Strategy Games for Young Children

According to Scholastic, board games have many benefits for young children, including building skills in language, teamwork, focus, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. In particular, strategy games help children learn about cause and effect, and planning ahead.

Here are some fun strategy games for young children that the whole family can enjoy as well.

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game

Ages 3+

This color-matching strategy game is a fun way to help your child build fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and learn about animals as well. For 2-4 players, the whole family can enjoy this game.

My First Carcassone

Ages 4+

Carcassone is a popular strategy game for adults, and My First Carcassone is a kid-friendly version. Using illustrated tiles, players must build out the city of Carcassone as well as the outlying areas to figure out how to catch animals. Unlike the original version, there is no score and a shortened timeframe.

Qwirkle

Ages 6+

Qwirkle is a matching game featuring bright colors and shapes. Players place their tiles according to the tiles around them, and involves problem-solving and planning. The game is easy to learn, but challenging for all ages.

Connect 4

Ages 6+

Over the years, generations of children have learned basic strategy skills from Connect 4. Its two-person format encourages concentration and problem-solving as children consider the other player’s potential next move.