educational games for 12 year old boy

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Home • Kid • Play And Activities

29 Super Fun Activities And Games For 12-Year-Olds

Some exciting activities can be great for nurturing the enthusiastic tween brains.

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri, popularly referred to as ‘The Celebrity Shrink,’ is an award-winning neuro-psychiatrist and mental health advocate with over 15 years experience.She is the medical director and psychiatrist-in-chief at Pin... more

Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing... more

Harshita is a graduate in commerce and holds a PG Diploma in Patent and Copyrights Law from NALSAR University. She has also pursued CA and has more than three years of internship experience in auditin... more

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the... more

MomJunction believes in providing reliable, research-backed information to you. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us .

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Adolescence begins at the age of twelve for some, and this period signals a significant change in a child’s behavior and overall personality. You’ll observe a distinct personality, specialized hobbies, and improved cognitive ability. Encouraging them to try different activities for 12-year-olds (tweens) can assist them in meeting their developmental needs . It is also important that you give attention to your child at this age. While it is good to take them camping and fishing, there are several other ways to engage them. This post covers some fascinating and fun activities for tweens to help them with their physical, mental, and socio-emotional development.

Activities for 12-year-old Children

Here are some enjoyable and entertaining activities that your 12-year-old child can indulge in with friends and family.

1. Make a comic book

Creative writing requires imagination. Involving your pre-teen in creative-writing activities can hone their cognitive abilities and promote out-of-the-box thinking. Choosing a theme, writing dialogues, and preparing visuals can encourage them to plan, organize, and present ideas. This productive, self-expressing activity can also boost their self-esteem and confidence . Alternatively, your child can try to draw a comic book containing only characters and no words — a fun and challenging way to fire their imagination.

2. Do a DIY project

DIY projects are based on the concept of “learning by doing,” a perfect way to indulge your tween in self-learning activities. The theme for a DIY project can vary, and it is best to decide on a task that is both engaging and challenging. Building a city using recyclables or preparing an effective plan to minimize plastic waste are some fun and learning DIY projects that can help boost your child’s critical thinking and logical reasoning skills .

3. Learn to code

Gamified coding and computer programming is a fun-filled and creative activity that can provide 12-year-olds an exciting learning experience. Coding can be useful in strengthening their problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills. Besides, it can teach them perseverance. Coding could also progress to robotics.

4. Learn a new language

Learning a new language can help improve your tween’s cognitive and decision-making skills. Besides, it can hone your child’s communication skills that are relevant for personal development. Depending on their interest and preferences, they can learn one or more than one language. You could enroll them in a language class or download a language-learning app.

5. Play a board game

Playing board games , such as Brainstorm or Scrabble, is a joyful, engaging, and learning experience. But, how about preparing one from scratch? Making a board game requires creative skills. Gaming is a great way for your child to come up with a random idea to develop a new board game or work on an existing game by introducing/removing some elements of the game. In either case, your child would be able to experiment, which can help develop their cognitive skills. Moreover, it can boost brain function and build their self-esteem and self-confidence.

6. Solve puzzles

Solving puzzles , like a 1,000-piece puzzle or Rubik’s cube, is challenging, engaging, and entertaining. It can help enhance brain function, boost concentration, improve visuospatial reasoning, and develop problem-solving abilities . Besides, it reduces stress, enhances mood, and improves relationships by allowing effective collaboration. Board games and puzzles are great mental activities.

7. Play card games

Playing strategy card games , like sequence, can teach sportsmanship and patience and improve your 12-year-old’s logical reasoning skills. This way, it is similar to sports. Also, making strategies and playing with a positive spirit can improve their social and communication skills and help build positive relationships.

8. Take part in a STEM scavenger hunt

A STEM scavenger hunt is an age-appropriate indoor activity available in a worksheet format. In these activities, short-answer questions and answer keys are given. These questions are aimed at teaching the basic concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to your child. There are some other forms of STEM scavenger hunts as well. Choose one for your tween based on the desired complexity.

9. Plan a Google Maps adventure

In this exciting activity that promotes outdoor exploration, you have to select and share the screenshots of exciting spots on Google Street View with your child. Next, ask them to guess where that street is and identify some places near that street. There are several apps, like GeoGuessr and Pursued, that you could download for this activity.

10. Outline a novel

If your 12-year-old reads novels, this delightful activity can boost their creative thinking abilities. Assign a theme to your child and instruct them to outline a novel. The outline should include the main characters, the novel’s setting, and the antagonist. They could work on a mystery, thriller, science fiction, or fantasy. Give a week to your child and let them experiment. Discuss the outline with them and guide them to do better. Remember, the child has to come up with an outline and not write a novel.

11. Create a photo collage

It is a joyful craft activity for 12-year-olds with a liking for photography. It involves clicking pictures of a favorite place, item, person, or anything that the child likes and presenting them in a collage. It can stir their imagination, and help them think analytically and express themselves.

12. Brainstorm an idea

Brainstorming an idea with family and peers can help improve your child’s critical thinking and logical reasoning skills and encourage them to be open to different perspectives. To initiate the activity, involve your child in some serious brainstorming sessions and encourage them to come up with ideas on minimizing the family’s monthly expense, plan a low-budget weekend get-together, and revamp the house without professional help. Discuss the ideas that your 12-year-old presents, and give them constructive feedback.

13. Solve an anagram

An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of different words or phrases. For example, FRIED, when rearranged, makes words, like “FIRED.” It may seem simple, but an age-appropriate anagram provides relatively complex words and phrases to solve. Several board games and online activities can train your tween in solving an anagram. Anagramming can help children develop concentration, build vocabulary , and hone problem-solving skills.

14. Prepare a chain reaction

Preparing a chain reaction with dominoes is an entertaining activity involving a science experiment. You could get some self-explanatory domino-effect kits that are suitable for your tween to try the activity independently. Discuss every step in detail. Once acquainted with the concept of the domino effect, challenge the tween to prepare a similar chain reaction with other household materials like popsicle sticks, matchsticks, and paper cups.

