It’s Game Time

It's a mystery as to why games are not automatically included in learning routines. Playing games can provide so much! Kids learn while playing; the monotony of worksheets and workbooks are broken up; they help to lighten the mood around the home; they offer something all family members can participate in, together; they can make everyone laugh, smile and joke and can even provide healthy competition. There are so many games available and can be found by subject if an extra boost in a particular subject is needed for your child. Playing games can be as important as all the core subjects and although kids might not realize they are actually learning, they are!

I've provided a list of some of our family's favorites.

MATH
Smath age 6+
Head Full of Numbers age 7+
Money Bags age 7+
Math Noodlers grade 4-5
Sequence Numbers age 7+
Skip Bo age 7+
Uno age 7+
Clumsy Thief age 8+
Pay Day age 8+
Monopoly age 8+ (also falls into the life/critical thinking realm)
Prime Club age 10+
LANGUAGE ARTS
Sequence Letters ages 4-7
Build a Sentence age 6+
I Have Who Has? grades 5-6
Scrabble age 8+
Boggle age 8+
AmuzeAmaze age 8+
WordSmithery age 8+
Scattergories age 12+
CRITICAL THINKING
Jenga age 6+
Connect Four age 6+
Blokus age 7+
Battleship age 7+
Labrinth age 7+
Ticket to Ride age 8+ (many versions available including France, Japan and USA themes)
Stratego age 8+
In a Pickle age 10+
Risk age 10+

Of course, there are the all-around classics such as chess, checkers, card games, Sorry, Trouble, Clue, Candy Land, Backgammon and Cribbage.

Let's not forget puzzles! Puzzles are another fun activity which can help bolster cognitive, spatial and critical thinking skills. The end result, a completed puzzle, is so rewarding! We have used Mod Podge and puzzle glue to adhere our finished puzzle together to showcase our “masterpiece”!

“Gameschooling is the intersection of play and homeschooling. With gameschooling, you can allow space for play and make it count for those year-end homeschool assessments.” ~ Simple Homeschool - Gameschool Day

Speaking of year-end assessments, check out Testing isn’t Just for June!

 

By Lauren Lawless