As the sun shines brightly and summer vacation officially kicks off, many parents anticipate a few sleepless nights ahead. The initial excitement of being home 24/7 will eventually give way to boredom. To ensure your tiny bundles of energy remain engaged and entertained, we’ve compiled a list of fantastic board games suitable for 5-6 year olds.
Perfection
Perfection is an electrifying experience that has your little ones hooked from the very start! This fast-paced puzzle game is timed, requiring lightning-quick reflexes to fit those pieces into place before time runs out. As a bonus, this engaging activity can also help develop fine motor skills in younger kids. When the timer expires, get ready for the thrill factor to kick in – literally!
The game’s clever design means that all puzzle pieces are ejected, leaving your mini-me’s eager to start again and relive the excitement.
Ticket to Ride
Beyond the simplicity of classic games like snakes and ladders, modern board games have evolved significantly. If you’re seeking an engaging and thrilling experience for your little ones, consider introducing them to Ticket to Ride. This standalone game offers a unique adventure that doesn’t require knowledge of its predecessors to enjoy. The objective is straightforward: collect six coveted tickets to emerge victorious.
With its accessible gameplay and exciting premise, it’s the perfect starting point for a train journey across America, where strategy and excitement collide.
Pretty Princesses
For young girls who love all things Disney, Pretty Princesses is an enchanting gift idea that’s sure to delight. This charming game is all about collecting colorful jewelry pieces, with the goal of being the first player to collect all the pieces in their designated Disney princess color. Whether you’re playing as Aurora, Belle, Tiana, or Jasmine, the excitement is palpable.
Just be mindful of the cursed ring – wearing it will guarantee a loss, making strategy and quick thinking essential to emerging victorious.
Zingo
Developed to challenge and nurture your child’s cognitive skills, Zingo is an engaging brain game that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. With its intuitive gameplay and ability to accommodate up to seven players, it’s the perfect way to encourage social learning and teamwork while having a blast. Whether you’re playing with friends or family members, Zingo offers a fun and interactive way to help your child become a master of words and develop their critical thinking skills.
Candy Land
Get set for a whimsical adventure as you embark on a nostalgic journey through the beloved CandyLand board game! Join the enchanted quest by selecting your colorful pawns, then guide them across the sugary realm towards the majestic castle, where victory awaits.
This timeless classic is brought to life with charming illustrations and adorable tokens.
Allow your child’s creativity to soar as you play this delightful game alongside the whole family, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Hedbanz
For young gamers, HedBanz Junior Family Board Game stands out as an absolute blast. It’s a fantastic choice for family game nights, where everyone can join in on the fun. One of its biggest advantages is that it’s suitable for kids as young as five years old to play and enjoy. Unlike traditional board games, this one doesn’t rely on a physical board – instead, players wear the provided band with cards and ask YES or NO questions to try to guess which animal is featured on their opponent’s card.
Yeti in My Spaghetti
Get ready to giggle and create unforgettable summer memories with your kids! Yeti in my Spaghetti is an addictive and entertaining game that’s sure to become a family favorite. The gameplay is reminiscent of Jenga, where players carefully balance the lovable Yeti on top of noodles that come with the game. The goal is to move the noodles one by one without letting the Yeti tumble, making it an excellent activity for younger kids to enjoy and develop their fine motor skills.
Game of Life
The Game of Life is an engaging and accessible board game suitable for kids that offers endless entertainment. Players navigate their 3D pawns, shaped like cars, across the board, with the outcome determined by the roll of dice. The game features various destinations such as the museum, zoo, or beach, each presenting a new opportunity to collect stars through simple actions outlined on action cards.
As soon as one player reaches 10 stars, they emerge victorious, making it an excellent choice for family game nights, regardless of skill level. Moreover, its simplicity and versatility also make it an ideal option for teenage gatherings, providing hours of fun and social interaction.