15. Learn to play an instrument

Playing an instrument is a joyful activity that trains your brain and improves long-term memory. Also, it increases concentration, improves multitasking ability, and boosts creativity. More importantly, it relieves stress and makes a child feel happy by letting the emotions flow. Bongo, piano, and harmonica are some easy-to-learn instruments that you can suggest to your 12-year-old.

16. Practice woodworking

It is a creative activity in which your 12-year-old can learn to create something useful from waste wood lying in your backyard or lawn. Creating an item from wood involves using nails, hammer, screwdrivers, etc. It can help develop fine and gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. You could ask your kid to build a bird feeder, a hutch for your pet, or a toolbox for your garage.

17. Organize a charity event

Guide your child in organizing a charity event, such as a fundraiser from scratch. Discuss with them the steps involved, like finalizing a charity theme, preparing promotion material, like pamphlets, and inviting people. Taking part in a charity event can help them develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and compassion. Participating in such activities can also help improve their communication skills and cognitive abilities.

18. Make a tie-dye apparel

Resist-dyeing is a technique that can be used to create uncountable patterns through sheer creativity. The basic principle of the process is to tie the areas that you want to dye with a thread and color them. By tying the cloth, different patterns are produced.

Use a beginner’s tie and dye kit that comes with clear instructions on how to tie and dye with all the necessary materials. Involving your tween in this fun and exciting activity can help improve their creative thinking skills .

19. Prepare a healthy meal

You could introduce various fireless cooking recipes to your 12-year-old. Let them try as many recipes as they wish by guiding them on proper safety measures. Teach them to select healthy ingredients to enhance the nutritional value of the food. You could also teach them to cook dinner for the family or prepare pastry, ice cream, sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and shakes.

20. Run an obstacle course

This fun-filled outdoor activity can be a useful addition to your young teen’s exercise routine. Taking part in multi-step activities, like obstacle courses, can help improve their sequencing and problem-solving skills and boost strength and balance. You can buy obstacle course kits online or make one with your child, which can be another fun activity! You can include skating in the mix too. If you dont want to take them outdoors, you can make a obstacle course right in your living room with Lego blocks.

21. Play laser maze

Laser maze is a logic-based game suitable for a 12-year-old. The game involves the use of mirrors and beam-splitters to direct the laser through mind-boggling mazes to light up the target. Buy a laser maze game and get involved with your child to develop their reasoning and planning skills and provide a good learning experience.

22. Sing karaoke

Use a microphone and create a perfect atmosphere to motivate your child to participate in this fun activity with family and friends. Singing karaoke enhances cognitive abilities, like memory, concentration, and listening. Encourage them to dance while singing to promote physical activity, boost mood, relieve stress, and encourage self-expression.

23. Learn calligraphy or hand lettering

While calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting, hand lettering is the art of illustrating the letters by working around prefabricated and designed letters. Motivate your tween to learn one or both techniques to utilize their time and skills effectively. These inexpensive art forms can keep a tween engaged and entertained, boost mood, and relieve pressure and stress.

24. Watch a movie

Watch movies together or introduce your tween to different movie genres. You could also teach them about media and its impact on children and adolescents. It provides an opportunity to discuss their likes, dislikes, and preferences. Guide your tween to differentiate between reality and fantasy, and spend quality time building a positive relation. You can create a theater room to make each movie a memorable experience.

25. Research on pets

Rearing a pet is a learning experience for everyone. If you are planning to have one, then let your tween do the research. Guide them to know the best pets to rear , their suitable habitats, food habits, etc., and prepare a five-minute PowerPoint presentation to share their research with the family. This activity can help a child connect with the surroundings and develop communication skills.

27. Learn to draw and paint

Drawing and painting can be used as a form of art therapy activity to reduce stress and improve sleep. Introducing your pre-teen to this art can help utilize their imagination, develop existing talents and can help them develop mindfulness and tranquility, which in turn augments concentration and creativity.

28. Spikeball

Spikeball is a fun game that also serves as a great physical activity for your children as it involves walking, catching, throwing, and hitting the ball inside the net. Spikeball offers numerous benefits for kids, such as enhancing their teamwork and communication skills. The portability of the net allows for enjoyment anywhere, making it a convenient and enjoyable activity.

29. Duct tape crafts

Duct tape crafts offer a creative outlet for children. These colorful crafts appeal to children of all ages, making it an excellent activity for your children. Duct tape crafts come in various shapes, colors, and sizes, from wallets and bags to flowers and jewelry. You can unleash your child’s creativity by layering different tape colors or cutting unique shapes and patterns to craft custom designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is 12 years old still a kid?

A 12-year-old is in their tween years when they leave childhood and enter adolescence. They can be called pre-teens or tweens and are too old to be viewed as kids and not old enough to be considered teenagers.

2. What hobbies can a 12-year-old do?

If your 12-year-old is outdoorsy, they can pursue outdoor recreation activities like cycling or biking, kayaking, hiking, running, rock climbing, swimming, or skiing. If they love to spend time indoors, you can introduce them to gardening, drawing, crafting, reading, journaling, watching and reviewing movies, or painting.

3. How much screen time is appropriate for a 12-year-old during activities?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a total daily screen time of two hours or less for children between 8 to 18 years old ( 4 ).

4. How can I encourage my 12-year-old to participate in new activities?

Expose them to diverse options such as sports, arts and crafts, music, dance, coding, cooking, or outdoor adventures. Take the time to listen to your child’s interests and preferences. Respect their choices and avoid pressuring them into activities they don’t find appealing. Lastly, reassure them that growth and learning come from stepping outside their comfort zone.

5. How can I balance structured activities with unstructured free time for my 12-year-old?

Create a daily or weekly routine with structured activities and unstructured free time. Recognize the value of unstructured free time for your child’s creativity, imagination, and independent thinking. Lastly, regularly reassess and adjust the balance between structured activities and unstructured free time based on your child’s evolving interests, needs, and overall well-being.

