Games for Kids and Adults

Winter time is a perfect time to play games. It is too snowy and cold outside so the best thing to do is pop up some hot, buttery, microwave popcorn, and pull out some card games and board games. There are many games that your children can play that will keep them busy for hours on those frosty afternoons in January and February when the excitement of the holidays has past. There also many ideas for games for the parents and older children that can be played while the younger ones are playing their games or have gone to bed.

Here are a few ideas for children’s games that can be enjoyed any time of year, but are especially fun when it’s winter time and you are stuck inside the house with a big bowl of popcorn and a steaming, cup of hot cocoa by your side.

1. Chutes and Ladders/Candyland: These are a couple of classic games that are easy to play for younger children and are fun because of the little people used. In CandyLand the cards have candy on them. These games are some of my own kids’ favorites.

2. Memory games: These games are fun because the kids love to match the cards and see the different picture on each card. This game is available in all kinds including My Little Pony, Dora, and other themes.

3. Coloring and Activity Books: Kids love to color and show their parents how good they can stay in the lines and enjoy the praise that parents give them. They also enjoy the dot-to-dot and other activities that come in many of the coloring books that are sold nowadays.

Take time as parents in playing these games with your children to teach them how to play. At times you can let them play by themselves and their siblings, but all children like to play with their Mom and Dad every now and again. Play with them on any day, but it is a lot of fun to set a special night aside for the whole family to play games together.

It is fun to play with your kids, but parents and your older children need time to play games that are a little more challenging. Here are a few ideas of games that can be played with as little as 2 people.

1. Racko or Phase 10: These are a couple of my favorite games. These card games require little set up and can be played with 2 or up to 6 people. My wife and I have enjoyed many games of Racko over the years (I think I am the all-time leader).

2. Monopoly or Risk: These board games are a couple more of my favorites. I have spent many hours over the years (especially in my teen years) playing Risk.
Monopoly is a lot of fun, too. It is amazing how competitive we get even as adults when it comes to games.

3. Any new game: My wife’s brother is a game expert. He loves to play games and has a lot of games that I have never heard of. Take the time to learn some new games and find which ones you really enjoy. A couple of games that my brother-in-law introduced to me were Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Cataan. I have played the game Ticket to Ride many times now and it is one of my favorite board games.

Playing games together is a great way to spend time with your children, your spouse, your siblings, your friends, and your whole family. It’s important to spend quality time interacting with one another and enjoying something together as a family. Have a great winter and pull out those games to have lots of fun (at least until Spring).


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