10 Best Board Games for Kids in the Philippines 2024 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Early Childhood Educator
Board games are fun-filled tools for kids to learn, interact, play, and bond. These games can help children acquire skills like strategy making, arithmetic, and even hand-and-eye coordination. They can also create an avenue for kids to work on their social interaction skills and understand how to be a good sport.
Today, in our generation full of gizmos and gadgets, these board games for kids can potentially lessen screen time and foster a more personal family bonding. They are also a great way to keep kids engaged for hours, as they are challenging and interactive. Below, we prepared some recommendations and a guide to help you score the best board games for kids. We also asked for some tips and insights from Och Gonzalez, an early childhood educator.
Quick List - Top Board Games for Kids
Hasbro
An Operation Game That Helps Develop Kids’ Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination
A Multiplayer Game Great for Honing Your Child’s Word and Image Association Skills
Och Gonzalez has been an early childhood educator in Manila for over 20 years. As a preschool teacher and grade school academic coach, she has worked with young children and their families to achieve learning goals and address developmental concerns. She has created reading programs that aim to develop literacy skills and a love for reading in young children. She holds an MA in Education from the Ateneo de Manila University and is also the author of the children’s book, “Every Sunday.”
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
- How to Choose a Board Game for Kids - Buying Guide
- Pick a Theme That Matches Your Child’s Interest to Keep Them Engaged1
- Check the Age Rating and Mechanics to See if It Is Suitable for the Skill Level2
- Identify Which Skills Your Kids Can Pick Up From the Game3
- Go for a Board Game With Colorful Designs and Illustrations to Catch Their Attention4
- Find Out the Number of Players Required to Play the Game5
- Consider the Game’s Playing Time to Prevent Kids From Getting Bored6
- Inspect if It Has Small Parts That Could Be a Choking Hazard to Ensure Your Kid’s Safety7
- Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Och Gonzalez
- How Do I Engage Other Kids to Participate?
- How Do I Teach Kids to be More Patient and Be a Good Sport?
- How Do I Make the Board Game More Educational?
- Have Fun While Learning
- How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
How to Choose a Board Game for Kids - Buying Guide
Here are some key points to consider:
- Pick a theme that matches your child’s interest to keep them engaged.
- Check the age rating and mechanics to see if it is suitable for the skill level.
- Identify which skills your kids can pick up from the game.
- Find out the number of players required to play the game.
- Consider the game’s playing time to prevent kids from getting bored.
- Inspect if it has small parts that could be a choking hazard to ensure your kid’s safety.
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Pick a Theme That Matches Your Child’s Interest to Keep Them Engaged
To keep the kids engaged and excited in anything, you must determine their interests and match them with the stuff you buy for them - including the board games. For example, if they are into word-and-image association and they love guessing games, the Junior Pictionary will keep their adrenaline rush.
If they are into kinesthetic activities, play the Twister Game where they need to touch the colors on the board using different body parts. For best results, screen all the board games that you will allow your children to play, then let them vote for their favorites before purchasing.
Determining games, or any activity for that matter, based on interests is a wise move because it develops intrinsic motivation in children. It also offers opportunities for making choices and decisions even at a young age.
Check the Age Rating and Mechanics to See if It Is Suitable for the Skill Level
Several board games can be classified by specific age groups: toddlers aged 0-3 years old, kindergarten 4-6 years old, and grade-schoolers seven years old and up. They indicate the age rating in the description, which strongly suggests the minimum age that a kid can fully grasp the game.
With respect to age, also consider the game mechanics as they vary in complexity and degree of difficulty in doing tasks. Some require reading or spelling, and a few just rely on reflexes. Other games need further explanations when playing. Fortunately, online tutorials are available for free, and when everything else fails, tweak the rules!
Usually, reading skill level is what dictates a game's difficulty. If you have a beginning reader, choose games that focus on strategy or problem-solving that require little to no reading. Some games include illustrations below text instructions on their cards so that younger kids who can't read fluently yet will still be able to understand the concept.