Choosing a bunch of fun and exciting activities for 12-year-olds can work well in developing their skills. They can enhance their cognitive abilities and improve their physical and mental development at a much faster pace. Encouraging them to participate in such activities will also allow them to figure out their personal preferences and utilize their skills to bring out the best in them. It eventually boosts their self-esteem and promotes social interaction, which is essential for kids on the verge of entering their teenage years.

Infographic: Activities That Are Fun And Facilitate Learning

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Key Pointers

• Boost self-esteem and confidence in your 12-year-olds by involving them in making comic books.
• Encourage self-learning and critical thinking by engaging them in DIY projects.
• Enhance their communication skills by enrolling them in a language class.
• Teach them patience and sportsmanship by involving them in card games.

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

• Benefits of Playing Board Games ; Bucks County Free Library
• The Importance of Reading to Your Children ; Children’s Bureau
• Kids in the Kitchen: The Benefits of Cooking with Children ; The Growing Room
• Justin Parent et al; Youth Screen Time and Behavioral Health Problems: The Role of Sleep Duration and Disturbances ; National Library of Science (2017)
• Fact-checker

Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri MD

Nisha bharatan b.tech, harshita makvana b.com, pg dip, trisha chakraborty ma, bed, latest articles, 17 best ipad and android painting and drawing apps for kids.

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The Best Board Games for Kids, According to Experts

Whether you’ve got antsy kids at home or in the classroom, a good board game can keep the little ones entertained for hours — not to mention help strengthen their critical-thinking skills. So while we’ve written before about all sorts of games and activities in the past — including the best four-player board games , two-player board games , and board games for adults — here, we’ve rounded up the 21 best board games for kids.

Best strategy board game for kids

Ticket to Ride is an adventure-style game in which players attempt to cross the country and connect cities by building train routes. Suitable for ages 8 and up, it is easy to pick up “but also offers a level of strategy and tactics just deep enough for competitive gamers to return to time and again,” says Ian Ross, who runs the popular Instagram page Board Games As Art .

Best pick-and-pass-style card game for kids

For a lightning-quick, pick-and-pass-style card game, Lauren Bilanko, a co-owner of Twenty Sided Store , suggests Sushi Go! , which she says is very easy to learn but still fun enough to play over and over again. The gameplay is simple: collect cards to create collections of dishes for different point values, and whoever scores the most points wins.

Best farming-style board game for kids

Illustrator Stephen Walsh told us about this “really sweet” game about competitive panda husbandry that’s a favorite of his kids. It asks players to cultivate land plots and grow three species of bamboo for pandas. Walsh describes it as the “perfect Christmas Day game” to break out when you want something family-friendly and cheerful. The game takes about 45 minutes to play and is suitable for ages 8 and up.

Best building-focused board game for kids

Most ’90s kids will remember this classic, which is suitable for children ages 4 and up and can accommodate two to four players. “Nothing could beat being a kid and unboxing this game to build a wacky Rube Goldberg machine,” says board-game designer Rob Sparks .

Best family-friendly word-association board game

In our roundup of the best board games to break out during parties, five of our experts praised Just One . “Hands down, Just One is our favorite new party game,” says Kelsey Demers, who runs the board-game blog the Tabletop Family . “It’s simple to play, a breeze to teach, and utterly addictive.” The game won the prestigious 2019 Spiel des Jahres, or German Game of the Year, which evaluates board games based on their game concept, rule structure, layout, and design. The main objective, as the title suggests, is for players to help their teammates guess a word by suggesting “just one” word as a hint. Which sounds easy enough, but, as Matthews warns, “Watch out, duplicate words cancel each other out,” so you need to be creative. A right answer scores your team one point, while a wrong answer docks two points, with the ultimate goal being to get as many points out of 13 as possible. This game takes about 20 minutes to play and is suitable for up to seven players.

Best storytelling board game for kids

Walsh describes Dixit as “a great icebreaker of a game, fantastic for getting everyone interacting.” Great for kids with strong imaginations, it begins with one player being designated the storyteller; that player makes up a sentence based on the image on one of the cards in their hand. Then each player selects the card in their hand that best matches the sentence and gives it to the storyteller. The storyteller shuffles the cards and presents them to the other players, who place bets on which is the original card with the winners gaining points for correct guesses. As an added bonus, “the card artwork is beautiful, imaginative, and sometimes a little surreal,” Walsh says.

Best bingo-style board game for kids

Recommended by longtime Manhattan nanny Kasia Dabrowska, this bingo-esque game is easy to teach kids because the name of the game is speed-spotting familiar items like a dog, bird, or baseball bat. Strategist contributor and father of two Steven John also keeps it in rotation with his family.

Best whodunit-style board game for kids

“ Outfoxed has more replay value than I have ever experienced in a child’s board game,” says John. For months after first getting the game, his then-5-and-a-half-year-old requested a round nearly every single day, he adds. A classic whodunit, the game’s kids discover a series of clues and a group of suspects, zeroing in on the guilty fox through a process of elimination.

Best nostalgic board game for kids

Similar to Mousetrap , Operation was beloved by ’90s kids. Walsh told us that while he loved this game when he was young, he also enjoyed playing it when he was older with his friends after a night out. The whole family can sit down and operate on Cavity Sam to remove his various ailments — including his wishbone, charley horse, and Adam’s apple — without setting off the buzzer.

Best balancing board game for kids

For kids who love to build things, this game asks players to build a shifting tower by adding pieces. The game can accommodate up to four players, which encourages socialization and “very important” peer interaction, explains child therapist Glenda Stoller, co-founder of Village Parenting NYC .

Best board game kids can play with friends

Colleen Russo Johnson , a children’s-tech and media expert, recommends this remix of the original Connect 4 game, which requires a bit more strategy. In addition to placing their pieces in a slot, players must spin the corresponding column, which keeps gameplay interesting.

