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Best Board Games for 5 Year Olds

Our Picks for the Best Board Games for 5 & 6 Year Olds

BY: ADRINA PALMER

Introduction

Five-year-olds are ready for slightly more complicated board games, including some with words and more sophisticated rules. We found the ten best options to challenge preschoolers and help them improve STEM skills while having fun. Find the option perfect for the whole family, and let the games begin!

The Best Board Games for 5 Year Olds

Candy Land Kingdom of Sweet Adventures

Try out the classic Candy Land Kingdom of Sweet Adventures and help your kindergartner to fall in love with board games with tons of colors and candy!

Benefits

The game does not require reading as it uses colors and pictures to follow the trail to the candy kingdom. Whoever gets to the castle first wins the game, but it’s not an easy process. It’s a fabulous way to teach children cause and effect.

Downsides

As the game does not require reading, children who can read may find the game a little boring. Also, the game will not help children improve skills necessary for this age group, but it’s great for kids who cannot read well yet.

Why we love it

Choose this beginner game to help kids find out what was so special about your childhood.

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ThinkFun Zingo Bingo

With ThinkFun Zingo Bingo, your kids can improve age-appropriate skills and have fun in the process.

Benefits

Kids will love the little dice machine that changes the tiles to use as bingo numbers. Pick the skill you want to work on, including word builder, sight words, numbers, or classic. Help children to build critical skills and race to make a Bingo!

Downsides

The game does not include a lot of cards or word choices. The card dispenser can get jammed, which is frustrating.

Why we love it

We adore taking a classic game and putting a spin on for little kids to help improve developmental skills. Zingo does so well and incorporates a unique tool kids will love.

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Hasbro Gaming Trouble Board Game

Give your kids the Hasbro Gaming Trouble Board Game and allow them to cause trouble the right way, with a game ready to create fun trouble.

Benefits

Kindergarteners will learn valuable skills but will love the game as they can pop the dome to move the dice. Even better, the pegs have clear spots and make it harder to lose the pieces or make a mess. It’s a fun game for the whole family.

Downsides

The game board is rather flimsy and not the same as you remember from your childhood. Some of the rules changed too, and you may need to watch a video to understand the rules.

Why we love it

As the game allows up to four players, it’s an excellent choice to help kids to learn to take turns without overwhelming them in the process.

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Ravensburger World of Disney Eye Found It

Play Ravensburger’s World of Disney Eye Found It and incorporate an eye spy game with Disney characters and a fun board.

Benefits

The long game board will make for an enticing game for kids. Moreover, the game improves critical thinking skills and searching skills as kids look for specific images on the board. Gameplay only takes 15 minutes, which is perfect for short attention spans.

Downsides

Many customers received misprinted cards which makes the game unplayable. Finding the tiny images can be frustrating for children and adults.

Why we love it

Kids will love picking their favorite characters and spinning the wheel. It’s a game the entire family will not mind playing.

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Pressman Charades for Kids

The Pressman Charades for Kids redesigns a classic for children and makes for an affordable way to entertain the whole family.

Benefits

While many games only allow for up to four players, you can have as many players as you want with this game. The game also reinforces early reading skills and critical thinking. Get kids moving as they act out the clues.

Downsides

Some of the cards may be difficult to act out for little kids.

Why we love it

Make the game as challenging or as easy as you need for the audience. Cute cards make it easy for kids with low reading skills to figure out what they need to act out.

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Hasbro Gaming Mouse Trap

Enjoy zany fun with your kids playing Hasbro’s Gaming Mouse Trap. Kids will adore this exciting board game with friends and family.

Benefits

Children can learn construction, cause and effect, and decision-making skills from this entertaining game. The crazy game board will keep kids engages and make learning fun and filled with laughter.

Downsides

Do not play with younger children as the game has smaller pieces that can be a choking hazard.

Why we love it

If you loved this game as a kid, you will enjoy sharing this adventure with your children. While it takes a while to set up, it offers great fun to kids with short attention spans.

