Looking easy games to play with grandparents? Here are a few simple board games that will make it easy for kids and grandparents to connect!
Integrating Grandma and Grandpa into your family game night is a great way to stay connected. We are thankful our Nana and Papa are always up for learning new games. Over the years, they've played Sorry, Candyland, Chess, and even Catan with us. Papa is a strategist!
Our lovely, little Gamer Daughter 1 (above six years old, now seven!) put together a list of the games she enjoyed playing most with her Nana and Papa. I added a few parent-to-parent notes sharing why they are great games to play with grandparents!
Games To Play With Grandparents
Forget Candyland! Richard Scarry's Busytown, Eye Found It Toddler Game is a must-have for grandparents of toddlers & preschoolers. Read more about why we love this 6-foot long board game for young kids. This collaborative family game is perfect for multi-generational play.
We've had this Memory Game for over ten years. We got it when my daughter was three and at 13 she still would play it with me on mom-and-me coffee shop dates. Read more about why we believe playing memory with young kids is so important. We love this for grandkids because playing matching games with young kids is a an opportunity for them to REALLY BEAT grandma and grandpa at a game.
You really can't go wrong with this classic. Most grandparents already know how to play and little kids love it. I admit, this is NOT my favorite game, which means it stays and Nana and Papa's house!
Dixit is a unique game that is easy to learn, inspires the imagination, and is perfect for multi-generational game nights. Read this full Dixit game review about why we love it. This game is perfect for grandparents playing with a group of grandkids who are various ages. Dixit is fun at six and sixteen!
Another classic that most grandparents know how to play!
This is another great game to play with grandparents because it is cooperative — in other words, you work together. Again, a great option when you're trying to bring a wide variety of ages together for game night.
Wits & Wagers is a MUST-HAVE game for family game night. Technically it is a "trivia game," but the catch is that the questions are so outlandish, no one EVER knows the answers. This makes it fun for kids as young as three to "partner up" with another family member to form a team.
The whole point of the game is to try to guess whose guess is the best. Very much like Apples to Apples, but way more entertaining for adults.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are multiple variations of this game. We have them all, but this Party Edition is the one you want. The others are too complex and confusing!
This is a go-to favorite when our kids visit their grandparents. It is perfect because it gives grandparents something to do while chatting with their tween and teen grandkids. The game description says "adult," but if your kids can count and know card suits, or can play Rummikub, Five Crowns is easy to learn!
This fun game is great for playing collaboratively. At our house, usually I or my partner does the set-up and the kids team up with their grandparents to try and solve the mystery. While it is geared towards older kids and adults, you'd be surprised at how helpful little kids can be when brainstorming solutions!
If you have a longer period of time, this is a great game to play with grandparents and teens. The humor of the game brings laughter and silliness back into the relationship — which is much needed during this age!
If your parents are passionate about a classic game like chess, cribbage, rummi, or bridge — let them lead. Most children are happiest when the adult they are playing with is also truly enjoying the game. You'd be surprised how quickly young kids can pick up complex games if they're having fun with someone they love.
That being said, you're never too old to learn a new game! When my daughter expressed interest in chess, her Papa rose to the occassion.
She loved playing with this traveling chess board on hot cocoa dates at our local coffee shop when she was young. This travel set was perfect for going back and forth between our house, the coffee shop, and weekend sleepovers at the grandparents!
FIND THE BEST GAMES FOR FAMILIES
Still looking for the perfect choice for game night with the grandparents? Our gaming family has got you covered when it comes to board games for kids. Learn a bit more about some of the family favorites mentioned about in these full reviews!
Hosting Game Night With Grandparents
Playing board games with grandparents is one of the easiest ways for kids to connect. Ensure your family game night is stress-free with these tips!
You're an awesome parent for facilitating this opportunity for you kids and their grandparents. Props to you, my friend!
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