Best card-slash-board game for kids

“I was really surprised at how it held up,” says clinical child psychologist George Sachs . Fourth-grade teacher Courtney Caulfield adds that the kids in her class also love the throwback. “They like it because they can play with friends,” she says. “And it usually makes them think.”

Best active board game for kids

Anya Kamenetz , mother of two and author of The Art of Screen Time , recommends the fast-paced Exploding Kittens game Throw Throw Burrito , “which is a fun combination of goofiness and actual strategy.” Gameplay is only 15 minutes and can accommodate two to six players. Toy blogger and reviewer Lori Jepsen of Toysenberry is also a fan. “ “I mean, what’s not to love about throwing burritos at your siblings or parents or spouse?”

Best party game for kids

According to Strategist contributor and dad David Pogue , “this is the greatest game ” that all ages can play. The rules of this spy-themed favorite are very similar to the basic elements of charades, with players dividing into two teams with one designated spymaster, who provides clues. By guessing the words correctly, players unveil the other teams’ agents. The first to unmask all of its opponents’ spies wins. Pogue calls it “truly hilarious and satisfying,” and though the designer has it labeled for kids 10 and up, Pogue notes that “ Codenames is super-fun with younger kids because they make fantastically imaginative connections between the words.”

Best board game for kids who like breaking rules

This edition of Monopoly is designed for cheaters: The goal is to see how many rules you can bend or break in order to win. “Isn’t that the way every kid plays all the time anyway?” says Zibby Owens, mother of four and host of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books . The game “encourages secret bank thefts, secret property swipes, and serious consequences if caught,” Owens adds.

Best fast-paced game for kids

Ideal for kids ages 10 and up, this fast-paced board game’s main objective is to be the first to help all of your aliens escape into outer space via drone. Suitable for two to four players, “it’s the first game I’ve ever seen with a real flying drone,” says Adrienne Appell of the Toy Association , who recommends it because it “combines different kinds of play for a lot of fun.”

Best planning board game for kids

This farm-animal-themed board game “challenges kids to really think about each move,” says NAPPA Awards director Elena Epstein. The game’s main objective had kids create a layout for a series of cows, pigs, and other farm animals that must be kept separated using a limited number of fences, which tests a child’s logic, spatial reasoning, and planning skills. “Kids feel a lot of pride as they figure out each level,” Epstein says.

Best tic-tac-toe–inspired board game

This tic-tac-toe inspired board game is “visually appealing” and “complex,” according to Sophia W., a nanny for the New York–based SmartSitting agency. Even better, Sophia says, “It’s well suited for gifted and special-needs children, as the colors stimulate kids who think visually.”

Best 3-D board game for kids

This 3-D Tetris game, recommended by Ali Mierzejewski, the editor-in-chief of the Toy Insider, works much like the original version of the game except you’re competing against other players using one pot of physical pieces. “You have to be strategic about what pieces you need and try to predict what the other players will need while playing. It’s a really fun way to update the classic video game,” she says.

Best dice board game for kids

A tried-and-true for a reason, Yahtzee is “easy to teach, with minimal setup, and suitable for any number of players,” says Sparks. “This absolute classic will have players pushing their luck to roll high-scoring combinations of dice.” Most important, Yahtzee is fast-paced, so it will keep kids engaged throughout the gameplay.

Best cooperative survival-style board game for kids

Collaborative games are great because they teach kids teamwork skills as they work together toward a common objective. Caitlin Meister, founder of the Greer Meister Group , a private-tutoring and educational -consulting practice in Brooklyn, recommends Forbidden Island , in which players have to work together to get off an island before it sinks into the ocean. “You reassemble the board each time by laying out tiles, so it doesn’t get boring,” she says. It has plenty of replay value.

Best board game for little kids

If you’re struggling to find games for very little kids, try Monkey Around . “It’s like Twister for toddlers,” explains Holly Magelof, toy buyer for the Dolphin Bookshop , which she says is very popular among the toddler set. “You see the kids wiggling and giggling — it’s consistently a best seller.”

Best challenging board game for kids

“My 4-year-old, a huge fan of Richard Scarry books, loves playing this game,” says Strategist writer Lauren Ro, whose son Augie received the gift for his latest birthday. It’s sure to be a hit for any kids who demand a Scarry book before bed since it’s basically the board-game version of Busytown. The objective seems simple: Players work together to race to the island before the picnicking pigs eat all their food. But, Ro says, “it’s actually pretty challenging, even for adults” because, depending on what you spin, you either advance or go on a scavenger hunt to collect different objects on the highly detailed, six-foot board. “Augie relishes the challenge and gets really excited each time he plays,” she adds.

Best travel-size board game for kids

Spot It! is a matching card game in which kids try to find two identical images between two cards first. Since it’s small enough to fit in your hand, it’s a great game to keep in your purse for doctors’ waiting rooms or long car rides. This one is animal-themed, but the game comes in a bunch of different variations, including favorite IP like Frozen and Paw Patrol .

Best math-focused board game

For something more educational, try this math game that was featured in our gift guide for 8-year-olds. To win a card, players have to get to the center number by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing the five other numbers on the card (each number can be used only once). The first player to collect five cards is crowned the winner. While the game is designed for kids ages 8 to 12, each player starts the game by choosing their own level of difficulty, meaning kids of different skill sets can all play together.

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25 of the Best Indoor Games for Kids Aged 8-12 Years

March 10, 2020

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Sick of hearing “I’m bored!” from your older kids? Entertaining tweens indoors can be challenging, as they tend to turn their noses up at all suggestions that don’t involve technology! So if you’re looking for alternatives to plugged in activities, here are 25 of the best indoor games for kids aged 8-12 yrs, that will be sure to keep everyone happy!

The kids will be driving you and each other crazy in no time if they’re feeling cooped up, so get them started with one of these indoor games for kids and then listen for the laughter!

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 11 Entertaining Sleepover Games for the Best Ever Slumber Party

Best Indoor Games for Kids

#1. what am i eating.

