Growing up, there was one tradition that I always looked forward to: family game night. We took turns getting to pick the game, and engaged in some good, old-fashioned competition. My oldest son is finally at the age where he interested in games – which is great! We can now start that tradition!
At his young age, we have found that it’s important for games to be within his interests, his skill level, and that they are pretty quick. Let’s face it, a three-year old’s attention isn’t exactly ready for a marathon game like Monopoly or Risk. I’ve developed a list of our favorite board games that are in constant rotation during family game night.
1. Hi-Ho Cherry-O!
This game is great for working on identifying numbers and working on one-to-one correspondence. Each player spins the spinner and acts according to what it lands on. The point of the game is to be the first person to fill your basket with 10 cherries. Hi-Ho Cherry-O also introduces the concepts of addition and subtraction through adding and taking away cherries during game play. Each player spins the spinner and acts according to what it lands on. The pieces are small, so constant supervision is a must, and it’s really not for any child younger than 3.
Manufacturer’s Age Recommendation: 3-6 years old
Number of Players: 2-4
2. Sequence for Kids
Sequence for Kids is a hybrid matching/bingo game. Each player takes a card from the top of the pile and then selects the corresponding spot on the board and places a token. You want to get four in a row to win. My son loves the different animals and has fun naming them all and looking at them during gameplay. This game will work on color identification and matching. The tokens are small, so once again, be aware of the choking hazard.
Manufacturer’s Age Recommendation: 3-6 years old
Number of Players: 2-4
3. Zingo
Zingo is a great game for pre-reading and early reading skills. The tokens have both the picture and word on it, and players then match it to their cards if they have the matching picture. The first person to get three in a row, wins. What is great about this game, is that it’s really easy to slow it down and simplify the rules for younger kids. Though the age recommendation starts at 4, my three-year-old can play this game with a couple of modifications to the rules. He does, however, have really good matching skills, so that may be why. This game works on matching and item identification. It is also a great way to work on language skills by having your child identify verbally each picture.
Manufacturer’s Age Recommendation: 4-10 years old
Number of Players: 2-7
4. Lucky Ducks Game
This game was a Christmas present and my son has been obsessed with it forever. There are twelve ducks that go on the board which looks like a little pond. Hit the orange button and they begin to circle the pond. On the belly of each duck is one of four shapes. Each player is shape and tries to be the first to get all three of their shape. The board even quacks as they spin around. The game works on memory and matching skills, as well as shape identification.
Manufacturer’s Age Recommendations: 3+
Number of Players: 2-4
5. Candy Land
This was one of the games I was most excited to introduce to my son. It was definitely a childhood favorite and one that brings back so many memories. Candy Land works on color matching and one on one correspondence. The player to reach the Candy King and the palace first, wins! You just have to watch out for those pesky licorice spaces. Not to mention, hope that you get the character cards in a way that advances you and doesn’t force you to go back! At age three, he sometimes has a hard time with the turn taking and only taking the space one or two at a time, but it’s getting better the more we play!
Manufacturer’s Age Recommendations: 3+
Number of Players: 2-4
There are so many more games out there that are just as great and I know that we can’t to gain some more family favorites! These happen to be our tried and true games!
Do you have a family game night? What games are your family favorites?
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