Games are excellent tools for building skills of all kinds. With the recent emphasis on STEM in schools, parents and caregivers will be glad to know they can reinforce students' learning by playing STEM games at home.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. One of the key ways kids can succeed in these subjects to draw upon a growth mindset and these STEM games are perfect for developing the logic and perseverance that are essential for a growth mindset!
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You'll find several categories of games below:
- Logic and Engineering
- Strategy and Spatial Development
- Math and Logic
- Coding and Technology
- Science and Strategy
- Problem Solving and Cooperation
For more games you'll love, visit: family games that build executive function skills.
Logic and Engineering
Gravity Maze
Find it: Amazon
Gravity Maze, by ThinkFun, is fantastic for developing kids' visual perception, logic and reasoning skills. The game includes a set of translucent tower mazes in various colors, a building tray, metal marbles and a set of challenge cards (ranging from beginning to expert). Each challenge cards dictates a starting point for tower build, indicating which towers are used, and where the marble exit point should be. Players attempt to build a marble run according to the parameters indicated on each challenge card.
You will also like: SINGLE PLAYER LOGIC GAMES
Strategy and Spatial Development
Almost all of the traditional diy board games I regularly feature could fall into this category, "strategy and spatial development." However, I will highlight a pair we love. Check out all the traditional games from around the world you can make yourself here.
Five Field Kono
Find it: Learn how to play Five Field Kono
Five Field Kono is an excellent choice for kids who love games like Chinese Checkers. It's a battle-type abstract strategy game from Korea in which players aim to move their team to the opposite side of the board. Players have to strategize and think ahead in order to be successful.
Mū Tōrere
Find it: Learn how to play Mū Tōrere here (We even have a free printable board!)
Mū Tōrere is played by the Maori people of New Zealand. The objective is to prevent your opponent from moving by creating a blockade. The star shaped game board is a fun twist and keeps players on their toes.
Math and Logic
Math Tic Tac Toe
Find it: Learn how to play Math Tic Tac Toe here (with tips for helping kids learn strategy)
This basic math game is perfect for the early grades when kids are working on adding more than two numbers. It helps children practice mental math skills, which are crucial for math success in school. Kids will also have to use basic strategy skills because in order to win you really have to plan ahead. Watch the video above to see my son and I playing the game!
Prime Climb
Find it: Amazon
Prime Climb is excellent for kids ages 10 and up. It's fairly fast paced and has won a zillion awards, for good reason. Playing Prime Climb requires kids to exercise their multiplication and division skills, while also teaching about prime numbers. Watch the video above to see how it's played!
Coding and Technology
Hacker
Find it: Amazon
Hacker is a cybersecurity game for ages 10 and up that can be played solo or as a cooperative game. We ended up playing it more often as a cooperative game but it is interesting enough that teens will want to disappear into their rooms with the game to attempt to complete all 120 challenges! There are three steps to the challenges: "code it," hack it" and "fix it." It can seem complicated at first, but as always, ThinkFun pulls through with clear instructions.
Potato Pirates
Find it: Amazon
We loved the Potato Pirates family game because 1) who wouldn't love a game with a ton of potato puns, and 2) where else are you going to find a game with tiny potato props? Using sequencing, reasoning and logical thinking, players program attacks on potato pirate ships. The game teaches if/then programming language as well as coding symbols. It is a fun, quirky game that engaged our brains and my son loved playing it. Ages 7 and up.
You will also like: 5 CODING GAMES FOR KIDS
Science Games
We haven't personally tried out a lot of science games, but this list from the people over at Science Friday looks great!
Photosynthesis
Find it: Amazon
Photosynthesis from Blue Orange Games has an environmental theme. Players focus on growing trees through their life cycle from seed to maturity. Players strategize to "plant" their seeds where they will receive the most light, without being blocked in the future by other, maturing, trees. The artwork is beautiful and adds to the unique game play. We have enjoyed playing this game!
Problem Solving and Cooperation
Virtually every game can fit into this category, but some games rely more heavily on rational thinking than others. For single player games you'll definitely want to check out the best single player logic games for kids, but here are some stellar family games.
Chicken War
Find it: Amazon
Chicken War is not only great for problem solving, it requires players to engage their observation skills and so it was one of our top games for developing visual perception. (<-- see our other top choices.) Chicken War also has a hilarious premise!
Game play consists of collecting a group of chickens (your army!) with several similar elements and discarding the rest. Elements include color, props, and attire. While you are engaged in forming your own chicken army, you must pay very close attention to your opponents’ chickens because the object is to guess what elements they are using to amass their fowl force.
Forbidden Island, Forbidden Desert and Forbidden Sky
Find it: Forbidden Island; Forbidden Desert; Forbidden Sky
We love the Forbidden game series so much, we own all three versions. (It's an addiction, I confess.) They are also the best cooperative games for ages 8 and up. Players must work together to survive encroaching disasters (floods, drought, storms, etc), while gathering items to ensure their escape. One of my favorite aspects of the game is that each team member has a different special skill, which increases communication between players.
Hoot Owl Hoot
Find it: Amazon
For families with younger kids, hands down our favorite problem-solving cooperative game is Hoot Owl Hoot. It was one of our earliest picks for Game of the Month. Players work together to get all the baby owls back to the nest before the sun rises. Young kids love working with their grown-ups to figure out which colored circle is best to fly their babies to on each turn. And lisenting to little ones making hooting noises is too cute!
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