My tween loves playing this game with his friends. They blindfold one person and raid the cupboards to find items for them to taste. Things like honey, soy sauce, mustard, frozen pea, marshmallow etc. all work well.

The blindfolded person must try and guess what they have been given to taste. Make sure you check for food allergies before playing this game. And it is probably best to supervise the food choices!

#2. He Said She Said

A fun way to get the kids’ imaginations going.

Each person gets a piece of paper and a pen/pencil. They write the first few lines of a story, fold the page until the last line or last few words of the previous person’s story is only visible, and pass the paper over the to next person, who writes the next few lines, and so on until the page comes back to the original author.

Since each child cannot see all of the previous person’s story, they must write their lines based on one sentence/word. The resulting mixed-up stories will invariably bring much laughter.

#3. Play Alphabet Chat

Challenge each other to talk for a minute each without using words beginning with an agreed letter of the alphabet.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 15 Entertaining and Fun Indoor Games for Kids of All Ages

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#4. Create a Secret Code

Make your own secret code up and write a message to your friends that they have to decode.  The Pigpen cipher uses symbols in place of the letters.

#5. Murder in the Dark

One of the best indoor games for kids is ‘Murder in the Dark’! This game is best done at night so that it’s dark when the lights are turned off. Have the kids sit in a circle and close their eyes. You gently tap one child on the shoulder, and they are the murderer. Everyone opens their eyes and you pick a detective.

• The detective leaves the room and waits outside until 5 seconds after they hear a scream.
• The lights are turned off and the other players must mix and mingle around the room. The murderer must tap their victim on the shoulder and whisper into their ear, I am the murderer and you are now dead. The victim must give a blood curdling scream and collapse to the floor.
• Everyone except the murderer, must stand still. Only the murderer can quietly move away, if they choose too.
• The detective enters the room 5 seconds after the scream and turns on the lights.The detective looks at the victim and starts to question everyone in order to identify the murderer. Only the murderer can tell a lie. Everyone else MUST tell the truth.
• Once the detective has decided who they think the murderer is they must touch the accused murderer on the shoulder and announce I am arresting you for the murder of John Smith (name the victim).
• If the detective is right then the murderer can confess. If the detective is wrong then the true murderer can reveal themselves.

#6. Build a Bridge

Set up in teams to build a bridge out of straws that is strong enough to hold 100 pennies. Or build a bridge out of popsicle sticks and other materials.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Fun Family-Friendly Engineering Activities to Do at Home

#7. Paper Aeroplane Race

All you need to make paper aeroplanes is paper and pens for decorating.

First fold your paper aeroplane and then the kids can draw the pilots at the front and the passengers looking out of the windows. Have Paper Aeroplane races and see whose gets furthest.

#8. Sock Wars

For this game you will need 10-20 socks rolled up into balls:

• Divide the room into two equal halves, and place the socks on the line in the middle (you could use masking tape to mark). Divide all the kids into two equal teams.
• When the game starts, the object of the game is to get as many socks onto the other teams side of the room before time is up.
• Team members must stay on their side of the room and toss the socks over to the other sides.
• A team member cannot hold onto a sock for more than 10 seconds before having to throw it.
• You could also add in beach balls of varying sizes with the socks, for variety.

#9. Flying Carpet

Each child, or group of children, stands on a rug or cushion in the middle of the floor. This is their ‘flying carpet’ the only problem is, it is upside down! The object of this game is to turn the ‘flying carpet’ over without stepping off it. If you step on the floor you are out!

More difficult than it sounds!

#10. Murderer Wink

Similar to Murder in the Dark, but with a winking murderer.

• Sit all the children in a circle and get them to close their eyes.
• Pick one player, or 2 if you have a really large group, to be the murderer, by touching them on their shoulder.
• Then get everyone to open their eyes and pick a detective.
• The ‘murderer’ must catch another players eye and wink quickly at them. If you are winked at you die, in a really dramatic fashion of course!
• The detective must try and guess who the murderer is.
• The murderer keeps winking at people until they are all out or they have been caught.

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:   20 Great Childhood Games to Play Together

#11. Two Truths and a Lie

Creative indoor games for kids, that don’t require any props of equipment, are always a good idea. To play this game, each person shares three statements, one of which is false and two of which are true. Everyone else has to guess which is the lie.

#12. Balloon Ping-Pong

All you need is some balloons and either table-tennis bats, or make your own bats using paper plates and sticks for handles.

Clear some space in the hall and off they go.

#13. Geography Game

The first person starts with a geographic place name and the next person has to think of a place name that starts with the last letter of the previous place.

For example: BlackrocK – KilbeggaN – NicE – EdinburgH…and so on. See how far round the world you can get!

This also makes a great car game for kids , particularly if they use places they see along the journey.

#14. Play The Minister’s Cat

An old Victorian game where you have to think of adjectives to describe the Minister’s Cat in alphabetical order, e.g. start with “The minister’s cat is an adorable cat”.  The next person says e.g. “The minister’s cat is an adorable cat and a bouncy cat” and so on.

#15. Indoor Obstacle Course (with a twist)

Set up some obstacles in the room. Blindfold one player and the rest of the players must lead them through the obstacle course by telling them the way to go. Left to avoid a chair, right 2 steps to avoid a table. etc.

For bigger groups, split them into pairs and let each playing take a turn at leading and navigating.

Don’t Miss…

When you go past the Pass the Parcel stage, you need games that will keep the 8-12 year olds engaged and interested. These highly entertaining party games for tweens  are tried-and-tested for party success!

#16. Beetle

Beetle is a drawing game which you play with dice. Each beetle body part has a number associated with it, and that number must be rolled before can draw that particular body part.

• 6 – Head – one needed
• 5 – Body – one needed
• 4 – Tail – one needed
• 3 – Leg – four needed
• 2 – antenna – two needed
• 1 – eye – two needed

Winner is person who gets their beetle drawn first.

#17. Twenty Questions

One person thinks of a thing or a person and the others have to guess what it is but are only allowed to ask questions that get a Yes or a No. The others must guess by the 20th question. First one to guess gets to pick the next item to be guessed.

