Want your kids to have great cognitive skills and enhanced brain power? Get your hands on the best memory board games for kids to do so!

Children are like a blank canvas. They can be painted and colored as whatever the parent or guardian requires. All parents want the child to inherit their best traits and their best skills but, what about the part that parents CAN teach their kids. 

Making sure that a child has an environment where he or she feels stimulated to learn without being overwhelmed and memorized without hesitation is very much crucial for the proper and adequate development of the child. 

Until the age of 5, kids are at the best age to learn new skills. This includes language, communication, voice tones, facial expression, and mimicking actions. This is the age where kids learn a lot by picking up things from their environment. 

Making sure that you’re giving your child the best chance at learning new skills and having strong memory is a must. And what better way to teach a child than through games. To stimulate a child in a fun little environment where he or she can learn and memorize by experiencing and visualizing things. 

While some children can sit about and play games all day, some prefer the game to be a bit more active. This is where you need to observe the nature of your child to make sure their toys are suitable for them. 

Board games, in general, are the best types of games to play with your kids as they are not only encouraging but are also actively challenging for the child. Children around the age of 5 have an attention span of about 2 to 5 minutes. 

Kids need to be stimulated to stay interested in the game and not grow bored or tired of it. Memory building requires strong focusing power and a prolonged attention span. This is something a board game should be able to bring to the table.  

Kids are, of course, more likely to get the most out of the situation due to their learning age and curious nature. A test study conducted in 2019 concluded that people who regularly played board games performed better in memory tests than those who don’t. 

With that, there is no other option left, you have to give board games a try.

Best Memory Board Games for Kids – Comparison Table

Best Memory Board Games – Product Reviews

The Top 10 Memory Board Games for Kids out there

Best Memory Board Games for Kids – Buying Guide

Once you’ve made up your mind, all that’s left to do is to just go and get one. But which one to pick? Board games for kids have so much variety which can be good since it can help you narrow down to one product that fits your requirements. 

But, for the most part, it is quite overwhelming. Firstly, you need to make a shortlist of yes and no’s for the game. This guide will walk you through some of the important checkmarks, Buckle up!

What to look for in Memory Board Games for Kids

Generally, for good board games for kids, there are quite a few things that you need to consider. Board games offer quite a bit but these are a few factors that you should keep in mind in looking for an interactive board game. 

The first factor is the activity level. Kids are not the calmest and stern with their time and routine. With the short attention span, it is nearly impossible to keep a child sitting and concentrating. The board game has to be somewhat activity-based to keep each child intrigued and interested. 

Kids with different energy levels should be able to come together to have a nice gaming time. The second factor is the inclusive play. Just as mentioned in the above point, the game has to be inclusive to your general gentry. 

There has to be something for everyone in the game. The game has to be interesting for kids with higher energy level, it has to be visually stimulating for kids with shorter attention spans, encouraging enough for slow learners. The game has to have something for everyone.

The third factor is the ability of the game to be played again. Now, we know board games are not cheap. They cost a fair share and they shouldn’t be one-timer. The game has to have multiple outcomes to keep the player coming back. As mentioned above, kids are easily distracted. The game has to be interesting each time the kids play to keep them playing.  

Type of Board Game

Board games offer quite a few categories of games. Not only do you need to opt for the set that’s age-appropriate but also that fits the interest and aptitude of your child. Another important factor you need to consider is the fact that what do want the child to take away from the game. 

Most of the time, parents are not mindful of the lesson that the game is teaching them. For instance, slightly older kids should have a little bit of money-saving and managing games to make sure they have a small idea about financial management. Monopoly is the best example. 

Similarly, at times like these, it is important to keep the child moving and active. Since kids are now limited to their homes and rooms, they must have healthy activity throughout to not let the quarantine get the best of them. 

Mental Skills

Now, when a parent is looking for a board game, they usually and unintentionally have it in mind to opt for a game that is challenging for them. Of course, a good game has to be a bit challenging but not frustrating for the children. 

A game too tough or too boring will only add to the stress. That is something we do not need. A gaming time should be a time where the children can let loose. Gaming with friends and family will create lots of good memories but will also help the children to learn while having fun. 

