Standout board games for young kids with disabilities

We all know about Scrabble, Monopoly, and Connect Four; classic board games American families know and love. But there are hundreds of other board games out there that are just as exciting. While you may not be able to afford to enroll your child in expensive classes or take them on a trip somewhere this Winter, you can still buy a new board game, and by doing so, you’ll infuse some fresh fun into their life without stressing about funds. With that said, here are some easy-to-play board games that are guaranteed to put a smile on your child’s face.

• Go old-school with chess: Chess is one of the oldest games on the planet and is a classic game every child should learn how to play, if they are capable. If your child has upper-body limitations, bigger pieces are available at most game stores. You can also set-up a chess board on their stander, making standing a time for intellectual development as well. And remember, playing board games (and chess is a perfect example of this) is an excellent way to teach your child the concept of rules, as well as the importance of following them. A great Winter night pastime to boot.

• Classic wooden tic-tac-toe: There’s a certain charm to wooden board games, and wooden tic-tac-toe boards like this are super fun. First and foremost, the x’s and o’s are large, making it easy for children with upper-body limitations to flip each square. Second, it’s a fast and easy-to-learn game and for some strange reason, it never gets boring. How does that work?!

• Challenge their memory with Guess Who: I loved Guess Who? as a child, and while I didn’t have a disability growing up, in retrospect, this easily-flippable game is perfect for kids with all types of disabilities simply because it doesn‘t require much movement. Each player gets their own board, which is comprised of dozens of human faces on pieces you either flip up/down. Try to guess the face your opponent has by the process of elimination, much like the classic card game Memory.

• Dinner Games: This award-winning game from Mindware is an easy game to play at dinnertime and definitely makes the evening meal much more fun than the norm. The game is comprised of several card games that you play with the people sitting at the table, like Counting Moo, a game that uses numbers and math, and requires nothing out of your child except a sharp mind (and a hungry stomach).

For more recommendations of fantastic board games for children of all ages, visit BestToyGuide.com

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Freeman