#18. Sardines

Sardines gives a twist to the classic game of hide and seek. Instead of one person seeking and everyone else hiding, one person hides and everyone else seeks.

Once one of the seekers finds the person hiding, they must hide with that person. This continues until there is only one person left seeking, and everyone else is crammed together like sardines in the hiding place. The last person to find everyone else now becomes the new hider for the next round.

#19. Make Up Limericks

Have a go at making up limericks, a limerick has five lines; the first, second, and fifth rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth rhyme with each other. Give the kids a theme, or first line to get them going.

Here’s one by Edward Lear:

There was an Old Man with a beard Who said, ‘It is just as I feared! Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!’

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 100 of the Best Boredom-Busting Activities for Kids

#20. Build it High

Using marshmallows and wooden skewers or uncooked spaghetti see who can build the highest stack. You may need a few packets of marshmallows for this game as, if they build it well, they may be able to join several skewers together. To win, the stacks must stay up without help!

While you have the marshmallows out, what about learning how to make a marshmallow catapult ?

#21. Chinese Whispers

Kids get such a kick from this, and works well for all ages – the more kids you have for this, the better.

Sit the kids in a circle, and you tell the first child a sentence of sufficient length, which they then whisper into the next child’s ear and so on. See how much the sentence has changed by the time it comes back to the start.

#22. Stop the Bus

• Each person has a piece of paper and draws on columns for these headings Girls Name, Boys Name, Animal, Food/Drink, Place.
• One person says the alphabet silently in their head, then another says “Stop the Bus” and that letter is the initial for the words in each category. e.g. Say the letter is D –  Categories could be Dora, David, Dog, Dates, Denmark.
• When everyone has finished you add up their scores for that round, awarding 10 points for a unique answer (one no one else has), and 5 points for a duplicate answer.
• You can come up with new categories as well to play against.

#23. Try to Skip 100 Times Without Stopping

Get the skipping rope out and have a go at skipping 100 times without stopping. Manage that? Aim for 200 now. Check what the world record is for the most skips in 1 minute  – can you beat it?!

#24. Charades

Classic indoor games for kids never get boring!

Charades can be played with any type of word or phrase, but with kids you may find that movie titles, television programmes and popular tween literature work best.

#25. Hang Man

Hang man is a great game that you can play at home or in restaurants. All you need is a pencil and paper.

• Write down a word, with each letter of the word represented by dashes
• Everyone else tried to guess what letters might be in the word – if they guess a correct letter , that is then inserted into the correct position, if they don’t guess correctly, start to draw the stick man.
• Proceed like so until the word is guessed correctly in time, or the little stickman has been hanged.

#26. Freecell

A variation of the extremely popular Solitaire, Freecell is a fast-paced and engaging game the is a great brain enrichment activity for your 8-12 year olds.

• Played online, the site features a breakdown of the history and rules of Freecell
• The main difference between Freecell and Solitaire is Freecell is played with all cards facing up.

#27. Hearts

This classic card game will teach your child how important a good strategy is, especially in card games. The card-swapping Hearts is available in single and multiplayer modes.

• Played online, the site also features a the history of Hearts
• Hearts also features different variations of the game

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: 33 Fun Projects for Kids Aged 8-12yrs

About the Author: jenniferb

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21 Best Board Games for 12 Year Olds For Family Game Night

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We have uncovered the absolute best board games for 12 year olds .

We’ve made learning fun and family bonding a priority, and these games have been total game-changers for us.

Mixing education with entertainment, these board games keep our 12-year-old engaged and excited. From brain-teasing challenges to classic board games, we’ve handpicked the top-notch board games for kids in this age group.

So, if you’re on the lookout for the perfect games for your 12 year old, look no further.

**There may be affiliate links in this post. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.**

Table of Contents

Best games for 12 year olds

These are the very best family board games for tweens and above and they will make a great addition to family game nights.

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

A fast-paced and quirky party game, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza challenges players to quickly slap the table when they spot a matching word or symbol with the card they just played.

With amusing and catchy cues like "Taco," "Cat," "Goat," "Cheese," and "Pizza," the game keeps everyone on their toes, creating a fun and chaotic atmosphere for all ages.

Throw Throw Burrito

Combining card game strategy with dodgeball-like action, Throw Throw Burrito introduces a hilarious and energetic experience.

Players collect cards to build sets while keeping an eye out for potential burrito battles where foam burritos are thrown, adding an element of physical activity to the gameplay.

Zombie Kidz Evolution

A cooperative board game designed for younger players, Zombie Kidz Evolution evolves over multiple plays as players unlock new content and missions.

The game involves working together to protect the school from a zombie invasion, introducing a dynamic narrative and character development that evolves with each playthrough.

The Game of Life

The classic board game, The Game of Life, simulates the journey of life, from choosing a career path and starting a family to navigating various life events.

Players make decisions, face challenges, and accumulate wealth in their pursuit of a successful and fulfilling life, making it a timeless and family-friendly board game.

Spoof, the hilarious bluffing board game, is a fantastic addition to family game nights, offering endless laughter and conversation.

Younger players can team up with adults for a delightful gaming experience.

Ideal for groups of 4-8 players with a 30-minute playtime, Spoof is perfect for holidays, vacations, and any gathering of friends and family, encouraging creativity and strategic bluffing as players create fake answers to entertaining trivia.

This game not only provides the best party games for adults and family but also makes an excellent gift for birthdays or any game enthusiast in your life.

WHAT DO YOU MEME? Grounded for Life

A spin-off from the popular "What Do You Meme?" series, "Grounded for Life" adds a hilarious twist to family dynamics by featuring meme-worthy scenarios related to parenting and everyday life.

Players use caption cards to create humorous combinations, making it a perfect party game for those who enjoy meme culture.

Exploding Kittens Card Game

Exploding Kittens is a funny fast-paced game that combines strategy and luck.

