As Paige points out, “Every child is different. Whether cooperative or competitive, there’s a board (or card) game out there that will appeal to every toddler and preschooler. My older son, Augie, has loved playing games since he was 2, and now that he’s 5, we’ve tried quite a few as a family. Chidi Paige, a game designer and science educator, adds that preschoolers like doing things with their hands, so she recommends games that involve dexterity and a timed element as well. “We want kids to learn that they have some say in what happens in their game.” Otherwise, the games won’t be engaging or teach them to think critically.
“You want to look for games that provide age-appropriate strategy opportunities,” says Demers.
Demers recommends allocating about two to three minutes per year of age they are so that the games don’t “overly tax their attention spans and end in frustration.” And just because they’re young doesn’t mean they can’t make strategic choices. Choosing games with short play times to match their natural attention spans is a good place to start and will ensure a smooth game night. As Kelsey Demers, cofounder of the site, the Tabletop Family, tells me, “It’s never too early to start engaging your children in games,” adding that little ones as young as 15 to 24 months will start to show an interest in them. Playing a board game as a family is a fun way to spend quality time together, even if your kiddos are quite young. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers