When a child reaches five years old, they start to develop the ability to plan their actions. They can think of the consequences of basic actions. Also, there is an increase in the skill of cooperation.
Kids at this age enjoy feeling a sense of accomplishment. You will also find that they are wanting to help you.
With board games, these skills can be enhanced. Allow your child to choose which one to play and then let them set up the game.
Here we offer a variety of board games that are both fun to play and encourage the social, mental and physical development of your child.
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Our Top Picks
Rhino Hero
Combine a rhinoceros with a superhero and you have…Rhino Hero. He has a passion for climbing buildings that allow him to look out for the bad guys.
The building part is where the challenge lies. Can you build a card tower that is strong enough to support Rhino Hero? If your kid loves creating houses out of playing cards, then this game is worth having.
It has won a number of awards including the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) award. A game that teaches cooperation and planning skills.
Number of players: 2 – 5
Age: 5+
Playtime: Varies depending on how strong the tower is
Dragomino
Dragomino is a good game to get for kids who are into dragons. It requires strategic thinking as you need to match tiles together to gather eggs. The eggs could be empty or have a dragon inside.
You need to build your kingdom and have the most baby dragons at the end of the game. A simple game that is quick to learn.
Number of players: 2 – 4
Age: 5+
Playtime: 15 minutes
GoTrovo Treasure Hunt
A good way to get kids outdoors. A treasure is hidden somewhere and the players need to follow the clues to discover where it is.
There are 100 clue cards that can be used to track down the hidden goodies. You can make it more fun by having the treasure be candy, a small toy, or a voucher. Let your imagination run wild.
With hunting, no two games are the same. GoTrovo Treasure Hunt develops deductive skills, reading, and cooperation between team members.
Number of players: 1+ (that is you can have a child play it by themselves or as groups)
Age: 5+
Playtime: At least 15 minutes
Outfoxed
This is a whodunit game that aids in developing thinking, strategy, and deduction as the kids figure out the guilty party.
The players move around the board and get clues to help them narrow down the culprit. It’s a race against time because the fox is making for the exit. The players need to get the right suspect before the fox escapes.
Number of players: 2 – 4
Age: 5+
Playtime: 20 – 30 minutes
Monza
Monza is a game that is quick to play, so your kids won’t get bored before it’s finished.
It allows for the development of color recognition and forward-thinking as the players need to make the right combinations of colors on the dice. By doing so, your car can speed along the race track and win. Look out for obstacles along the way.
Seems simple enough but there are tactics needed to win.
Number of players: 2 – 6
Age: 5+
Playtime: 10 – 15 minutes
Enchanted Forest
Do you and your kids love fairy tales? Then this game is a must-have.
As you make your way along the forest, you need to remember what lies under the trees you lift up. It could be magic beans, a glass slipper, or an object from another fairy tale. Once you reach the castle you have to correctly identify the tree that contains the treasure. Get it wrong and you will be sent packing.
Number of players: 2 – 6
Age: 5+ (but the instructions have been changed to allow kids aged 4 to play)
Playtime: 30 minutes
There is also a Disney Princess version available.
The Floor Is Lava
Get the kids up and moving with this game.
It can be played either indoors or outside. Players have to jump from one spot to another according to the spinner. The soft stones are slip-proof and made of foam to keep everyone safe. The movements allow for the development of balance, strength and endurance as the kids leap and jump from stone to stone.
Be careful you don’t fall off the stones and step onto the floor!
Number of players: 2 – 6
Age: 5+
Playtime: 10 – 45 minutes
Magic Maze Kids
This is a game that is purely about cooperation. The king has been turned into a frog and everyone works together to gather up the ingredients to break the spell.
Each player gets a direction card and they only move the pieces in that direction. That is where the collaboration aspect of the game comes in. Everybody works to get the heroes through the game boards.
There are three mission cards that are chosen from a deck before the game starts. These are placed on top of the king card.
A game in which kids learn communication skills and teamwork.
Number of players: 2- 4
Age: 5+
Playtime: 15 minutes
Bugs in the Kitchen
In this game, you need to guide the HEXBUG nano into the trap. It seems easy enough, but success depends on the role of the dice. Which utensil will you be allowed to turn: knife, fork, or spoon?
Once you successfully trap the bug you earn a token. The winner is the person who gets five tokens first.
It teaches children how to plan ahead so that they will be the one who catches the HEXBUG.
Number of players: 2 – 4
Age: 5+
Playtime: 15 minutes
Kerplunk
Kerplunk requires both strategy and careful planning. Each player inserts sticks into the middle of the play tube. Then the marbles are placed on top.
Players take turns removing the sticks without causing the marbles to fall through to the bottom of the tube. Who is the winner? The person with the least number of marbles at the end of the game.
You can play either slow or fast. It all depends on if you want more excitement (a faster game) or greater strategy (a slower game).
Number of players: 2 – 4
Age: 5+
Playtime: Depends on how fast the sticks are pulled out.
Have Fun Playing With Your Kids
The board games listed above are just a handful of the many available. Some of them, such as Kerplunk and Hungry, Hungry Hippo are classics. Perhaps you have fond recollections of playing these with your family when you were a kid.
Make it a habit to set aside some time each week to disconnect from technology and play these games. You are helping your child develop while instilling in them the value of family time.
Kids grow up so fast, but the memories of playing games with Mom and Dad last a lifetime.