How do we help kids learn, love to learn, build connections, work as a team, and practice critical thinking? Play! Play! Play! Play fosters a love of learning. (Do you know this already? Looking for games my homeschoolers love? Just keep scrolling!)

Full disclosure, before I had kids, I wasn’t someone who played or enjoyed playing games. I turned down invitations when friends asked if I wanted to come over for a game night. Then my kids came along, and I wanted to find things we could do as a family that didn’t involve screens.

We started to collect games. Memory, UnoMoo, Candyland, but it wasn’t until I found Wildcraft that I remember playing a game with my children and thinking, this is fun (truly fun, not pretend fun). It was also when I realized how much a game could help my kids learn.

Over the years, we’ve played a lot of games, and I’ve come to find GAMES are some of the BEST learning resources out there. Games offer opportunities to practice reading, writing, math, following directions, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, strategy, logic, communication skills . . . I could keep going. Games also help us build the important connections we need.

Play is important, and our children need to spend time, as Fred Rogers says, “Doing the work of childhood.”  We actually all need play in our lives. Play is important for adults too.

New to homeschooling or looking for a different way to approach learning?

Two words- Play Games.

Need a break from your routine? Feeling grumpy or overwhelmed? Recovering from a sickness or too many activities?

Two words- Play Games.

Games are some of the best teachers.

Still not sure? Here are four reasons we make sure games are a part of our lives. The games my homeschoolers love are also below.

How Games Foster a Love of Learning

1. Games = A Fun Way to Practice & Learn

When my daughter plays Snap it Up, Apples to Apples, or Bananagrams, she practices reading and spelling.

When she was little, Battleship strengthened her awareness of numbers and letters. She wanted to play with her brother and learned what she needed to do so.

My kids don’t think about the fact that they are practicing math facts when they keep score or that they are learning how to work as a team when they play cooperative games like Outfoxed or Wildcraft. They just know they are having fun.

2. Games = A Gentle Way to Take on Challenges

Motivated by fun, kids are also more likely to dive into a challenge when they are playing.

I once worked with a high school math teacher who used games to teach. His students loved his class even though many of them struggled with math. While colleagues questioned his methods, he knew, and the students’ understanding proved that games provided as much practice as worksheets or drills, and the students were more than willing to participate.

3. Games Answer the Question- Why do I need to know _______?

Ever have a kid tell you they think something is boring or feels pointless? Games offer a reason to know.

When we tap into our children’s and students’ internal motivation, which looks for FUN and PURPOSE, we help them learn and reinforce the skills that can often feel the opposite.

When your kids ask why they needed to know ______?

Now you can answer, so we can play and have a good time.

4. Games Build Connections

One of the most important pieces to learning and life- the connections we build matter. Connections to self, others, the world around us, and to what we’re learning are the building blocks that help us all find motivation, confidence, and self-worth.

Children who feel safe and able to take on the challenges learning can offer believe they can.

Games My Homeschoolers Love

While my children don’t think about our games in terms of subjects or lessons (and if you want your children to enjoy playing with you, neither should yours), it can be nice to have a wide variety to choose from. Many teach across multiple subject areas, as all good lessons do.

Tip- Secondhand stories like Goodwill and Once Upon a Child often have brand-new games for sale. I’ve found many of ours for a fraction of the price. Target also does a buy two get one free sale on games. This is a great time to stock up.

Below are the games my kids pull out again and again.

Reading/Spelling:

• Mad Libs game
• Last Word
• Hoopla
• Banana Grams
• My First Banana Grams
• Scrabble Slam
• Snap It Up- Reading and Phonics
• Story Cubes
• Telestrations
• Apples to Apples Jr
• Scattergories
• Poetry for Neanderthals

Math/Logic/Problem Solving:

• Snap It Up
• Chess- Harry Potter
• Uno Moo (for littles)
• Math Dice
• Mille Bornes
• Sushi Go
• Risk
• Battleship
• Outfoxed- Cooperative

Science

• Totally Gross Chemistry
• Goldie Blocks
• Wildcraft– Cooperative
• Camp

History/Geography-

• The Scrambled States of America
• Where in the World is Carman Sandiego
• Ticket to Ride– There are many different versions of this game.

Other Favorites-

• Throw Throw Burrito 
• Clue- Harry Potter
• Beat the Parents
• Exploding Kittens
• Left Right Center
• Cards Against Humanity- Family Addition (lots of farts and poop in this one)

Another HUGE hit- Make Your Own Board Game– My children love making up their own versions or creating new games. Gifted to my son a few years ago, this Make Your Own Game Kit (and now game) is loved.

We love Family Game Night at our house, but we spend mornings and afternoons playing together too.

Games, especially as my children age, have become one of our family’s favorite ways we spend time together.