There are already quite a few board and card games on the market for children (and the young at heart). Especially for school-age children, it is important to be able to concentrate well, to combine, to follow rules, and much more. This can be practiced playfully through board games. As a passionate board gamer, I am always on the lookout for good children's games. Here I have listed my favorites for children's games for primary school children (from 6 to 10 years old):
Good Children's Games for Schoolchildren
The Crazy Labyrinth
This game never gets boring because there are always new constellations.
Sequence of play
The loose path cards are distributed on the game board, one is left over and serves to 'push'. Each of the players gets a figure as well as secret cards and then you can start. The goal is to find your secrets and to create the best and fastest way to do so. By pushing the paths, the paths and also the positions of the secrets change. The winner is the player who is the first to have found all their secrets.
Learning objective
- Logical thinking
- Concentration
- Combining
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores and on Amazon
Sagaland
Who knows where everything is hidden?
Sequence of play
The 13 trees are distributed on the game board, each player receives a figure, which is also placed on the game board. The deck of cards is deposited in the castle and the 1st card is revealed. Now it's time to search, the players roll the dice and look to get to a tree, where they are allowed to look underneath to see if the symbol of the search card is hidden there. If so, then off to the castle and grab the card. The winner is the one with the most search cards.
Learning objective
- Social behavior
- Memory
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores and on Amazon
The Game of Life
The game that mimics real life. Here, too, decisions have to be made: Do I want children? Where do I want to spend my retirement?
Sequence of play
Everyone gets a car, a pen that serves as a figure, and starting capital in money. By rolling the dice, you drive along the road and have to carry out the respective events on the field. Like in real life, you receive your regular salary and have to decide whether to take out insurance, choose stocks, have children, and where you finally want to enjoy your retirement. The winner is the one who has the most money at the end.
Learning objective
- Making decisions
- Logical thinking
Age
- Ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
I would definitely recommend the original, which unfortunately is only available second-hand: Ebay or willhaben.at or possibly also on Amazon: The Game of Life
Verflixxt (That's Life!)
This game impresses with its movable playing field and requires tactical and strategic thinking. The goal, which looks simple at first, of bringing your 3 game pieces from the start to the finish, turns out to be not so simple at second glance. Because the playing field gets smaller and smaller over time.
Sequence of play
You have to lead your 3 game pieces from the start to the finish. The card you land on must be taken; this can be a plus, minus, or even a lucky board. Anyone who does not want to move can also move a guardian instead. But be careful, if a guardian is on a card, it may not be taken, highly annoying with good cards. At the end, the points are added up, and the one who has accumulated the most wins.
Learning objective
- Strategic and tactical thinking
- Combining
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
You can buy this game in toy stores or on Amazon: Verflixxt (That's Life!)
Ligretto
Ligretto is a very fast game where reaction speed and combination skills are required.
Sequence of play
Here, the cards must be discarded as quickly as possible in the correct order. Everyone plays at the same time, so you always have to look around again to see where you can discard your numbers.
Learning objective
- Eye-hand coordination
- Careful observation
- Understanding numbers
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-4
Buying tip
You can buy this card game in toy stores or on Amazon: Ligretto
Boggle
With Boggle, the goal is to quickly find many long, meaningful words. Along the way, the children (and perhaps adults too) learn something. This game can also be played alone.
Sequence of play
For this game, you also need a pen and paper. First, the letters are mixed, the hourglass is turned over, and then the hunt for long, meaningful words begins. The winner is the one who gets the most points.
Learning objective
- Combining
- Language comprehension
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- from 1
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Boggle
Uno
This card game requires logical thinking. Due to its short duration, it is a wonderful game for in-between for the whole family.
Sequence of play
Each player receives 7 cards, which they must discard onto the pile in the middle of the table. Sounds simple, but various action cards or color changes can really throw you off track. The winner is the one who first discarded their cards – and don't forget, if you only have one card – say 'UNO', otherwise you immediately have two more penalty cards in your hand.
Learning objective
- Logical thinking
- Understanding numbers
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-10 players
Buying tip
You can buy this funny card game in toy stores or on Amazon: Uno
Ubongo
Ubongo is a skill game that can be compared a little to Tetris, as you have to fill your puzzle boards like in Tetris here. However, much funnier because you can play it with up to 4 players and also collect gemstones.
