The Best Board Games For Kids 7 & Up - 2021
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Our Picks For The Top Board Games For Kids 7 & Up
Encourages Creative PlayKids can make their own game board with this interactive puzzle.
Engaging and EducationalThis card game is a fast-paced way to learn the countries of the world.
All Ages FunYoung and old kids can work together in this co-op game.
Classic, Simple StrategyYoung players can enjoy high seas tension with this classic family game.
The grade school years hold a lot of milestones for kids. Not only are they learning essential skills such as math and reading, but they’re also growing even faster socially and testing out ways to interact with kids their own age.
While they’ll do the bulk of this learning at school, there’s an easy way you can help them with all of the above. Game night can be a great way to help kids develop a wide range of talents and an even better way to keep you connected with your kids.
Of course, we’re not talking video games here. They can be great in moderation, but board games offer a way to get the whole family involved — if you can pick the right game. When you have a wide range of ages in the household, that’s not always easy.
Every parent wants their kids’ fun to be mixed with a bit of education, but don’t worry too much about that aspect when it comes to very young kids. Even a game of pure luck like “Candy Land” or “Chutes & Ladders” can help your child develop emotionally as they learn the concepts of fair play and sportsmanship (not to mention simple counting skills). First and foremost, you’ll want a game that is easy to set up and learn so that your young opponents don’t lose interest before the game has even begun. And while lots of shiny and colorful game pieces can attract their attention, they can also get lost easily. Board games these days can be pricey, and you don’t want your first game to be your last.
As kids get older, you can focus on games that might teach a specific skill, but they don’t have to be explicitly “educational.” Competition can bring out the best in kids if it’s properly directed. Kids will actually want to learn their numbers if it helps them beat Mom at “Uno,” for instance, or start reading better once they have deciphered those “Monopoly” cards for themselves.
To ensure that kids are involved, let them pick out the games that you buy or play on any given night. Remember, what they play isn’t as important as the fact that they’re playing at all.
The Best Board Games For Kids 7 & Up
Ravensburger Labyrinth Family Board Game
No two games are the same with this interactive, competitive puzzle. Bright kids will love changing the map so they can make their way to treasures in the labyrinth - or stop Mom and Dad from reaching their own. The pieces are durable and gameplay is entertaining for a wide range of ages.
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Byron’s Games Continent Race Geography Card Game
Kids can use color coded cards to learn geography in this family game. Any kid old enough to read can participate and enjoy. The game can even be adjusted with different skill levels for younger minds.
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Fireside Games Castle Panic
This game is a easy enough for younger kids to pick up, but exciting enough for adults. Players work together to defend a castle from randomly generated foes, so it's a good way to foster cooperation strategies. Expansions are available once kids get the basic game down pat.
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Hasbro Battleship Strategy Board Game
This update adds planes to the classic Battleship fleet. The gameplay is the same, though: Try to guess where your opponent's ships are while hiding your own. Young kids will enjoy the tension and maybe even learn how to read a simple graph as they play.
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Our Board Game For Kids 7 & Up Buying Guide
The grade school years hold a lot of milestones for kids. Not only are they learning essential skills such as math and reading, but they’re also growing even faster socially and testing out ways to interact with kids their own age.
While they’ll do the bulk of this learning at school, there’s an easy way you can help them with all of the above. Game night can be a great way to help kids develop a wide range of talents and an even better way to keep you connected with your kids.
Of course, we’re not talking video games here. They can be great in moderation, but board games offer a way to get the whole family involved — if you can pick the right game. When you have a wide range of ages in the household, that’s not always easy.
Every parent wants their kids’ fun to be mixed with a bit of education, but don’t worry too much about that aspect when it comes to very young kids. Even a game of pure luck like “Candy Land” or “Chutes & Ladders” can help your child develop emotionally as they learn the concepts of fair play and sportsmanship (not to mention simple counting skills). First and foremost, you’ll want a game that is easy to set up and learn so that your young opponents don’t lose interest before the game has even begun. And while lots of shiny and colorful game pieces can attract their attention, they can also get lost easily. Board games these days can be pricey, and you don’t want your first game to be your last.
As kids get older, you can focus on games that might teach a specific skill, but they don’t have to be explicitly “educational.” Competition can bring out the best in kids if it’s properly directed. Kids will actually want to learn their numbers if it helps them beat Mom at “Uno,” for instance, or start reading better once they have deciphered those “Monopoly” cards for themselves.
To ensure that kids are involved, let them pick out the games that you buy or play on any given night. Remember, what they play isn’t as important as the fact that they’re playing at all.
DWYM Fun Fact
The name Milton Bradley is synonymous with board games these days, and for good reason. The company started off strong with “The Game of Life,” invented by Bradley himself. Today, you can still play that game, or a much more modernized version of it. The latest iteration of “Life” does away with paper money in favor of credit cards that you can actually swipe.
The Board Game For Kids 7 & Up Tips and Advice
Watching your kids win a board game might be fun, but the flip side of that coin might mean pouting at best and a tantrum at worst. Most child psychologists say that you should take the good with the bad and let your child lose. If it’s handled properly (i.e., without gloating), letting your kids deal with a tough loss teaches them resilience — and that rules in life (or in “The Game of Life”) really matter.
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