Players draw cards from a deck, trying to avoid the "Exploding Kitten" card, which eliminates them from the game unless they have a countermeasure card.

With its quirky art and simple rules, it's a popular choice for casual and party gaming.

Trekking Through History Board Game

Trekking Through History is a game of strategy that combines adventure and history as players lead expeditions to explore famous landmarks.

With an educational element, players must manage resources and make decisions to successfully complete journeys, making it an engaging choice for those who enjoy history-themed tabletop games.

For more information about Trekking through History check out our detailed review.

Splendor Board Game

Splendor is a strategic card game that combines elements of resource management and engine-building.

Players act as Renaissance-era merchants, collecting gemstones and developing their economic engines to purchase valuable developments and attract influential nobles.

With simple rules and deep strategy, it's a widely acclaimed game suitable for both casual and serious gamers.

Pay Day is a classic game that simulates the financial ups and downs of a month.

Players navigate through days of the week, encountering financial events and opportunities.

The goal is to manage expenses, save money, and accumulate wealth, creating a family-friendly experience that provides insights into budgeting and financial planning.

Pandemic Board Game

Pandemic is a cooperative game where players work together as members of a disease control team, striving to prevent global outbreaks and find cures for four deadly diseases.

With a compelling theme and collaborative gameplay, "Pandemic" challenges players to strategize and coordinate their efforts, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy intense and cooperative tabletop experiences.

This is a great board game for 12 year olds, check out our Pandemic board game review for more information.

Ticket to Ride Board Game

Ticket to Ride is a popular board game where players collect train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities across North America, Europe, and other regions.

Combining strategic planning and a touch of luck, players aim to complete destination tickets and build the longest continuous routes, making it an accessible and engaging game for both casual and experienced players.

Check out our detailed Ticket to Ride review for more details on why we love it.

Carcassonne Board Game

In Carcassonne, players take turns drawing and placing tiles to construct a landscape with cities, roads, and fields.

They then deploy their follower pieces as knights, thieves, monks, or farmers to score points based on completed features.

With its simple mechanics and strategic depth, "Carcassonne" is a tile-laying classic that appeals to a wide range of players.

Carry on reading our Carcassonne review for even more reasons to buy it.

King of Tokyo

King of Tokyo is a fast-paced dice-rolling game where players take on the roles of monstrous creatures vying for control of Tokyo.

With a combination of strategy and luck, players roll dice to attack opponents, gain energy, and score points, while also deciding when to enter or leave Tokyo. It's a dynamic and entertaining game that encourages player interaction and tactical decision-making.

Azul is a visually stunning tile-drafting and pattern-building game where players compete to create the most aesthetically pleasing mosaic.

By strategically selecting and placing colored tiles, players aim to complete rows and patterns on their individual player boards.

With its elegant design and engaging gameplay, Azul has gained widespread acclaim as a modern classic.

Spy Alley Board Game

Spy Alley is a strategic board game of deception and deduction, where players take on the roles of international spies trying to complete their missions.

Players move around the board, collecting items, and attempting to guess the identities of their opponents while keeping their own identity secret.

With its blend of strategy and social interaction, Spy Alley offers a unique and intriguing gaming experience.

Double Ditto

Double Ditto is a party game that challenges players to write down responses to a variety of prompts and then try to match those responses with other players.

The more matches, the better!

This creates a fun and interactive experience, making it an entertaining choice for gatherings and game nights.

The Settlers of Catan, is a classic strategy game where players compete to settle an island by trading and collecting resources.

With elements of negotiation and resource management, "Catan" is widely regarded as a gateway game for those new to the world of modern board gaming.

Labyrinth is a family-friendly board game where players move through a shifting maze in search of treasures.

The unique aspect of the game is the shifting maze board, where players can change the layout of the paths, adding a strategic and dynamic element to the gameplay.

Brain Games

Brain Games Kids offers an engaging and entertaining board game experience that puts both the minds and bodies of players to the test.

Adapted from the Emmy-nominated National Geographic Channel TV series, Brain Games, this game involves team-based competition to assess logic, language, vision, and physical coordination.

Featuring 128 challenge cards across three categories – Puzzling Pictures, Brain Benders, and Body Language – players strive to reach the finish space in a thrilling race to victory.

Trekking The National Parks

Trekking The National Parks is a board game that combines elements of strategy and education.

Players take on the role of hikers visiting national parks, collecting park cards and aiming to complete specific sets of cards.

The game celebrates the beauty of national parks while offering an enjoyable and competitive gaming experience.

You can also find the best board games for 11 year olds here!

What are the benefits of playing board games with older kids?

Playing board games with older kids offers numerous benefits that extend beyond simple entertainment. Here are some advantages:

• Board games encourage communication, cooperation, and teamwork. Older kids learn to interact with others, negotiate, and strategize, fostering important social skills that are valuable in various life situations.
• Many board games involve problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. Older children develop critical thinking skills as they analyze situations, make decisions, and anticipate the consequences of their choices.
• Board games often require memory, pattern recognition, and mental flexibility. Engaging in these activities helps older kids exercise and enhance their cognitive abilities, including memory retention and information processing.
• Learning to win and lose gracefully is an important life skill. Board games provide a structured environment for older kids to practice patience, cope with disappointment, and exhibit good sportsmanship.
• Board games offer a fantastic opportunity for quality time. Playing together fosters stronger connections, creates shared memories, and provides a platform for open communication.
• Board games can serve as a stress reliever for older kids, offering a break from academic or personal pressures. Engaging in enjoyable, low-stakes competition provides a healthy outlet for stress.
• In an era dominated by screens, board games offer a welcome break from electronic devices. They provide a chance for older kids to disconnect, engage with others face-to-face, and enjoy an alternative form of entertainment.
• Many board games incorporate educational elements, from math skills and geography to history and language. Older kids can enhance their knowledge in a variety of subjects while having fun.
• Playing board games requires setting aside dedicated time. Older kids can learn about time management as they allocate periods for play, helping them balance leisure activities with other responsibilities.
• Some board games encourage creativity and imaginative thinking. Older kids have the opportunity to express themselves, come up with inventive strategies, and think outside the box.