Enchanted Forest
Imagine a world where board games are more than just rolling dice and moving pawns – they’re immersive experiences that spark imagination and creativity. One such example is the Enchanted Forest game, which transports players on a thrilling treasure hunt through a whimsical land of fairy tales. In this magical realm, kids can unleash their inner adventurer, using problem-solving skills to remember where hidden treasures are buried and racing against time to be the first to uncover them.
This enchanting board game is sure to become a treasured favorite among children of all ages.
The Floor is Lava
Imagine a board game that not only entertains but also gets you moving! The Floor is Lava is an innovative game that combines physical activity with strategic thinking, making it a perfect addition to any family game night. As players jump from one safe spot to another, they’ll need to avoid the fiery lava and work together to achieve victory, all while having a blast with their loved ones.
Mermaid Island
While traditional family night board games once served solely as a source of entertainment, modern games like Mermaid Island have evolved to offer a wealth of educational benefits for children. By incorporating strategy and social skills, these games provide kids with valuable tools for future success. Moreover, they are engaging enough to captivate the attention of both younger and older family members for extended periods.
Mermaid Island is particularly noteworthy in this regard, as it is designed to be easy to understand and play for even young children. Furthermore, its impressive credentials include a win at Good Housekeeping’s Best Toy Award, further testament to its quality and appeal.
Charades for Kids
Charades is a timeless classic that transcends geographical boundaries and age groups. Its unique charm lies in its ability to be played anywhere, by anyone, at any time. Whether you’re stuck in traffic or waiting in line, charades can help kill time with ease.
The best part? It’s a game that brings the whole family together, regardless of age. With Charades for Kids, even the youngest players can join in on the fun, thanks to the simple pictures and easy-to-understand clues.
The three levels on each card ensure that both younger and older kids can play together, making it an inclusive and enjoyable experience.
In short, charades is a game that’s hard to resist – addictive, amusing, and accessible to all. So why not give it a try?
Sequence
The Sequence game is a favorite among my little ones, and they get quite frustrated when asked not to touch it. That’s why I’m thrilled to recommend this particular board set. Not only will it keep them engaged for hours on end while you’re playing with friends, but the animal-themed design and cards make it incredibly easy for kids to grasp and enjoy.
Monopoly Junior
I’m a huge fan of Monopoly, and it’s a staple at my game nights. But, I’ve found that the original rules can be tough for kids to grasp. That’s why I love introducing them to Monopoly Junior! This cooperative board game is perfect for players of all ages, as it helps develop essential math skills in a fun, engaging way. As you navigate the board with your 3D tokens – think Scottie, Hazel, and even Mr.
Monopoly’s iconic top hat – you’ll get to build exciting places like the zoo, theater, and gaming arcade. It’s an experience that’s both entertaining and educational, making it a great way to spend quality time with family and friends.
Wild Kratts
While Wild Kratts is suitable for children aged five and upwards, parents should be aware that it can get quite intense! The excitement often stems from the competitive nature of the game, which may involve loud noises as the kids strive to collect the essential Creature Power Suit cards needed to emerge victorious. So, if you’re expecting a peaceful atmosphere, you might want to look elsewhere.
Mousetrap
In the iconic board game Mousetrap, the ultimate goal is to successfully guide your mouse across the finish line while simultaneously thwarting your opponent’s attempts to do the same. This dual objective requires a strategic balance between propelling your own mouse forward and cleverly hindering the progress of your competitor’s.
Outfoxed
Unleash your child’s inner sleuth by challenging them to solve a thrilling deduction game. Outfoxed is the perfect tool to develop their strategic and quick-thinking skills, as they work together to uncover clues and eliminate suspects until the culprit is caught. This engaging game is an absolute must-have for parents seeking to nurture curiosity and inquisitiveness in their 5-year-old.
Robot Turtles
Robot Turtles is an innovative brain-teasing game specifically crafted for future coders, aimed at fostering critical thinking skills from a young age. By introducing programming concepts in a playful and engaging manner, this game empowers children aged four and above to develop logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
With Robot Turtles, parents can guide their kids through the process of creating and building programming rules using cards, celebrating each step of progress along the way.
