I have two boys who will be 3 and 5 this summer. When they play together they like to play Duck Duck Goose, Red Light Green Light, Hide and Seek, Warm and Cold, as well as board games like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cheerio, and Angry Birds. They also do other pretend plays with the little people, cars, trucks, trains, etc.
I need more ideas to expand their play. What other games can I teach them? Also what other board games do your kids like that I can buy?
Thank you all in advance. =)
S.
My kids are usually outside all summer but as far as winter time when indoors...UNO, Dominoes, Perfection, puzzles, Jenga, Twister, Headbandz
We have a few matching games, and we like to do puzzles. My daughter has an impressive collection of puzzles, people have been buying them for her since she was about 3. I know whenever I go into the dollar tree I usually come out with 1 or 2 for her.
We also make up games. Silly stuff like someone will randomly call out "tickle time!" and we chase each other around tickling. Mostly when I initiate it it's because she's been in an inexplicable bad mood and it always cheers her up.
In the summer I would just have them outside in the yard, running through the sprinkler, or playing at the playground, wading pool, sanbox or beach. Provide them with soccer balls, beach balls, shovels, buckets, trucks, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes and water guns. My guys also had little bug collecting kits.
For indoors they liked the Wii, Monopoly Jr, Candyland, Snaked and Ladders, Pop-Up Pirate, Operation and Don't Break the Ice. For sports at that age they liked soccer and dodge ball.
My son loves board games. He is five, but started playing many of these younger.
Sequence for Kids
Sorry (this one might be too hard at three, but you could definitely play with the five year old)
Cootie
Trouble
Memory
Go Fish
My son 5yrs likes Yahtzee jr, monopoly jr the one with the cash machine, and operation. Some other games we play when we are out is I spy and the thinking game. We do the thinking game in the car a lot. One person thinks of a thing or animal and gives clues for the other person to guess.
puzzles & Legos get my vote!
Games: you have a nice selection. What about a Memory Game? Or use a basic deck of cards to teach counting/matching/sorting? I learned these skills by playing cards with my great gpa!
I like I Spy, when waiting somewhere. UNO was a staple.
Simon Says is great for getting them to listen.
I got one out of Family Fun and you might find others in their mag or on their site.
In this one you have one die. I kept mine in my purse so I could break it out anywhere. One person rolls the die, adding up the points. He can stop anytime and pass the die, unless he rolls a 1 and then all points are wiped out. Good for teaching math concepts, too.
My kids love monkey in the middle!
My son is five and he loves these board games:
Yahtzee Jr.
Skippity
Spot It
Blokus
Memory
Current board games my kids (5, 5 and 3) like are:
Guess Who?
Busytown
Memory
Uno
Sorry
Actually my daughter is more into puzzles right now but she will probably start getting more into games this year.
My 5yo loves Sequence for kids. It's a great game that allows them to begin to understand strategy. I enjoy playing it with him as well, wish I could say the same for Chutes and Ladders and Candyland!
We play a lot of card games too... memory, go fish, etc.
Summertime during the day, my kids are outside. We dont do board games at my home. On rainy days and at night, the whole family play wii together.
You already have a lot. Just keep recycling those. They do not get bored. If they do, they can and will use their imaginations, which is what mine does and you would be surprised what they come up with.
