Game nights are a great way to keep the connection you share with your grandkids thriving. Studies show that kids who participate in game nights have better relationships with their peers, more motivation in school, and better life satisfaction. These times can also open doors of conversation between you and your grandchild. This is where you learn all the important and secret stuff like who their BFF is this month and what foods they’ve added to their I Will Not Eat list. So, here are three different games that can warm up winter evenings with laughter, family bonding, and a love of penguins.
For little kids: Don’t Break The Ice
This classic Hasbro game has players tapping ice blocks one at a time to help Phillip the Penguin make an igloo. But be sure to keep Phillip on top of the ice, because one wrong tap and he’ll fall through – signaling the end of the game. Preschoolers love the repetition this game provides, and working on fine motor skills while tapping is a bonus. Made for kids ages 3 and up, Don’t Break the Ice is available for purchase on Amazon and at stores like Target.
For school-age kids: Jenga
Have your kids ever been into stacking blocks? Mine, too. Jenga is the ultimate block-stacking and crashing game grade-schoolers love. The perfect combination of strategy and luck, this game has you pulling out wooden blocks one at a time until the tower can stand no more. Made for kids ages 6 and up, Jenga is great for improving hand-eye coordination and helps kids practice patience as they wait for players to remove blocks at their own pace. So, stack up some fun and add Jenga to your game night playlist. (An extra perk: Kids often enjoy cleaning this game up, too.) Available at Amazon and Target.
For older kids: Kids Against Maturity
Don’t be fooled – there’s not much that’s mature about this game geared for ages 10 and up. Similar to the adult game Cards Against Humanity, this kid-friendly version uses a fill-in-the-blank format to get everyone talking. Each asker chooses the funniest answer, and the player with the most hilarious responses wins. Kids Against Maturity takes around 45 minutes to play. Be warned, there’s a good deal of age-appropriate toilet humor – and humorous innuendo for the adults. You should know this game has won nine awards, none of which were poopy. You can purchase this 600-question-and-answer game on Amazon or at your friendly neighborhood Target.
By Tonilyn Hornung | Photo by Michał Parzuchowski
P.S. Warmer weather is just around the corner. Check out these outdoor areas with the grandkids.
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