Risk Junior
The Pirate-themed Risk Junior game offers hours of engaging play for kids, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills through strategic gameplay. The 3D ship tokens add an element of excitement, allowing children to compete for treasure while moving around the board. Even more, kids get to experience the thrill of rolling dice in a unique press-and-launch mechanism, making the game both entertaining and challenging.
Clue Junior
For families seeking an engaging way to bond over a shared puzzle, clue games are an excellent choice. This particular game takes on a fun theme of solving a toy mystery, where players must collaborate to identify which toy is broken, who broke it, and when. Designed for multiple players, this activity brings the whole family together for an enjoyable game night experience.
Stone Soup
Innovative and engaging, Stone Soup is a memory-matching game that will captivate your 5-year-old’s imagination. To get started, set up the game and play alongside them to help them grasp the concept. As they become more confident, you’ll soon find yourself playing together with their friends. The rules are simple: teach the kids about the ‘fire out’ cards, which extinguish the flames, and the magic stone, which removes the fire out card.
By matching the cards and creating a delicious soup, children will learn to win at this fun game.
Don’t Break The Ice
With minimal setup required, Don’t Break The Ice becomes a self-sufficient experience for kids. As they engage with the game, they’ll become completely absorbed, effectively rendering your presence unnecessary. The objective is straightforward: maintain the structural integrity of the ice block and keep the penguin perched on top from taking an unexpected tumble. Any lapse in focus results in defeat, making it a thrilling challenge for young players.
Chutes and Ladders
Transform the classic board game Chutes and Ladders into an electrifying experience with a Marvel twist! Imagine racing to the 100th square with your favorite superheroes, such as Spiderman, White Tiger, Power Man, Black Cat, Green Goblin, and Rhino. Take on the role of your preferred superhero and compete against friends in this thrilling competition.
What makes Chutes and Ladders an excellent addition to your family game nights is its universal appeal – it’s a timeless classic that everyone knows how to play. This versatility makes it perfect for all ages and skill levels, ensuring hours of fun and laughter with loved ones.
Scrabble Junior
Unlike its adult counterpart, Scrabble Junior is a more playful and engaging experience. The game features letter-matching crosswords and 3D tokens that come to life for 2-4 players. As your child’s skills grow, you can seamlessly transition them to the advanced level by simply switching sides. This adaptability makes Scrabble Junior an excellent choice for parents seeking a board game that evolves with their child’s development.
Bug’s in the kitchen
In the fast-paced world of kitchen bugs, children’s thinking skills are put to the ultimate test under time pressure. To outsmart these pesky insects, kids must strategically roll the die and create a path leading to their capture. And the best part? The bug itself is so endearing that kids will want to play with it even outside of the game!
With high-quality components guaranteeing over 100 games’ worth of entertainment, parents can rest assured that this game is a bug-tastic way to spend quality time together.
Blokus
Blokus is a challenging yet accessible game that demands strategic thinking and quick reflexes. Its simple rules make it an ideal choice for family game nights, allowing everyone to participate and enjoy the fun. The objective is to strategically place blocks of your designated color to establish dominance on the board, with the ultimate goal being to secure as many territories as possible through a thoughtful placement of colors.
Rhino Hero
Rhino Hero offers kids the thrill of building towering skyscrapers that are eerily close to toppling over. They can also engage in superhero battles with friends, racing to reach new heights together. But beware – a roll of the die might just send your progress plummeting back down, adding an element of strategic thinking to the game. This clever design keeps young minds engaged for hours, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the process.
What’s more, board games like Rhino Hero play a significant role in shaping kids’ cognitive abilities. By selecting a game that aligns with your child’s interests, themes, likes, and dislikes, you can ensure an unforgettable experience that leaves them eager for more. Whether it’s the rush of competition or the joy of creative building, a well-chosen board game can bring families together and create lasting memories.