Identify Which Skills Your Kids Can Pick Up From the Game
Each board game requires a specific set of skills, and checking what skills you want your child to develop is something we also want you to reflect upon. Even progressive and Montessori schools allow certain board and card games as supplemental materials for their curriculum.
For instance, Scrabble is a great vocabulary builder that some schools include in their intramurals. Monopoly lets them learn persuasion skills, math skills, and even strategy. The popular TV game show Family Feud has its board game version that teaches kids skills like quick thinking, reflexes, and general knowledge.
Different board games teach different skills, and the type of skills you want kids to develop is something you should strongly ponder on. Some may need explanations, especially if the illustrations used are unfamiliar to the Philippine context.
Have a set of board games that target a diverse range of skills. Don't forget board games with a physical component, such as Twister, because those are extra fun for young kids and get them moving. Remember that while an educational game is always a better choice, it also needs to be fun to play.
Go for a Board Game With Colorful Designs and Illustrations to Catch Their Attention
70% of humans are visual learners, so the way we see certain board games is worth considering. When choosing a board game, assess the pictures, icons, symbols, and colors your children are most interested in.
Colors will always be part of the visual appeal among the kids. Vibrant hues and colorful designs are still in. However, there are also great board games that use monochromatic colors as part of the game, so do not skip them right away.
For your child's first board game, you could go with a theme that you know he or she likes, such as animals or magical adventures so you can get them excited to play. Make sure, too, that the game you pick is age-appropriate to avoid choking hazards.
Find Out the Number of Players Required to Play the Game
The number of players a board game can accommodate is also an essential factor to consider before buying. Some board games require a fixed number of players while the rest are flexible as they can accommodate even more than players.
You can always check on the product description or from other board game-related blogs or vlogs. What matters more is to choose games that would encourage maximum participation and inclusivity based on the demographics.
One of the most significant benefits your child can get from playing board games is learning how to cooperate. Engaging with other players teaches them about teamwork, patience, strategy, and so much more. Aside from that, the social aspect of board games also triggers the release of endorphins, so they feel good and relaxed.
Consider the Game’s Playing Time to Prevent Kids From Getting Bored
One of the primary reasons of purchasing board games is to fight boredom. So obviously, we do not want to play a board game that kids would get bored, ending up not finishing the tasks. With this in mind, we have to consider board game's play time suitable for their age.
The attention span pertains to the length of time a person will stay interested in doing a specific thing before wanting to do something else. For children, the typical attention span is two minutes times their age. The younger the child is, the shorter the attention span, so choose accordingly.
For very young kids who are new to board games, it's best to pick a game with a playing time under 30 minutes, preferably around 10 minutes. It should also be easy to set up in case your child wants another round. Aside from that, keep in mind, too, the time of the day that you choose to play. If it's close to bedtime, go for a game that is quick and relaxing.
Inspect if It Has Small Parts That Could Be a Choking Hazard to Ensure Your Kid’s Safety
Generally, playing board games with your children is fun! However, keep in mind that some board games may have small pieces that children can swallow, such as small dice, mini poker chips, or little markers or pamato that come with them.
So be cautious when you let them play with the games and carefully check for choking hazards. If you have toddlers at home, keep these board games away from them to avoid such accidents, and buy a board game without the small parts that they might ingest.
This is closely related to the age appropriateness of a game. Look for choking hazard warnings on the box to know if the game is safe for very young children. And of course, parental supervision is essential if you decide to play a game with small pieces.
