Product Roundups — games

Encouraging kids to play outside is one of the best investments we can make in their health, happiness, and development. There are a host of benefits to playing in the outdoors, but we know all-too-well that putting down the screens to go out and enjoy the sunshine isn't always easy. Here are a few products that can help with that, too. 

Board games are great for children’s learning and development, but they have also been great ways to connect with my children. Putting everything else aside for 20 minutes to focus on playing a game together can be such a great experience. Here are some of our favorite board games that even preschoolers can play.

Blocks are classic, versatile toys with so many applications. You can build with them, use them to build letter & word recognition, or bring in other toys for make-believe & storytelling foundations. Here’s our list of favorite block sets that make our list for toddler & preschool fun.   

Aside from lunch and recess (ah, some things never change!), many students seem to like art class best these days as well. The benefits that art offers children are limitless. 

There’s still a blanket of snow outside, and on weekends it’s often difficult to muster the energy to get the kiddos suited up for outdoor play. That’s when puzzles come to mind: they’re a parent’s screen-free lifesaver. Here are our favorites, broken down by age, worth a second look.

While my son can keep a single game of Monopoly going for days, I'd just assume pack it up at the end of the day & pray everyone’s still on speaking terms. The game always starts out with such optimism but it quickly snowballs into all-out class warfare. If Monopoly isn’t your cup of tea, here are a few other family-friendly games for all ages that won't cause rifts.