10 Best Games for Younger Children

With so many games to choose from, deciding on which game is the best game to buy for or play with a younger child may be a challenge.

Spending time playing games is one of the best activities a family can do together. Choosing the right game to play with younger children is an important consideration to make. If the game is too difficult for a child to understand, the child may not have an enjoyable experience and then be less enthusiastic to play any game again. Taking into account each child’s interests and skill, while picking out a game, will help the special time be the best time for all.

Zingo! is an awesome game for younger children. Being fast, simple, and fun, Zingo provides lots of excitement and laughs. The box cover describes it as Bingo with a Zing! and that is definitely correct. Each gridded 3X3 Zingo card depicts 9 different images. A Zingo Zinger will release two pictured tiles which can be quickly grabbed by the players with the matching picture on their cards. The winner of the game is the first player to fill the entire Zingo card with the matching tiles.

The game comes with two different levels of play. As children grow with the game the red bordered side of the Zingo cards can then be used. The pictures on the cards are shared more so the competition of recognizing the match and grabbing it first is greater. Zingo! is perfect for beginner gamers. (Recommended for ages 4 and up and 2 to 8 players)

Blokus is a unique shape placing game which is nice for younger children just starting to learn how to strategize. The game can be played by merely placing the colored pieces corner to corner on the board. But strategy can be used not only in the placing but also in the blocking of other players. The object of the game is to place as many pieces as possible on the board. Blokus allows a child to grow and learn while having lots of fun. (Recommended for ages 5 and up and 2-8 players)

Rat-a-Tat Cat card game is recommended for ages 6 and up. Each card is numbered 0 through 9. The object of the game is for a player to try and have four cards with the lowest amount. Through the drawing and discarding of cards this is accomplished. The strategy is to keep the Cats, and get rid of the Rats! Once a player feels he has the lowest amount, he taps the table and says, Rat-a-Tat Cat. If he is correct, he wins.

Forbidden Island, Snorta! and Hey, That’s My Fish are all recommended for ages 8 and up. However, younger children can certainly play these games and play them well if they are accustomed to games. Forbidden Island is a cooperative game. Players all work together to gather four sacred items and escape the island before it sinks into the abyss. The adventure filled and award winning game allows older players to help younger players. It is great for a variety of ages.

Snorta! is a matching card game with game pieces involving barns and 12 different animals. Players race to make animal sounds, before other players, based on matches. It is perfect for younger children. They love to make quacks, moos, and oinks! If parents play with younger children aged 5,6 or 7, they can choose to play a bit slower (if needed) to accommodate the recognition and memory skill level of the child.

Hey, That’s My Fish is hex-shaped tile board with each tile displaying 1, 2 or 3 fish. The object of the game is to collect as many fish as possible while moving a player’s penguin. As the penguin players gather fish, the tiles are removed creating gaps in the board and stopping penguin movements. Hey, everyone loves penguins! The game is a quick (usually 20 minutes or so) and adorable game. Younger children will love it!

Dixit was recently published in 2008 and continues to win awards for being a unique and fun party game. Recommended for ages 8 and up players create sentences. Taking turns being the ‘storyteller’, players will make up a sentence based on an image from on one of the cards in their hands. The other players will then secretly give the storyteller a card from their hand in which they feel best matches the sentence the storyteller shared to all. Points are scored based on players choosing the correct storyteller’s card from the others.

Candyland, Life, or Sorry! are all great games for younger children too and ones most adults grew up with. If a family with younger children has played these games though and would like to add some new games to their game room, the above suggestions are ideal. Children love playing games and finding an age appropriate game will have them playing and enjoying games over and over again.