Are you thinking about Christmas gifts yet? We all want to find that perfect gift that will be appreciated, used, and is within our budget. To save you a little time and effort let me recommend our family’s favorite board and card games for your Christmas list. And since we really like card and board games for family nights, a board game is always a possibility for a gift for my own children.
Here are a few of our favorite family games to check out:
A sort of bingo game with a fun little machine, this game is perfect for families with pre-readers. All ages will enjoy playing it along with the littler ones Each player fills a card with picture tiles. A brand new version just came out with numbers, for young kids.
 | Zingo! 1-2-3 |
If you have never tried this game, it is time to add to your game collection! This is the perfect, simple to learn but loads of fun game for 4 to 10 players. It is highly interactive for the whole group. We love this one for when family visits from out of town. If your crowd has youngsters that will not understand pop cultures references from the last few decades, try Apples to Apples, Jr.
 | Apples to Apples Junior |
We discovered a family favorite last year, Cover Your Assets! Despite the punny name, this is a strategy game for elementary and up to enjoy. It is speedy to learn, teaches kids a bit about strategy and risk taking and is over in quick enough to get us to bed on time (take a lesson, Monopoly). This family game accommodates 4 to 6 players. The first player to accumulate $1,000,000 in assets wins. The best part is “stealing” assets from your opponents. This is my personal favorite. Read more about it here.
If you are tired of Uno, and are ready to kick it up a notch, try ZAR. This is a fast paced card game my brother brought back from his world travels (though it is made in the USA). Like UNO you match colors or, instead of numbers, spacey-looking symbols. But anyone can match at any time and change the order of play, so pay attention! It is best for middle school and up because of the fast play, though a savvy 9 or 10 year old may enjoy it. There are more symbols, more types of wild cards and more that can go either wrong or right. It moves very fast, takes a little time to learn, but is addictive.
 | Pit, Card Game |
This is a family favorite from my childhood. It is designed like a commodities trading floor, where players shout proposed trades out loud until someone “corners the market” by collecting all nine cards of one commodity. It is loud and energetic.
We are a family of actors. Ok, more like hams, but actors sounds more sophisticated. Don’t Make Me Laugh is a great game for practicing improv. It is sort of a super charades with different levels for team play, making sure everyone has a chance to shine. Even my 2 year old is into this game.
Board games force family interaction in a fun, non-threatening way. Games allow us to see positive and negative character traits as our children compete to win. Games provide a chance to learn something new in a kinesthetic way. Hands-on learning makes it more likely to stick. And family game night make memories in a boisterous, fun, competitive way that leaves family movie night looking like a lonely only child wishing he had someone to play with. Freshly popped popcorn or a warm plate of brownies helps draw the family to the table for a game or even a puzzle. The Thomas Kinkade Disney themed puzzles are our favorites lately. Break out a game tonight and create a memory – maybe even a tradition!
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