My Favorite Board Games and Why I Keep Coming Back to Them

   There’s a certain nostalgic feeling to opening up a favorite board game that you often played as a child. When you pull out the games to share it with others to play, you begin building up a new set of memories, while also reliving the past but still enjoying the present. Over the years, I’ve played dozens of board games—but there are a few I always go back to. They’re the ones I reach for again and again, whether I’m playing with family, friends, or introducing someone new to the hobby.

   Here are some of my personal favorites—and why they keep making it back to the table.

1. Uno

  

It’s a classic! Uno is endlessly replayable and beautifully simple. I have several memories of playing it with my family, as a child. And when I started my own family, I taught my son how to play it and he’s won quite a few hands since learning! It not only teaches kids about numbers and colors, but also how to build that hand dexterity, trying to hold all those cards! 😆 

2. Scrabble

As someone who loves words, this game is right up my alley. It has a peaceful, yet brainy vibe to it, having to think up the spelling of words so you can make a play. This game can take far too long if you are impatient, but it is good for the mind and can become silly if you allow it! Especially if you add a rule that you can only choose words based on a theme. It can become ridiculous but fun!

3.  Pictionary

Dusting off the artistic ability, whether you have it or not, this game requires a fast drawing pace and an imagination! It makes me laugh *and* think. This word-association party game is always a hit, especially with larger groups. I love guessing on others drawings, hoping to score a point for the team! It’s clever, quick, and just chaotic enough to be a crowd-pleaser.

4. Sorry!

This game is silly, clever, and perfect for families. The theme is to get from start to home, but with all the possibilities of sliding, colliding, and getting sent back to start. It will literally have you saying “sorry!” to the other opponents, but in a funny, competitive, way! Plus you get to choose your favorite color as your pawn so you know winning will be on your side. 😉

More than just a little time waster (haha) these games have brought me closer to the people I play with. They’ve sparked conversations, healthy rivalries, and lots of laughter. Some have helped teach kids planning and patience; others have helped me unwind after a long week.

What About You?

I’d love to hear what games have made your favorites list. What do you keep going back to?

 Let me know in the comments or share your all-time favorite game night memories!

Having Fun While Learning With Financial Games For Kids

 

   When it comes to learning, it goes a lot further if you make it fun too, and with Mortgage Calculators long list of Free Financial Video games for kids, you can find just that! They have over 150 online games to play, that teach lessons on debt and money saving, the economy, how to manage a business, and so much more! There are games that appeal to many interests, such as painting, landscaping, real estate, construction, farming, shopping, ect. so every child can find something they like, and will learn something new along the way. 

   They even have games of trade, like Harbor Operator where you can guide ships for them to unload their freight at the port, and then you direct them where they need to go, making sure they do not crash into the other incoming/outgoing boats. You match each ship to their designated color and steer them in the direction to go when it's time to leave. This game is fun and can be sped up or slowed down to fit the players interest.

 

   If your child is into coding, they have an adorable game called Code Panda where you insert the directions for the panda to move on the grid, with new moves becoming available after each level. Once you have the correct directions in place, you click -run- for the panda to reach the bamboo to eat. You can choose which level to start at, each one getting harder to compose but it's enjoyable and challenging all in one. 

   Another interesting game is Twin the Bin, where you have to catch the specific recyclables they tell you to, receiving points for catching each one that is right, and losing points when you catch the wrong thing. There is also Sort the Trash, it's similar to Twin the Bin, going faster with each level, but it tells you what items are and aren't recyclable, which is great to teach children the difference of what is what and where it goes, when they are sorting through their used items in real life. 

   I find myself really enjoying the hidden object games, like the game What's Grandma Hiding. You read along on the conversation with grandma, and other people you chat with, so it's like reading a story as you go, but it also becomes very challenging, trying to find all the objects requested. The different room options you get to choose from to search through, are all so beautifully illustrated and the calming music that plays is so relaxing. 

   You can spend hours of entertainment on this site, no matter your age, there will be a game for you to enjoy! Due to the amount of opportunity and the way each game teaches something new, I think this is an excellent addition to your homeschool curriculum or after school fun. If you're child is going to have screen time, it might as well be with something worthwhile! 

   Visit mortgagecalculators.com to check out their ever growing list of amazing online games to play. The games are free and provides hours of fun and learning! 

Hours of Fun and Entertainment with Culinary Schools Gaming For Kids

 

      As a long term Foodie, I of course love all things food and food related, that includes playing games that have edible concepts to them, like serving delicious drinks in a cafe or stacking up pancakes to see how many you can pile up before they fall! Culinary Schools has a multitude of games for kids, but there are even some great ones adults will enjoy too. 

   I have really been enjoying the We Bare Bears Chocolate Artist Game, where you have to serve each customer their requested cup of chocolate, based on the squiggle design in the foam. If you serve multiple customers at once, you receive combos where you score even more points! With every new level, the requests get harder and more intense so your mind has to really start working to keep up with it all. I love this kind of challenge for your mind, because I believe it helps keep your brain fresh and healthy. 

   Another game I've been enjoying is Penguin Cafe. It's a game where you play as a penguin waitressing to serve all of the guests that visit. You heave to seat them at their table, take their order, deliver their food, and clean up to receive your money when they leave, and you must make sure to get it all done quick enough as to not upset them. You can really spend a lot of time in this game, trying to level up and earn more coins to buy items you need, such as ice skates to move even faster. It's really a lot of fun and the graphics are adorable! 

   If you want an easier game that just kind of passes time yet you will find it enjoyable, check out the Pancake Pileup, where you literally just pile up the pancakes as high as they can go before they tumble over. If you catch them quick enough, you might even be able to smooth out the pancake tower by placing pancakes on the edges before it topples! This game is simple but so entertaining, and it really leaves you wanting to indulge in some delicious homemade pancakes ;) 

   If none of those games sound intriguing, Culinary Schools has more than just foodie type games. They have Sim style games where you can have a business to care for, styled around a hobby you enjoy. They have puzzles and platform games, instrument simulators, word searches, holiday themed fun, and so much more!! There are hundreds of games to sift through, each one being so much fun and hold hours of entertainment. I like that so many of them are great for the mind, and also hold teaching capabilities too. As a former homeschool teacher, I think there are several great games you could add in to your curriculum, to give your children an entertaining and enjoyable way of learning. And as I mentioned before, these games can be great for any age, so if you don't have children or they think they're too grown to play, you could even find some games you would enjoy! I know I did :) 

   Check out CulinarySchools.org and browse through their large collection of games to find the ones you most enjoy. The games are free to play and will allow you to explore a variety of opportunity. This site also has guides to help children understand more about the culinary world, recipes, craft ideas, resources for conversions calculators, future careers and more!