incredibly appealing to children, with bright colors and bubbles. Plus, what child doesn’t like candy and gingerbread? It’s perfectly designed and animated for younger children.
The rules of the game are incredibly simple. There is practically no strategy involved because much of the game is random. Therefore, younger children are at no disadvantage. This fact can make it more fun for them to play with you or their siblings because they still have a chance of winning. Plus, no matter how far somebody is ahead, they can always drop down.
The simplicity and entertainment of this game make it a clear winner. Snakes and ladders, and games that use the same basic premise have been popular for quite literally hundreds and hundreds of years. It’s unlikely that is going to change any time soon. For children aged three and above, we believe this is a must-have board game.
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The board itself is thick and quality cardboard. While the cards are made from traditional paper and therefore can bend or tear, the game, in general, is quite sturdy. It’s not unreasonable to think that it could last for many years if taken care of. Plus, it comes with a box which can be used for storage and to protect the parts.
Having read many of the reviews, many parents commented on how much fun their children had. One noted in particular that although an adult might find it repetitive, their kids would play it for hours on end, week after week. Honestly, it’s a great way for kids to learn to compete in a friendly manner and to discover how to win and lose gracefully.
The many lessons that such a simple game can teach are endless. Likewise, kids tend to find fun in even the most trivial pursuits. Each card could mean a big win or loss, which gives them anticipation and excitement at every turn of the game. There is little complexity, and therefore it’s not too hard for the youngest, no matter their capacity.
Overall, if we were to pick one game, it would be this one. We think that it offers the best value for money, is universal to all kids and is an awful lot of fun. Unlike many of the drab boards we had when we were younger, the graphics on this are fantastic and extremely professional. It’s an awesome choice that every child will enjoy.
Everybody loves a game of table tennis. Not only is it incredibly easy to learn but there are a challenge and possible progression. For children, the possibility of mastering a skill is essential and is one of the most interesting tasks for them. Plus, table tennis involves fine motor skills and therefore can be great for developing your kids athletic talents.
Whether your child is three or twelve, ping pong is the perfect evening activity. It’s also great because it can be set up in seconds. All you need is the net, a couple of paddles and a ball. Unlike other tabletop games which are complex, you can start playing in seconds and justify only playing for a few minutes because it’s easy to disassemble.
For children, we believe that table tennis is one of the best games. It’s everything a child needs in a game. There is competition, rules, dexterity development, strategy, exercise, and fun. You’d be hard pressed to find something superior. The only reason we didn’t rank it right at the top is that it’s limited to two players at a time, which isn’t ideal for every situation.
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However, this limitation can teach your children to share and take turns. Again, playing is vastly underrated because it’s a vital time for your kids to learn many life lessons and skills that they will need later on in life. For that reason, we considered all of these factors, as well as how entertaining it is, when looking at which games we should recommend.
Overall, we think it’s excellent value for money. The cost is low, and the great thing about it is that if a paddle or ball breaks, you can buy individual replacement parts. You could reasonably assume that this toy will last for years to come. If you have more children in the future, you can pass it down, and kids of different ages can easily play together and enjoy it.
Perhaps one of the fastest growing games in recent years, this is their children’s version. The premise of the game is simple, you wear a headband with a card in it, and somebody tries to mimic the card so that you can guess what it is. While the adult game it too complex for the youngest children, the junior version is quite simplistic.
Rather than inanimate objects, they will be guessing animals. Imagine how funny it would be to see your youngest pretending to be a tiger or a monkey! It’s easy to understand how this game can be entertaining. It’s a great way to teach them words, reading, social skills and play acting.
We believe that it’s great for groups of children. If you have more than one kid, it’s an easy way to entertain them all at once, so that your partner can take a break. While the game seems simplistic, it can be surprisingly hard to guess, and that’s where the humor is. If you run out of cards, you can always create your own to continue the game!
A classic Canadian pastime, curling is a lot of fun. Now, you can play at the table! Games like this were incredibly popular when we were young, and now they are even better. The idea is to get the balls down to the other end and as close to the center as possible. With a little contact, you can push others away, allowing yourself to win.