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Hasbro Gaming The Game of Life Junior

Teach kids about life and money with the Hasbro Gaming The Game of Life Junior. As a junior game, it’s designed for younger kids to play with ease.

Benefits

The game uses action cards and stars to create a fun game. Children will love the cute cars included as the game pieces to zoom around the board.

Downsides

With the junior version, the game does not focus on life like the adult game but more like a day in the city. Parents will not enjoy this newer version as much as the original game.

Why we love it

Age-appropriate games help kids with reading skills and other skills they need to learn. Collecting stars in the game will appeal to kindergartners.

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Hungry Hungry Hippos

Kids and parents will love the fast-action Hungry Hungry Hippos board game for hours of fun, even on rainy days.

Benefits

Help the hungry hippos to eat twenty marbles for a fast and easy-to-understand game. Kids will love chomping the hippos to get the most marbles. The simple game comes with two ways to play with a special golden marble.

Downsides

The game does not require any reading or help to improve any skills.

Why we love it

Hasbro made the game easy to put away and store, making it better for parents.

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The Floor is Lava

Bring imagination and mayhem to your house with The Floor is Lava game. No other game offers as active play as this unique option.

Benefits

The game is not a board game but an everywhere game! Set the pieces up on the floor and use the spinner and cards to move across the floor without stepping in the lava. Everyone in the family will love playing this exciting game.

Downsides

As the game is made with foam pieces, they may include a toxic smell that can ruin gameplay.

Why we love it

Not many games encourage physical activity, but this game does making it a winner, especially on bad weather days.

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Don’t Rock The Boat

Turn your table into a penguin pirate ship with the Don’t Rock The Boat board game.

Benefits

Children need to keep penguins from falling out of the boat and into shark-infested waters. However, they need to keep finding new places to add another piece to the ship. It’s a fun choice for children who have issues with reading and counting.

Downsides

The game does not improve reading or counting. Also, the game has a lot of pieces that can get lost and scattered.

Why we love it

Nothing sounds better than children giggling, and this game will have kids laughing for hours.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best board games for 5-year-olds?

The board games above are the best options to help kids learn skills and have fun. Try to pick a game that incorporates reading if your child needs help to encourage reading in a fun way. Our favorite is Zingo for reading or number skills.

How do you entertain a five-year-old?

Entertaining a five-year-old can be a challenge. The best way to engage them is with imaginative play. Find games and toys that enhance creativity and imagination to help them build their own fantasy world and encourage role-playing. Also, allow kids to entertain themselves instead of expecting someone else to engage them, so they learn to be in charge of themselves.

What can five-year-olds do?

At five years old, children can do almost everything older kids can do but not at the same level. They are still learning math, reading, and the vast majority of skills at their tender age. Focus may be the biggest problem, so make sure anything you want your child to do it in short bursts to work with their attention spans.

What can a five-year-old do when bored?

When children are bored, they need to learn to entertain themselves. Provide toys that encourage imaginative play and creativity, preferably without making a mess. If they have a friend or a sibling, a board game is a fantastic way to prevent boredom.

How do I keep my five-year-old busy?

Provide five-year-olds with the tools they need to entertain themselves and encourage role-playing. Kids at five years old should be able to keep themselves busy with toys and their imagination.

What are some good board games for families?

All of the board games above are good for families. You can also buy a deck of cards and try out simple games like Go Fish or War.

What are the best family board games of all time to play with a five-year-old?

We love classic games that stand the test of time, like Candy Land, Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble, and Hungry Hungry Hippo. Parents remember the games from their childhood and pass the excitement for the game down to their children.

What are the top board games for five-year-olds in 2021?

Candy Land is the top board game for five-year-olds in 2021 and has been for many years before. The game is colorful, entertaining, and teaches valuable skills to encourage learning. Also, the game is a lot of fun to play for any age group, and setup does not take a lot of time.

Closing Thoughts: Why buy a board game for your 5 year old?

At five years old, kids are ready to try more advanced games and have a blast in the process. As children have short attention spans at this age, games are a positive way to incorporate learning in short bursts. Find the right game for your child and help them to have a blast without electronics.