10 Best Board Games for Kids to Buy Online
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hasbro Classic Operation | | An Operation Game That Helps Develop Kids’ Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination | |
2 | Junior Pictionary | | A Multiplayer Game Great for Honing Your Child’s Word and Image Association Skills | |
3 | Hasbro Who Is It? Board Game | | Sharpens Little Detectives' Skills and Enhances Adjective Knowledge | |
4 | Mattel Scrabble | | A Fun and Exciting Board Game to Expand Your Kids’ Vocabulary | |
5 | Twister | | Get Moving With Your Kids Through This Mix of Physical and Cognitive Game | |
6 | Spin Master Beat the Parents | | Encourage Healthy Competition With This Board Game That the Whole Family Can Bond Over | |
7 | Asmodee Games Dixit | | Features Enchanting Illustrations That Ignite Children’s Imagination | |
8 | Hasbro The Original Game of Connect 4 Grab & Go | | A Classic Game With Simple Rules Ideal for Quick Playtime | |
9 | Simply Creative Sungka | | Allows Your Kids to Learn Basic Math and Strategic Thinking the Traditional Filipino Way | |
10 | Pull Up Radish | | An Excellent Board Game to Exercise and Enhance Your Child’s Memory |
An Operation Game That Helps Develop Kids’ Motor Skills and Hand-Eye Coordination
Most kids enjoy role-playing different scenarios, such as pretending to be doctors. This Classic Operation board game is definitely a hit for them and even for adults as well! It is a test of fine motor skills and hand-and-eye coordination. And with vivid images of internal body parts, children may start getting interested in science and basic anatomy.
The rules are easy to follow: players take turns to draw a doctor's card containing the body part to remove and the corresponding fee. If the ailment is successfully removed without touching the metal edge and lighting up the patient's nose, they get the payment; otherwise, lose a turn. The highest-paid doctor wins!
A Multiplayer Game Great for Honing Your Child’s Word and Image Association Skills
If you and your kids love act-out charades, you will also love using the Junior Pictionary. This is the kid-friendly version of the classic game wherein you need to draw the mystery word or phrase you have picked and let your teammates guess it in a given time limit.
This game is ideal for grade-schoolers, as they can learn word and image association — and they need not be artistically gifted to draw. This game rocks the house during parties because sometimes, the easiest words are the hardest to guess. And to put a twist, every correct answer, the team would roll the dice and advance to the leader board.
Sharpens Little Detectives' Skills and Enhances Adjective Knowledge
Help children learn descriptive language and deduction skills with the classic Hasbro board game Who is It? This engaging two-player game features colorful boards and character cards, each depicting unique individuals with various features. The goal is to use your detective skills to identify the mystery person on your opponent's card!
Each player takes turns asking yes-or-no questions based on physical characteristics like hair color, eye shape, and accessories. With its simple rules and exciting gameplay, this board game helps with logical thinking, enhances vocabulary, and provides hours of fun.
A Fun and Exciting Board Game to Expand Your Kids’ Vocabulary
Discover new words and hone your kids' spelling skills with Scrabble! It is undeniably a popular and highly-recommended educational game across learning institutions the globe - bridging fun and learning. You can bring it anywhere, but count the letter tiles before keeping it to avoid missing letters.
Every turn, a player has to form an English word out of the letters he holds and connect them to the letter already laid on the board. Form long words, use letters with higher point values or place the tiles on the grid squares with bonus points to earn more points. Alternatively, use the letter tiles to review your kids for spelling bee.
Get Moving With Your Kids Through This Mix of Physical and Cognitive Game
Among the board games on the list, Twister is unique in several aspects: It is the only game that uses a plastic board mat apart from its paper board spinner, the setup is on the floor, not on a table, and the only one that requires kinesthetic movement - ideal at this time that the kids cannot go out much to play a physical sport.
For more than 5 decades, Twister has never failed to throw fun at parties and even regular playtime. The goal is to touch the assigned color with an assigned hand or foot without falling or the elbows and knees touching the mat - perfect for teaching colors and some science concepts like balance.
Encourage Healthy Competition With This Board Game That the Whole Family Can Bond Over
Before any violent reaction arises, this board game is not promoting rebellion. It is a showdown of intellectual prowess between kids and parents as opposing pairs. Beat the Parents is a trivia game where parents must answer trivia questions about kids' stuff, and kids answer trivia that their parents are knowledgeable with.
