Over the past 31 years that I’ve been a parent and 13 years I’ve been a grandparent, I’ve played a lot of games with kids. Watching their skills develop from simply learning to count as they move their game piece the appropriate number of spaces (which, by the way, is way harder than just learning to count) to actually developing a strategy to play certain games is fun to watch. Playing games requires various skills and methods of thinking that improve kids’ problem solving and critical thinking. Games also teach social skills like taking turns and being a good sport. They’re some of the most fun ways to learn without even knowing it’s happening!

I compiled a list of the games I most enjoy playing with children. This might not be everyone’s top ten list, but it’s mine. Some are old classics while others are fairly new. Most can be played with even the youngest children who are old enough to want to play.

Candy Land – A great beginner game. It helps kids learn their colors and they have to learn to move their game piece around the board. No reading required on this one. It provides ample opportunity to teach good sportsmanship, for when one person is in the lead, he often ends up going back almost to the beginning. He can be taught to do it without whining, while other players can learn to encourage the one sent back.

Spot It! – This is a newer game I play with my grandchildren. Each circle-shaped card contains several pictures. A starter card is placed in the middle of the table and if a picture on your card matches the starter card, you call out the name of the matching picture and get to keep the pair. Whoever ends up with the most cards wins. It’s fast-moving and tons of fun. Those young eyes see the little pictures way faster than my older eyes do!

Uno – A classic card game. Now that the cards contain symbols instead of words (skip, reverse, draw 4, etc.) my two-year-old grandson can even play this. It’s always fun and helps kids learn to match colors, numbers, and symbols.

Jenga – This game requires you to pull wooden blocks from a tower of stacked blocks. The first one to knock it down loses. It’s a game of steady hands and sitting still so you don’t bump the table, which is a challenge for some youngsters, but nevertheless a great skill to practice! And kids love when the tower comes clattering down!

Pick-up Sticks – This old favorite is another that requires steady hands and concentration. It helps kids learn to be honest and to speak up if they see a stick move. It also teaches those who are waiting their turn to be respectful of the one trying to concentrate.

Go Fish – Collecting cards into sets is the object of this game. There is a bit of simple strategy involved and requires listening and memory skills to win.

Apples to Apples – One person reads a card that has a category listed on it. Players look at the cards in their hands to see which one has a word they think goes best with that category and lays it face down. The person who laid the category card then chooses which one he thinks is the best match. Whoever laid the card he chose gets to keep the category card. The first to collect 5 category cards wins. You may think this is only a game for those old enough to read. But  many of the cards that are played don’t really fit the category, simply because you don’t have one in your hand that goes with it. That’s why any age can play! As my daughter told one of her older kids when they said their little brother was too young to play, “He can throw a card out just as well as we can!” And she’s right! There’s also an Apples to Apples Jr. game available.

Monopoly Jr. – We’ve about worn out this game. It’s similar to Monopoly, except the board is set up like a carnival and instead of buying houses and hotels, you buy ticket booths. This is one that younger kids (preschool and under) may not be able to play, but it’s a blast to play with the bigger kids.

Dominoes – They can be played so many ways, surely you can find one that suits your particular kids! Even if it’s just matching dots or setting them up on end in a row and knocking them down, Dominoes are always a hit.

Games teach kids that there are rules that must be followed and it’s fun to play even if you don’t win. What are your favorites?