Educational Board Games for Competitive or Cooperative Play

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A list of educational board games and card games for both competitive and cooperative play. The list is separated by age for younger and older children. 

Board games are a really wonderful way to practice colors, letters, shapes, taking turns, and so much more through play. Educational board games are excellent for young learners and older children as well.

My kids have always enjoyed playing board games together, and I find it to be some of my favorite bonding time as a family.

However, my oldest, and spirited child, has a difficult time accepting defeat. He loves board games….loves them. No matter how hard he tries to enjoy the ending of a game, it causes stress and anxiety around who is going to win or lose. Cooperative games have been really wonderful for him, and continue to be educational and promote bonding among us.

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Educational Board Games for Kids

From STEM education, numbers and counting, to letter identification, board games (and card games) can be wildly educational. Additionally, they teach wonderful social skills such as waiting, taking turns, working together, and more.

Many of the games on this list are from the one-stop toyshop, https://continuumgames.com. Which lists its inventory by age and by category, Need to please a 12-year-old? Check. Strategy games? Check. Dice? Puzzles? Party Games? Yes, it’s all awaiting discovery! Best of all, Continuum Games runs on laughs and smiles, never Wi-Fi, chargers or batteries!

Here are some of our favorite board and card game picks for kids aged 4 and up!

Educational Board Games for 4+

My dinosaur obsessed preschool loves the Diggin’ Dino Game, and sometimes, we just take out the pieces and complete the puzzles without even playing the entire game. He adores it.

 Continuum Games Digging’ Dino Bones Board Game: You are a paleontologist commissioned to find the bones of a specific dinosaur. Search the excavation site and be the first to find and assemble your dino bone puzzle to win! Players get to choose from T-Rex, Triceratops, Brontosaurus, or Pterodactyl fossil cards. This game tests your memory skills and is extremely educational and keeps older minds sharp. It’s perfect if you’re trying to improve your thinking skills! Learning Resources Sum Swamp Game Sequence for Kids Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game My Feelings Game. Fun educational family game to help kids express their emotions and learn self regulation. Endorsed by Dr Temple Grandin and other world renown clinicians and educators. Educational Insights Robot Face Race The Ladybug Game Alphabet Bingo Games I SPY Eagle Eye Game

Educational Board Games (and Card Games) for 8+

Play Nine is a current favorite in our house. My kiddo loves the golf theme, and while the game can last quite a while, the amount of math that he ends up practicing is awesome.

Bonus: my husband have stayed up after the kids go to bed to sneak in a game ourselves! 

 Play Nine – The Card Game of Golf!: Whether you own a set of clubs or just like pitch-and-putt, this golf-themed card game requires players to aim for the lowest score. Draw, flip and discard card values range from -5 (hole-in-one) to 12 (out of bounds). BRAIN GAMES KIDS – Warning! This Game Will Blow Your Mind! Educational Insights Kanoodle – Brain Twisting Solitaire Game Winning Moves Games Game of The States, Can You Sell The Most from Coast to Coast? Game Board Game GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game Learning Resources Money Bags Coin Value Game Sight Words Level 2 Bingo Game Gamewright Scrambled States Gamewright Zeus on the Loose Gamewright Rat-A-Tat-Cat Dragonwood A Game of Dice & Daring Board Game Sushi Go! – The Pick and Pass Card Game SKIP BO Card Game

Cooperative Board Games for Kids

These games are wonderful for children who have a hard time losing at games. The point of the games is to work together as a team to beat the board.

My son, who has a difficult time losing, loves playing these games. And, in the instances where we lose to the board, we do so as a team which makes our bond stronger, and the loss easier to accept.

The Baby Beluga Game, based on the song sung by Raffi, is beautiful, incredibly well-constructed, and easy for little ones to play.

The board game’s goal is simple, players win by helping Baby Beluga and Friends swim wild and free. As they ponder the next move, children from ages 3 to 10 do a little STEM learning, finding out about whales and ocean science in a fun way. Plenty of thought went into every aspect of the game and its contents. There’s even a little canoe to hold game pieces and keep them organized between play times! (And, the box turns into a play area for when the game is over!)

The coupon code Blog10 will give you 10% off, through Nov. 30 at  www.CooperativeGames.com

 Continuum Games All Aboard The Ark Board Games Perfect Timing Game Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot Award Winning Cooperative Matching Game for Kids Peaceable Kingdom Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game Emotional Development Cooperative Game for Kids Mermaid Island Board Game Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens Cooperative Board Game Peaceable Kingdom Stone Soup Award Winning Cooperative Matching Game for Kids The Fairy Game Snug as a Bug in a Rug Game Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Cooperative Deck Building Card Game The Grizzled Cooperative Card Game

We hope you find an educational board game for every child on your list here!

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