For every correct answer, a player's pawn takes a step across the other end of the board, and both allied pawns must reach the board's end to win. With 101 trivia questions and 64 wild cards that would help advance or delay the victory, this game is for families with sponge-like minds - loving to learn new information.
Features Enchanting Illustrations That Ignite Children’s Imagination
Dixit is a Spiel de Jahres awardee for its brilliant yet simple game concept that everyone will enjoy. It takes a creative and imaginative mind and pixie dust of luck to convince or confuse your opponents. This board game is jam-packed with colorful illustrations and works best for kids with an adult storyteller or facilitator.
The game objective is to correctly guess the storyteller's card based on his invented short story. To hype up the game more, convince your playmates that got the best card to advance further. Dixit is best played among kids that share a common language and with a sky-high imagination.
A Classic Game With Simple Rules Ideal for Quick Playtime
If you're looking for a game that is competitive but with uncomplicated rules to follow, Connect 4 is a great addition to your board game collection. Not only will the kids have fun building patterns and recognizing colors but also train them on quick thinking and strategy making.
The game is played by two opposing players who will choose their respective colors, then take alternate turns in dropping the colored chips to the suspended grid. To win the game, the goal is to be the first one to form a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of four colored chips assigned to the player.
Simply CreativeSungka
Allows Your Kids to Learn Basic Math and Strategic Thinking the Traditional Filipino Way
Preserve our Filipino culture by introducing traditional games such as Sungka to the next generation. This game uses a canoe-shaped board where seashells, marbles, or pebbles are collected and distributed to the hole cups. The board is made of solid wood but lightweight and portable.
It requires counting and strategic skills to play your turn longer and store as many shells in the main hole cup or bahay. It also trains fine motor skills for distributing one shell in one hole at a time. It deserves to have a place in every Filipino home. And the good deal? This sungka board comes with a set of seashells already.
Pull Up Radish
An Excellent Board Game to Exercise and Enhance Your Child’s Memory
The Pull Up Radish is an interactive game with simple rules to follow. The players will take turns to roll the color dice and pull out the radish having the same color as the dice. If not, they must put back the radish into the slot. The first to complete the set of six radishes of different colors wins!
The materials are safe as they are made from high-grade, BPA-free PVC. Suitable for preschoolers, this game enhances memorization and color recognition skills since their minds are like sponges that can quickly absorb information. Also, it requires at least two players, so social skills can also be developed.
Frequently Asked Questions Answered By Och Gonzalez
Below are few of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team about board games for kids.
How Do I Engage Other Kids to Participate?
Due to technology, today's kids have a shorter attention span. Start out with board games that are designed to be finished quickly. Highly interactive games also have a much higher chance of capturing the interest of other kids because they involve back-and-forth discussions and teamwork, which helps prevent boredom.
How Do I Teach Kids to be More Patient and Be a Good Sport?
For younger kids, explain before the game starts that winning and losing is part of the game. When the game starts, model an attitude of healthy and supportive competition where it's clear that winning or losing isn't such a big deal.
If your child feels disappointed after losing, make sure to acknowledge it and show them ways to be gracious in defeat, like congratulating the winner and shaking hands. You could also compliment the winner to show your child how to practice good sportsmanship.
How Do I Make the Board Game More Educational?
Explaining the instructions clearly will help children understand the game before you start, but it's also okay to let them learn how to play the game as they go. Once they've already mastered it, you can keep things stimulating by putting a new spin on the game with additional obstacles or challenges to hurdle.
Have Fun While Learning
Collecting board games, card games and other "edutainment" materials would be an enjoyable and memorable learning experiences to everyone, especially that we are still under community quarantine. Check our articles below, and consider buying these items too!
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Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
How We Chose and Ranked Our Product Recommendations
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
Top 5 Board Games for Kids
No. 1: Hasbro｜Classic Operation
No. 2: ｜Junior Pictionary
No. 3: Hasbro｜Who Is It? Board Game
No. 4: Mattel｜Scrabble
No. 5: ｜Twister
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Most ViewedFeatured Rankings Similar to Board games for kids
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