10 Fascinating Family Games To Play With Curious and Creative Kids
Spoiler Alert: There’s nothing kids love more than family games to play! Science shows that play is how children learn – games teach kids so much!! What if your kids could stretch the limits of their creativity and imagination while playing the game? The good news is that they can 🙂 This is the perfect list of simple and super fun games that curious and creative kids will adore! These fun board games are perfect for any age group from little ones to older children to grandparents! These are the games that have been proven winners for both of my boys and all their friends!
Some of our very favorite games are terrific for nurturing and engaging my boys’ creativity. I love that whole “two birds with one stone” thing. (Maybe it’s three? Fun, game, creativity??) Since so many of these games have become big hits at our house, I’m sharing our favorites here. There are also a couple that we haven’t tried – but that I’ve added to our official wish list!
Oh! And I’ve only included games that the adults find fun and engaging as well!
Creativity For The Win As An Important Life Skill
I read this super juicy tidbit recently and wanted to share it with you here:
In 2019, LinkedIn cited creativity as one of the most important skills for career success. And it’s no wonder. Creativity is the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly disparate things, and to generate innovative solutions. When you’re creative, you’re able to turn new and imaginative ideas into reality. From Branson and Ferris to Spielberg and Jobs, business leaders say creativity in the workplace is essential.
The Number One Soft Skill Employers Seek
Let’s review: Whatever the workplaces of the future will look like, creativity in the workplace will be essential. Think about it. As AI becomes more and more prevalent… What is one of the most significant things that AI can’t do?
Artificial Intelligence is neither impulsive nor spontaneous. But human creativity is both. AI cannot deviate from its coding, making its actions predictable. Sort of the “anti- human creativity.”
So why not focus on intentionally teaching children creativity with fun family games? So many board games reward imagination and creativity! As an added bonus, when we play games with our kids at home, we connect with them. They feel safer failing and gives them space to try new things.
Our Two Favorite Family Games {…of all time!}
If your house is like mine, “favorites” of everything seem to come and go. Today it’s pasta. Tomorrow pasta is “slimey” and “inedible.” Today it’s, “I only wear Nike.” Tomorrow, who knows?
But these are two really special games that have withstood multiple years of play here with family and friends or on vacation with bigger groups of people.
On with the complete list. Many of these games defy the age groupings that I have arranged them under – with a bit of help, younger kids could totally join in on the older games.
Games To Play With Kids Under 8
Games To Play With Older Kids {Age 8 and Up}
Later today, you might not remember where you read this...
But, I can send you a link to come back later 🤯
Fabulous Games With The Tween & Teen Set
Board Game Ideas
Games that encourage us to come out of the shells created by screens and busy-ness are at the top of my list – family game night can be the perfect remedy for that! Here are some of my my most popular posts about board games!
You Know It’s Good Idea When…
We recently were on the drive home from a week long vacation. Since we had a couple of rainy days, we were thankful we’d brought a couple of our favorite family games to play with everyone. My guys are pretty creative and super curious, so they both love the fun games on this list in particular.
“What was your favorite thing about our vacation?”
Soul-crushing traffic covered I-75N like a parade of ants going to a picnic gala thrown by Martha Stewart. We were on the way home from vacation, and I tried to divert all the eyes from all the screens before they crossed and wouldn’t uncross ever again.
I’m a fan of games that encourage kids to be creative, innovative, and to see things in different ways. As many of you know, I’m also a fan of making the most of family time.
This is why we love to play these games so much. We have a cabinet full and we enjoy game nights at home and we always bring 3-5 with us when we go on vacation. We never bring toys and we limit electronics – but these games always come with us. These simple games that encourage us to use our minds; to race for the win; or to work together collectively…they help strengthen our bond together as a family. They create joyful memories for all of us. They bring us together in a way that gets harder and harder to find as kids hit the tween and teen years.
I hope your family enjoys these games for boys (I’m sure they’re equally fabulous for girls as well; I just have only boys) as much as we do!
I’d love to hear from you about your favorites on the list or the ones that you’ll be adding to a wish list! Oh! Don’t forget to Pin this post so you can come back to it whenever you need a little inspiration!
P.S. grab these simple ways to connect with one another
Playing games together is one activity that helps us connect as a family. It’s also a great choice for one on one time with one of your children. If you want a list of some super quick and easy ways to connect with each other every day, you are in the right place! I made this cheat sheet just for you – click below to get your own copy delivered directly to your inbox!
Ways to Be Present Every Day With Your Kids
Grab the Cheat Sheet!
Does spending one on one time with each of your kids feel overwhelming?
Let me help make it feel easy and simple with tons of easily actionable – do it now – ideas for quality time.
Don’t Forget to Pin This For Later:
