Do you feel like games are just silliness, not a priority, or find yourself avoiding Candy Land in favor of “more important” tasks? It’s normal to feel that way, but let’s rethink it.
Would you say no if your child asked for help editing a paper, solving a math problem, or reading a book? Probably not, because you see the value in those activities. If something feels valuable, you make time for it. Games can be just as important. They deserve a spot on the schedule, right alongside math and reading.
Maybe it’s time to rethink Minecraft too—there’s value in world-building, after all. You were pretty proud of your Sims skills back in the day, right? 😉
Affiliate disclosure: When you click and purchase a link in my post, I may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I promise to only recommend products or places that I have personally want, used, or researched. Thanks in advance for the gallon of gas. 😉
What is Gameschooling?
Gameschooling is an educational and homeschool approach that recognizes the value of game playing and integrates games into the child’s learning experience. Game school homes recognize that board games, card games, online games, and even role-playing games teach academics, critical-thinking, social skills, and problem solving.
The key focus of gameschooling is making education enjoyable while helping students develop critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability in a less structured, stress-free environment. It’s a popular approach in homeschooling because it provides flexibility, caters to different learning styles, and keeps students actively engaged in the learning process. Not to mention, it’s a great way to involve children of varying ages and abilities in a one room schoolhouse model of family learning.
These parents and teachers who have embraced gameschooling have just made a choice to prioritize time spent in incorporating fun. But it does require a mental shift. It’s difficult to make time for a round of Qwirkle when “everyone else” is handing math workbooks and textbooks to their kids.
- Board games for subjects like math, history, or language arts.
- Card games enhance skills such as strategy, memory, dexterity or speed.
- Online games allows for subjects like science, language learning, coding, or typing.
- Creative games like role-playing or building games (e.g., “Minecraft”) that foster imagination and innovation. Don’t tell me that house your kid spent all week building doesn’t have value!
- Family fun games that just allow fun and laughter and family bonding. Sometimes the most important.
Listen up, moms and dads. Choose to see the beauty in games for their learning value in addition to the fun and bonding it allows with kids. Are you going to wish your child had one more addition math drill sheet when they’re grown up? Or are you going to be so glad you had laughter as your kid once again beat you at Set. Just don’t tell him all the logic he was working through as he made the matches.
Benefits of Using Games in Homeschooling
The use of games in homeschooling offers a range of powerful benefits that extend beyond just keeping children entertained. Yes, I understand that it’s difficult to prioritize sitting down to play a game when there’s the math or paper writing that you’re “behind” in – ya’ll know I don’t believe in such. Let’s change your mindset, and here’s a deeper look at why games should be a staple in your homeschool curriculum.
Games are more than just a fun activity—they are an invaluable educational tool that promotes engagement, critical thinking, creativity, and life skills. By incorporating games into your homeschool routine, you’re not only making learning enjoyable but also building a strong foundation for your child’s academic and personal growth. Don’t believe me? Check out the real world example below.
~~~> If you’re a new homeschool family or just looking at your options, make sure you head over to my epic homeschool round up page where I have linked all my articles about homeschooling and our Classical Conversations journey. “Homeschool: Unlock the Freedom of Family Learning Now”
Playing Quixx: A Real-World Gameschool Example
Consider putting down the addition worksheet to pick up Quixx. This game is listed as for ages 8 and up. However, my littlest started playing this game at about four. He was just working on adding small numbers. I could tell him that he’s too young or not good enough at math (please don’t do that) while playing with the older kids. Or I could see if we needed any adjustments, and let him have a go!
This game Qwixx is my top recommendation for kids who need to work on basic addition facts as your roll six dice on each of their turns, adding each dice combination to figure out what number they want to color in on their board. Teachers would call this subitizing – recognizing groups of things (dots) as a number without having to count. I call it “letting my little kid count the dots to add until he is able to do it without counting”. But Qwixx isn’t just about math!
- He is strategizing as he chooses which line is the better choice and watches other plays.
- He’s working on fine motor as he grips the pen, picks up dice, and throws them.
- He’s teaching the bigger kids that they need to be patient if he needs more time.
- He’s tracking the dice with his eyes and listening to make sure they all landed where they were supposed to.
- He’s sitting up a table instead of lounging, working on core strength. (It’s a skill. Ask a teacher how many kids fall out of their chairs!)
- He’s adding double digit numbers and subtracting penalties at the end of the game.
- His math skills are getting better and better each time as he is constantly adding.
- Not to mention… He doesn’t even know he’s learning. He’s just having fun with mom during some one-on-one time.
Doesn’t this sound better than giving your kid another math drill worksheet? PS: If you haven’t heard of Jo Boaler, her book Mathematical Mindsets and her YouTube videos about being good at math completely changed the way I look at math in homeschool. Go check her out!
10 Ways to Make Game Schooling Work for You
1) Play the Game and Ignore the Age Limits
Don’t limit your kids by the age requirement listed on the game box. Yes, make sure it doesn’t say it’s for ages 12 to 16 and purchase it for your six year old, but a few years of age difference shouldn’t hold you back.
Let the littles learn alongside the big kids. Peer pressure works great for kids to do things outside of their normal age limit. My littlest was beating his brother and sisters at Set at four years old. Not to mention, he could run circles around his grandparent at memory games. If they don’t have the math skills needed, simply take the game at a slower pace, and they will surprise you with how quickly they learn those math skills.
Qwirkle is again a favorite example – we do love it so! Although he was a bit too young for the mental math to add up the score, he used a hundreds chart and marked off as he moved his piece up. This didn’t mean he wasn’t ready for the game. He just needed a little help which was figured modeled for him easily.
~~~> I’ve created the ultimate homeschool mom gift guide! Books, travel and nature supplies, homeschool supplies, and more. Save this, share it with your family and friends, and let’s use these homeschool gifts to encourage other homeschool moms.
2) Replicate the Favorite Family Games
Think about the games that your family plays on repeat. Does your son tend to prefer dice games with tactile, noisy pieces? Do the girls love beautiful, colorful pictures? Quick or longer games? Complicated or simple?
Figure out the family favorite games that actually get played, and get more like those. You know that your family will most likely be drawn to play the new ones. Once I figured out that I personally like dice games (and will play them), my game shopping changed. This just may keep your newest game from collecting dust on the shelf.
3) Ditch the Game Instructions and Watch It
Does this sound familiar? You buy a new game. You’re trying to read the rules and teach your kids, but they’re getting more and more frustrated. Then, everyone wants to give up before you ever get to play it the new game. This is when my kids have said that I’m were a really bad game teacher. Not the best first impression.
Here’s what I do. Search for the game on You Tube and watch the directions and demonstration together. This tip makes new game play (or rule refreshing) much less stressful. I also use this strategy to research new games to see if we would enjoy it. A game that sits in the closet maybe $50 you’ll never get back.
4) Change the Rules of Game Play
At three, my youngest wasn’t technically old enough to play Qwirkle, but it allowed him to “play with” the colors and shapes and patterns. Even if he did nothing more than stack the pieces, you just got bonus use out of a family favorite game. Double the value!
I told you how to learn the game rules, but now you have permission to change them. The board game police are not going to show up and tell you that you were supposed to go around the board twice instead of once. Simplify the confusing or long parts. Make it work better for different ages.
It’s your game. Use it as you want! Just make sure you know the real game rules, so you can play with friends.
5) Find The Game That Mom Loves to Play
Maybe it isn’t that you don’t like to play games; instead, you just haven’t found the YOUR game. Borrow from friends, ask around, and find a fun game that Mom and Dad would even play just the two of you. Remember, just because you don’t like a game that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. They’re making your opinions their own! If you start calling a game stupid or pointing out why the kids shouldn’t like it, they won’t want to play it either… Then you’re back to wasting your money.
A word of caution: When your kids asks you to play a game, don’t just say no. The last thing you want is for them to quit asking you! Rephrase your response as “What if we play ___ instead?”.
Mom-Approved Family Games
My kids know which games I like and are more likely to bring those to me to play. They don’t bring me strategy games like Santorini or Chess. A busy grown-up brain doesn’t always have the attention or time to commit to long games. Keep them short and beautiful. And you totally have permission to beat your kid in a game!
- Azul Tile Board Game – This is my favorite game to play. The tiles and patterns just make me feel like I’m vacationing in Mexico. This is strategy and matching. Scoring on this game (like Ticket to Ride) gives the option of just moving the pawn up the score board; this makes it easier for littles.
- Splendor Board Game – Collect the cards with the jewels to trade up. Bonus that it’s constant math!
- Mastermind – This is a genius logic game. It makes our brains work, and I’m always willing to beat their score.
6) Remember that Expensive Games Aren’t Better
The big, new (expensive) games look beautiful and every one is buying them (or so Instagram would tell you). And, yes, you can be a gameschooler without an entire wall of games in cute boxes. Don’t fall for the peer pressure. Fancier and costly doesn’t mean better for your family.
Inexpensive games can be great, and honestly, most of the unused games in my house are the expensive ones. While we do love Ticket to Ride, it takes a lot of time and space to play. In contrast, the $10-$15 open-and-go games get pulled out all the time.
Don’t hesitate to buy used games either. Thrift stores and garage sales are my favorite place to score a $3 game. Yes, sometimes you are taking a gamble that a piece might be missing but will your game play really be affected if you’re missing the rope from Clue? Nope. If you’re blessed to have a library that lets you borrow games, take advantage of that. I so wish we had that option!
As of posting, this game Blink is listed for $7 and is 11 years old. We carry this game on trips and play it way more often than all the Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride and Santorini in our closet. If you’re wanting a true game investment, think small and fast.
7) Take Gameschooling on Road Trips
For several homeschool travel years, I took workbooks with grand, misguided plans to have sit down school time on trips. Guess what? I never got them out of the bag which took up space in the car for months. If you’re travelling short term, leave all the “real school” at home and embrace gameschool. Your kids are just as able to practice math skills on a game as a worksheet.
~~~> If you’re wanting to take your family out on the road and plan your next road trip, head over to “Learn to Plan the Ultimate Road Trip.” Or just steal my lengthy itinerary for the “Ultimate Virginia Road Trip” to take your kids to all the essential US history sites like Monticello, Jamestown, and Williamsburg.
Check Out These Family Favorite Travel Games
You can’t play games when you travel if you don’t have them with you, right? This is also not the time to take the big complicated games but the family favorites. Fast, quick, and small is the way to pack. They take up less space, and there is a much higher chance that they will pick that over mindless cartoons on the hotel TV.
- Qwixx Card Game – Top family favorite! It goes with us many places. Warning: this one might count as math.
- Skyjo Card Game – The whole family will compete to get the lowest score. This is similar to the card game Golf. Math, negative numbers, speed, and fun.
- 3Up3Down Card Game – Think Uno but different. This one is easy to join in, start, and explain.
- Qwirkle Block Game – Family favorite for all ages! This comes in a bag – extra bonus for easy transport. Littles can also use it for play time.
- Phase 10 Card Game – A great group game to get older family members willing to play. Uno meets Rummy.
- Blink Card Game – With quick five minute games, go head to head matching colors and shapes. Also great for teens heading out with friends.
- Pass the Pigs – Who can pass up tossing little pigs? There’s a reason this one has been around for a while! It’s easy enough for all ages.
- Dutch Blitz Card Decks – Get this double set because everyone else will join in. Like the classic card game Nerts, it’s like competitive Solitaire. And it’ll get rowdy!
8) Keep The Games Close and Accessible
Your kids will play games that they see frequently and have easy access to. Games that are kept upstairs in a kid’s closet require extra effort. A busy mom juggling four kids doesn’t want to go search for Mastermind, pull it out of the stack, watch the stack topple, and then have to clean up all the pieces all over the floor. I know I’m not the only one with the leaning tower of kid stuff.
- Pick five or so current favorites and keep them in the living room.
- Rotate them every few weeks and rediscover those forgotten favorites.
- Keep some next to the breakfast table for after morning time.
- Hide them in the living room to pick games over TV show.
- Invest in some one-person games for in-room quiet time.
I love when I hear giggles and realize that all the kids have gathered to play a board game together without me doing anything. They did it because they could get to it easily.
9) Give Games as Gifts to Others and Self
A new game makes the best gift. For friends, for kids, for teachers… Everyone needs more games in their lives, and there’s no better way to increase your own game collection, than by gifting them to yourself – I mean kids 🙂 . And don’t forget to load your Christmas list with games from Grandma too.
Think of it as Oprah’s favorite things. If you love something, share it with others. Match a game to their personality and show that you know what they like. Bonus? Once they know how to play, they can play with your family!
And remember how I said to “find your game”? It’s completely allowed to gift yourself a game you want to play when no one else gets the hint to buy it for you.
10) Play the Same Game. Again. And Again.
You know how your kids love to read Goodnight Moon over and over again? You are so tired and recite it more than read it, but the kid keeps bringing it to you before bed. There are shelves of books, but it’s the same ones again and again.
If your kid wants to play round after round of Quixx, let him, and be willing to keep playing. He’s having fun, it’s already out, and you won’t have to review the rules again. This is one of those instances where Mom just needs to change the expectations.
Having favorite games just means they’re getting better at it. You’re not going to say, “You have mastered the basketball hoop. Move on to baseball.” Similarly, sit back and watch them develop their strategy, add their scores faster, and start to beat you.
How do you start using games in your family and homeschool? Ten dollars, patience, and a change in mindset. I hope you are encouraged to take the time to play a game today!
I’m always looking for games to add to my collection that will last. What are some of your family’s favorite games that I need to add to my game stack?
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
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