Playing card or board games can bring families together, teach teamwork skills, provide a break from screens and even support math and reading fluency. Here are our favorites that are also small and portable for vacations or other travel.
It's the time of year when many parents are looking for engaging indoor activities that don't necessarily involve screens or controllers. While it's great to get out to a play space or the library, sometimes a cozy day at home in pajamas hits the spot. Here are some fan favorite board and card games for the 6-to-12 set, perfect for a cozy weekend morning or anytime. All of the games listed also have the added benefit of being small and portable for winter or anytime travel.
Sleeping Queens is easy to learn, quick to play, and portable. Gameplay involves action cards, some light addition, and a game usually lasts no more than 10-15 minutes at the most. Rescue the "sleeping queens" from the game space before your opponents do, and don't get in the way of a knight or sleeping potion along the way! This is a great choice for travel due to its compact size. No reading is required, but there is addition of single digit numbers and some very basic strategy.
Zeus on the Loose, made by the same company, is a math-based strategy game based on figures from ancient Greek mythology. We always look for games where adults don't necessarily have an advantage (games with an element of luck and/or only basic strategy) and this game is a prime example (no pun intended!). Add up combos of numbered and special cards to reach "Mount Olympus" (100) first, but make sure you're in possession of the Zeus figure when you do! While math based, we find that most kids 6 to 7 and up can handle the addition required. Another great portable option for trips or vacations.
Mille Bornes ("a thousand miles" in French) is a classic card game from 1954 that is every bit as fun to play today. Earn miles and get to 1000 before anyone else does - but getting there with a full tank of gas, no flat tires and no speed limit (all of which your opponents are trying to impose upon you) is no easy feat. This gameplay is definitely on the longer side compared to the two above options, so bear that in mind before you start. One other caveat is that this game can be very competitive / combative (at the same time you're trying to earn enough miles to win, you're also trying to block your opponents by throwing "hazards" in their way). One great feature that can offset this is that this game can also be played in teams (one kid and one grownup per team?) - which is how we suggest introducing kids to this classic.
Pass the Pigs is a classic game of risk and reward. Throw the pair of pig-shaped figures on your turn - how they land determines how many points you earn for that roll. Keep it or keep rolling.- the choice is yours! First player to reach 100 points wins. Will you play it safe and keep your just-okay hand? Or throw caution to the wind and roll again? This is another great game where adults don't necessarily have an advantage - and it's super fun to observe kids' different personalities come out through game play (although you probably already know if your kid is the cautious type or...not so much)
Next time your family is heading out of town or just looking for a screen-free activity on a snowy day, give one of the above favorites a try!