The endorphins released when having fun allows the anxiety and stress levels to decrease and also ensure good mental well-being. To be able to de-stress with your family and siblings while playing will also improve family dynamics and mutual relationships. 

Social Skills

Kids have their social and personality development right around the age of 6. With life experiences and their at-home environment, kids develop a sense of mind and social skills based on what they see. For kids to have good social skills, they need to be put in challenging situations with parental guidance to help them learn how to respond to certain situations. 

Board games do exactly that. Board games allow kids to develop a sense of patience, communication, sharing, and essential personal skills. These essential skills are to be taught to kids in a memorable and fun way. This ensures that the kids are more likely to remember them and use them later on in everyday life. 

Emotional Intelligence 

Board games are the best teaching materials for kids to teach them about the ups and downs of life. Kids tend to be emotionally fragile or mostly confused. They have so much energy and so many emotions that they don’t understand. 

Some of us adults still struggle when dealing with loss and this is something kids should be taught from a young age. A board game has 2 outcomes, either they win or they lose. 

Repetition of board games will teach the kids how to deal with their losses. With parental or some elder’s guidance, the games can teach the kids to deal with loss gracefully and maturely as they are a part of life. Winning also requires patience, skills, and planning which are important life skills to be taught. Wining can also teach them to be humble about their wins. 

Are the Games Entertaining or not?

One of my own fond memories of my childhood is playing games with my siblings and parents, as is for most of us. Kids need to spend quality time with their kids for them to develop a strong emotional bond with the parents. 

Most of the parents now complain about how kids don’t want to leave their phones and tablets. But, you’d be surprised how easy it is to entice kids with board games. Not only will the kids be able to have fun and quality time but they will also be able to learn through their parents how to react to certain situations and develop sensibility. The game has to be fun and not too extensive, so both the kids and elders can have a good time without getting frustrated too much. 

Set up Time

The Setup of each game is different and will depend on the genre and the complexity of the game. Some games will take longer than 20 minutes to set up as the game comes with pawns, boards, and setups. Other than choking hazards, these setups need to be child safe.

Kids are impatient, that we know. They won’t wait around while you dive in the game pack to set up and read the manual to set up the game. Fewer pieces mean that the game can be set quicker and will hence, be more digestible for the kids. If you’re unsure whether the set up will be well suited for your kids, it is best to see reviews or unboxing videos to see if the setup is easy and comprehensive for the kids. 

Easy to Understand

At the end of the day, the game has to be fun. Not every moment can be a teaching moment for the children. The game has to be a way for the kids to unwind and just have fun with their siblings and parents. 

Any game that is too complex and intimidating for the kids will only bring about stress. As each child is different, if you know that your child likes a bit of a challenge and gets annoyed if the game is too easy, then, you must opt for something accordingly. 

Similarly, if your child is interested in literary games, then choosing a flash card-based board game would be apt. But if a child is more of an explorer, then an adventure-based board game would be the best to go for. 

Precautions

The age of your children has a great impact on what type of board game you would opt for. Not only for the game to keep the child interested and occupied but also for the sake of safety. The pawns, dice, and other small pieces are really not ideal for kids under 3. 

Cards and sticks would also pose a poking hazard for younger kids. For cases like these, parental guidance is strictly advised. However, it is almost impossible to keep your children with you at all times. If you know that the child will be spending time alone with the game, do not opt for games that have pieces that could pose a choking, poking, or another hazard.  

FAQs

Final Word 

Board games have come a long way. They have been around for such a long time and there is a reason for that. They teach you so much about life and dealing with the different ups and downs that are a part of life. 

With so much variety available now, it is so easy to get children hooked to a good board game that is well suited for the interest of each child.  Now, of course, it will also create fun little memories for the child of all of the family coming together to play games. 

There are quite a few games with quite a few different genres of the games and each child has different interests and different levels of energy. Choose one of the best memory board games for kids that we have reviewed above and let your kids improve their cognitive skills!

Happy Playing. Folks!