Favorite games for homeschoolers

We play a lot of games in our house. We always have. Not only are games great family fun, but they can be an excellent way for kids to learn. Once our closet was full of the all the children’s standards, like Candyland, Memory, Cooties and Twister, I found myself looking for new and better games. 

I wanted games that would be fun for the whole family, and challenging enough to keep the kids playing for a long time. I looked beyond the shelves at my local discount store, and found a whole array of games that are both fun and educational. 

After a while, I discovered that these lesser-known games are the ones my homeschoolers prefer, and the ones they still play with after years and years, while Candyland and Memory have been pushed to the back of the closet.

Here are a few of our favorite games that stand the test of time.

Rory’s Story Cubes

I wrote about this game a while back, because it is very useful for teaching kids to develop their creative writing skills. But this non-competitive game is also just a great way for families to unwind and laugh together as they follow the dice and tell all sorts of crazy stories. 

Rory’s Story Cubes consists of nine dice, each with six different pictures, which can be combined to create a never-ending array of tall tales.  Kids as young as toddlers can play, since no reading is required.

Hisss   

My twins got Hisss for Christmas when they were in kindergarten, and they are still playing it as middle schoolers with their younger sister. I even enjoy this game as an adult. Even children as young as toddlers can learn how to match colors and take turns as they build colorful snakes with their cards.

Games progress quickly, so the fun can begin again right away and no one ever has to be the loser for long. Hisss is always a fast family favorite.

Slamwich

When you’re stuck indoors and you can’t run around, one of the most stimulating games we’ve found is Slamwich. It may seem to lack in educational components, but by encouraging quick reflexes, coordination and concentration, it could actually help your child develop skills that are often neglected. Besides that, it’s just plain exciting and fun, for as many players as you can fit around a table.

Sleeping Queens

This game is a little more complicated, as it requires some understanding of card values and which type of special cards can counteract others. But with a little help from a parent, most children can play Sleeping Queens easily. 

It’s sort of a storybook game, created from a child’s dream and filled with whimsical artwork, and it really teaches kids to think strategically and make choices based on a desired outcome. I’d say this is easily one of our favorite games over all.

Scrambled States of America

My youngest child loved the Scrambled States of America game even before she could read. We had to modify the rules a bit, to let her play along with her big brother and sister, but it was worth it. 

The game itself is fun and fast paced, and helps kids learn about the states, but what I liked the most was that it inspired a love of geography that transcended the game, like when my youngest used a copy of the Scrambled States map to search for state-shaped rocks along the banks of the creek. That’s some exciting learning!

This post contains affiliate links, which means The Unplanned Homeschooler may receive a small commission if you decide to purchase one of the games after clicking their link above. Thank you for your support!