The great thing about this game is that it teaches your children a strategy. They can’t hurl them down and expect to win. They need to learn to play against others and use their objects against them. Every movement requires precise motor functions, and therefore it’s an ideal way for children to learn greater skill and precision.
Although it has a provocative name, it’s not particularly outrageous. Designed for children who are a little older, it’s a naughty card game that will have them laughing and in tears. The game is identical to Cards Against Humanity, but it’s entirely family friendly so that it’s ideal for children who you don’t want to introduce rude language too!
It’s quite funny, and you can guarantee that your children will be giggling together for hours. Again, it’s best in groups, but if you and other adults join in it can be a hoot!
If you’ve ever gone into the YouTube spiral and found yourself watching reaction videos, you’ve seen this game. You put a large plastic retainer into your mouth, making it hard to speak and then try to describe words to another person who guesses. It’s like Charades, except with more spit and a lot more laughs!
Every child is going to love this game. It’s gross, it’s funny, and it’s guaranteed to be a silly time. Children who have any reading ability can play this game because you can continue to draw cards until there is one that they can read and pronounce.
In our opinion, you need at least four people to play this, although technically it could work with less. The truth is that the more people you have on the outside, laughing at the two playing, the more entertaining it is. Therefore, we would highly encourage you to get this if you often have play dates or other kids in the house. It will keep them entertained for hours!
Labyrinth is almost a snakes and ladders for older children. It’s a little more complex but has some of the same basic features. It’s ideal for children who are seven and older, although younger kids might be willing to play with some guidance. Overall, we think it’s a great game and certainly has excellent replayability.
The one thing we love about it most is that it can help teach children many skills. Younger kids will find themselves forced to take turns, learn the consequences of actions and try to figure out how to get to the end of the maze quickest.
We can be confident that almost everybody reading this guide has played Jenga before. It’s a classic, which is why we’re so sure that it’s a fabulous pick for all ages and abilities. If you’re trying to find a game to play with your children, this is a fantastic choice. It will bring you right back to your childhood and still challenge you.
You might be surprised at how hard Jenga can be! But at the same time, children aren’t at a huge disadvantage compared to adults who can make it more entertaining for them. Jenga is a surprisingly active and competitive game. Therefore we would recommend it for energetic and personable children who enjoy playing with others.
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If your child doesn’t deal well with losing or competition, it might not be the best choice. When the tower falls, it’s quite loud and distinct, which can make younger and less sociable children upset. However, it can be a great teaching lesson and if taken lightly should be no problem for even less mature kids.
Overall, we believe that Jenga is a must have for all kids. It might be the best value for money on this entire list. It’s practically impossible to break, and because it’s a large tower, the bricks are also tough to lose. You could keep this tabletop toy for multiple children, passing it down as the older ones become less interested.
It’s also a fantastic game for younger children who are still developing fine motor skills. It helps them with learning to judge distance. They must also develop hand-eye coordination and utilize small muscle movements. Therefore, it’s a tremendous option for children who are less athletic and who need the practice to improve their dexterity and motor operations.
Arguably, Munchkin Deluxe is the best game on this list. However, it’s for kids who are ten and older because the graphics aren’t friendly and it’s quite complex. But, as an adult, you’ll find yourself enjoying it more. If you have older kids or tweens, it’s a fantastic way to show them more complex challenges without overwhelming them.
There are such a wide variety of different table games that it can be challenging to pick one. The most important consideration, in our opinion, should be the age and skill level of your children. All of these games are fun. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be selling enough copies to make it profitable! But if they are too simplistic or complicated, it’s no longer entertaining.
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For that reason, we included games on this list which are great for three-year-olds. Likewise, there are others which are better suited to tweens. We’ve done the hard work for you, but you should still ensure that the product you pick from this list is the correct one for your child’s ability.
You should also consider their personality. Some children prefer games that are low energy and involve skill. Others prefer to be active and competitive. It’s critical that you pick one that aligns with their desires. By doing so, you’ll be able to identify a game that will challenge them and keep them entertained for hours at a time.
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