Gameschooling the Holidays with these 25 Family Games
With the 2020 winter being season such as it is (UGH), many of us are spending the holidays at home or with our bubble. That leaves lots of time to play. Some of my best memories are of playing our new games with my extended family.
The purpose of this post is to bring you some of the best, commonly found, and inexpensive board games I can think of for your family to play this season. And, as this post is titled Gameschooling the Holidays, I added some information on how to expand the games educationally.
Please be considerate of your friends & family by isolating before & after your gathering. I wish you and your bubble a very happy holiday season.
Games to Play with Preschoolers
Shopping List
Read my review
From: Orchard Toys
Type: competitive
Age: 3+ (my 7 year old still enjoys)
Players: 2-4
Time: 15-20 minutes
Subjects: Memory, matching
No reading or counting required
Expand: As children learn math skills you could easily turn it into a simple math game by assigning a dollar value to each item.
Happy Bunny
Read my Review
From: Blue Orange Games
Type: cooperative (can be converted to competitive easily)
Age: 3+ (another fave of my 7 year old)
Players: 2-4
Time: 15-20 minutes
Subject: counting, colors, size comparison
No reading required
Pete the Cat: The Missing Cupcakes
Read the matching book
From: Briarpatch
Type: cooperative
Age: 3+
Players: 2-4
Time: 10-15 minutes
Subject: math, strategy
No reading required
Lucky Ducks
From: Pressman
Type: competitive
Age: 3+
Players: 2-4
Time: 5 minutes
Subject: colors, shapes, taking turns
No reading required
Spot It: Animals Jr
From: Asmodee
Type: competitive
Age: 4+
Players: 2-5
Time: 10 minutes
Subject: Observation, visual acuity
Gameschooling the Holidays with Young Children
Suspend
From: Melissa & Doug
Type: competitive
Age: 8+
Players: 4
Time: 5-10 minutes
Subjects: STEM, motor function, logic
Expand: Try to create a sculpture using all of the rods
Earth Science Bingo
Read my review
From: eeBoo
Type: competitive
Age: 5+
Players: 2-6
Time: 15-20 minutes
Subjects: Science
One player must be a strong reader
Expand: Have your child research a fact they learned from the bingo cards
Explore the 50 States
My review of World version
From: Outset Media
Type: competitive
Age: 7+
Players: 2-6
Time: 30 minutes
Subjects: geography, physical movement
Reading skills required
Expand: Watch How the States Got Their Shape ( Watch free episodes
Engineering Ants
Read my review
From: Peaceable Kingdom
Type: cooperative
Age: 5+
Players: 2-4
Time: 15 minutes
Subjects: STEM, cooperation, negotiation
No reading skills required
Expand: Create a machine to solve a problem in your household
Fossil Frenzy – FREE printable
From: Gameschool Academy
Type: competitive
Age: 6+
Players: 2
Time: 5 minutes
Subjects: Strategy
No reading skills required, aside from directions
Expand: Ask questions such as “what is paleontology”
5 Games to Play With Kids 10+
Shut the Box Competitive
Shut the Box Solo (This is the one I have and play every morning before work)
Free printable version for members (free!)
Age: 8+
Players: 1-4
Time: 5-20 minutes
Subjects: Math, logic, strategy
No reading required, basic math required
Expand: Have your child make a printable version with more numbers so they can multiple and divide
Sushi Go
Party version
From: Gamewright
Age: 8+
Players: 2-5
Time: 5-15 minutes
Subjects: memory, strategy, math
Trash Pandas
From: Gamewright
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Time: 20 minutes
Subjects: strategy
Zoinx!
From: Gamewright
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Time: 10-15 minutes
Subjects: prediction, probability, motor function
Goat Slingers
From:
Age:
Players:
Time:
Subjects:
5 Games for Folks Over 14
Betrayal at House on the Hill
From: Avalon Hill
Age: 12+
Players: 3-6
Time: 60 minutes
Subjects: reading comprehension, strategy
Expand: Write a backstory to match your challenge
Unstable Unicorns
From: Unstable Unicorns & TeeTurtle
Age: 14+
Players: 2-8
Time: 30-60 minutes
Subjects: strategy
Expand: Create a unique character card you can put into play
Codenames
From: Czech Games
Age: 14+
Players: 2-8
Time: 15 minutes
Subjects: language arts, deduction
Expand: Try to play the game without using any words
Chronicles of Crime
From: Lucky Duck Games
Age: 14+
Players: 1-4
Time: 60-90 minutes
Subjects: forensics, observation
Expand: Create your own independent print & play crime scenarios
Wingspan
From: Stonemaier
Age: 14+
Players: 1-5
Time: 40-70 minutes
Subjects: ornithology, science
Younger players may enjoy Birds of Prey, a printable game for ages 7+
5 Games to Play With a Grandma Filter
Spoons
From: Playmonster
Age: 7+
Players: 3-6
Time: 5 minutes
Subjects: motor function
My gramma taught me how to play, such a warm memory. Gramma also had vision issues, she would have loved this!
From: Pressman
Age: 8+
Players: 2-4
Time: 10 minutes
Subjects: math, logic, strategy
Ticket to Ride
Read my review
From: Days of Wonder
Age: 8+
Players: 2-6
Time: 60mins
Subjects: spatial reasoning, strategy, light geography
SET
From: Play Monster
Age: 6+
Players: 1+
Time: 20 mins
Subjects: spatial reasoning, logic, math
Black Market
From: Gatwick Games
Age: 10+
Players: 3-6
Time: 25 mins
Subjects: logic, spotting deception, math