Sequence of play
At the beginning of the round, each player receives a board and their 12 tiles. Now the symbol die is rolled, and it indicates which tiles should be used to complete the board. The boards resemble the computer game Tetris and must be filled while the sand trickles down. Whoever completes their board first shouts 'Ubongo' loudly. The order of the finished players then determines how many spaces the figures on the tracks may move and how many gemstones are captured.
Learning objective
- Combining
- Logical thinking
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-4
Buying tip
Available in toy stores or on Amazon: Ubongo
Elfer raus!
Entertaining card game where children can learn or improve their counting quite incidentally.
Sequence of play
A certain number of playing cards are distributed depending on the number of players, the rest are placed face down in the middle of the table. Now the player who has the red 11 starts. If no one has a red 11, then the yellow, green, or blue 11. Now everyone must try to place their cards in the correct order. Whoever cannot, draws up to 3 cards. The winner is the player who was the first to be able to place all their cards.
Learning objective
- Counting
- Combining
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-6
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or at Amazon
Carcassonne
This strategy game was Game of the Year in 2001 and is a really good game for children and adults. Furthermore, it is finally a game that you can also play very well with two people. Of course, it is much more fun with more players because there is much more interaction.
Sequence of play
With every turn, the medieval map grows and you have to decide again and again whether you want to place your followers in a lucrative area. Because caution is advised here; it can happen that the painstakingly built city is suddenly merged with the neighbor's small city and you receive no points for it. The winner is the one who was able to snatch the most points.
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-5 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores or on Amazon: Carcassonne
Extra tip: I can highly recommend the following expansions:
1st expansion "Inns & Cathedrals"
2nd expansion "Traders & Builders"
Hare and Tortoise
This family game was already named Game of the Year in 1979 and is still on the shelves of toy stores today. Exciting race among the players.
Sequence of play
The game is played without dice, each player has a supply of carrots that provide the energy. Now tactics are required: how do I get carrots so that I can reach the finish line quickly? But hoarding carrots is not always effective, because when crossing the finish line, only a certain amount of carrots may be present.
Learning objective
- Tactics
- Combining
- Logical thinking
Age
- ages 8 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores and also on Amazon
Slotter
Nice strategy game where every turn could be the last.
Sequence of play
At the top, the game chips 1-5 are inserted. Now the wheels are turned again and again. The goal is to move the game chips through the wheels to the bottom in the correct order (they are numbered). It would be too easy if your opponent didn't have to turn the wheels just as much and simply 'turn' your plans upside down.
Learning objective
- Combining
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores and on Amazon
Rabbatz
An exciting race with surprises.
Sequence of play
The players must bring their balls safely from the start to the finish. Everyone rolls the dice and moves to the next field. But be careful, some places are safe, some are not. Because in some places it can happen that you fall in if you are kicked out. The winner is the player who was the first to bring all their balls safely to the finish.
Learning objective
- Tactics
Age
- ages 7 and up
Players
- 2-4 players
Buying tip
This game is available in toy stores and on Amazon
Cockroach Salad
Funny and fast-paced game with vegetables and cockroaches.
Sequence of play
Each player gets a stack of cards, which they hold face down in front of them. The player whose turn it is reveals the card and must place this card in the middle and name the vegetable – without hesitation. Since there are certain rules for discarding here, this is not always so easy. The winner is the player who can discard all their cards first.
Variations
Funny additional rules provide variety.
Learning objective
- Knowledge
- Reaction
- Memory
Age
- ages 6 and up
Players
- 2-6 players
Buying tip
This game is available on Amazon
Extra buying tip:
If some games are no longer available to buy new, I recommend looking out for flea markets or online on platforms for used items (e.g., willhaben.at or ebay.at). On Amazon, there are also always used versions available.
I was very often at flea markets and always found it great when parents or even the children themselves sold their games and gave many tips and information about them. That's how I got some really great games that we really play or have played often.
We have played and tested all these listed games and I can highly recommend them. But do you also have games that should be mentioned here? Then I would be very happy about an email or a comment.
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
Read also:Â The best board games for toddlers