Last Updated on 13 March 2024 by homeschoolof1

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The 22 Best Free Games for Kids to Play Online in 2023

Written by Laney Kennedy

Help your child practice math and have fun with Prodigy Math.

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Free educational games for kids

• Free math games for kids

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Free tv-related games for kids, free creative games for kids, free multiplayer games for kids.

“When can I use the tablet?”

“Do you have games on your phone?”

“Can I please have [insert latest video game trend here]?”

These days, we have endless technology at our fingertips. Screen time is a huge commodity in most households, and your kids are likely no exception. 

With so many options, it can be hard to know which games to get for your kids -- or how to budget for them. That’s why we did the work for you. 

We found 22 of the best free games for kids online that are safe, appropriate, and loved by kids! There’s no need to worry or break the bank because these games have you covered!

Choose any of the popular games from the list below to help you save more money and keep your kids entertained.

These four free learning games for kids focus on reading, writing, typing, science and more! 

With these fun and interactive games, you can help your child learn at home. You can also use it as an opportunity to spend quality time together and stay involved in your child’s education . 

Home Base by Scholastic

This role-playing game takes kids on a lively adventure that brings popular books and characters to the digital world. 

Featuring tons of games and exciting explorations, Home Base will encourage a love of reading by reminding kids about their favorite books, and maybe even introducing some new ones! 

Available on:  Web, Apple App Store, Google Play

Recommended age:  4+

Additional paid features?  No

This free typing game takes kids on a wild adventure, filled with lots of fun activities to help them boost their typing skills. 

From elementary to high school age, Typetastic has something for every kid who wants to learn or practice typing. 

Soon, they might even be on their way to breaking world records !

Available on:  Web, Amazon Appstore

Recommended age:  4 - 18

Additional paid features?  Paid upgrades for teacher accounts (free 60-day trials available). 

With more than 400 educational games -- covering topics in language, math, art, strategy and more -- kids will surely find a game they love, in a subject they want to learn. 

While kids have a blast playing ABCya games, parents can rest assured they’re safe and secure. Plus, they’ll build the relevant skills they need to succeed at school. It’s a win-win-win!

Available on:  Web, Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore

Recommended age:  4 - 12

Additional paid features?  Optional  Premium Subscriptions  to remove ads, gain complete mobile access and add multiple devices.

National Geographic Kids  

Bringing the hugely popular magazine online, National Geographic Kids offers adventure games and quizzes that educate kids all about animals, science, history and geography -- to name a few.

Not only is it informative, it’s also tons of fun! If you want a case of the giggles, try the “funny fill-in” section, where kids can choose random words and create wacky stories.

Available on:  Web

Recommended age:  6+

Free math games for kids 

These two free games for kids are also educational, but focus specifically on math . 

Online math games are perfect if your child is struggling with math or loves the subject and wants to keep practicing!

Prodigy Math 

More than 50 million teachers and students around the world love Prodigy -- the engaging math game that makes learning fun ! 

Kids create their own custom wizards, explore fantasy worlds and compete in math battles with friends -- all while answering curriculum-aligned questions to give them more math practice.

Plus, as they earn XP and level up, they can unlock gear, get rewards and rescue powerful pets they can use in battles. So, whether they want to dress-up as the ultimate wizard, go on epic quests or simply collect as many magical pets as possible, Prodigy Math is ready for them!

Parents love Prodigy because:

• It’s a productive use of screen time. Kids are having fun online while boosting their math skills!
• It keeps children wanting to learn and can help them become  lifelong learners .
• It can help you  improve your child’s math skills  and stay actively involved in their education.
• It’s  adaptive  and  personalized , so every child has an opportunity to succeed. 

Plus, with your Parent Account, you can track your child's learning with a parent dashboard and reports.

Create or sign in to your parent account today!

Recommended age:  6 - 14

Additional paid features?  Optional  Membership  with extra features and rewards for players -- all educational content is always free.  

It’s easy to get kids (and adults) hooked on this fun math puzzle . 

The object of the game is to move tiles on a grid, putting equal tiles together so they can merge into one tile with double the value. Players then continue increasing tile values to work their way to the prized “2048” tile -- without running out of space on the grid. It’ll get your child’s logical brain working while they have fun!

Available on:  Web, Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Microsoft Store

Recommended age:  12+

Your child's math adventure awaits!

Inspire your child to love learning math with Prodigy Math. Watch as they cast spells, catch pets and complete quests – all while learning key math skills!

These three free educational games for kids focus on computer science and design. 

You can use these games to help your kids learn how to create their own video game or program from start to finish!

Gamestar Mechanic

Young gamers will love this mechanical-minded platform that teaches kids how to design their own video games !

Gamestar Mechanic features fun quests, informative courses and a unique design tool so players are equipped with everything they need to become real game designers.

Recommended age:  10+ For younger children, try  Gamestar Mechanic Jr  on PBS Kids. 

Additional paid features?  Optional upgrade to  Addisons Complete Quest.

Start building computer science skills early with this pre-coding game!

The game offers 2 modes: Classic and Competition. In either mode, kids take cars through fun racing tracks while also developing basic coding skills. To get each car to the end of the track, players must use careful observation and logic to figure out how to direct them there. 

Available on:  Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore

Recommended age:  8 and under

Additional paid features?  Offers in-app purchases.

Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues 

Mix foundational coding with compelling mysteries and a familiar female character. Add a cute robot puppy, and what do you get? Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues!

This exciting game teaches basic coding skills -- kids program their own robot puppy to help Nancy Drew solve the big mystery. Players also get to choose disguises and search for various clues as the story progresses. It’ll leave your mini detectives on the edge of their seats!

Recommended age:  5 - 8

Additional paid features?  Offers in-app purchases.

These six free games for kids all come from TV networks or feature elements of popular kids shows. 

This means your kids can interact with their favorite TV characters or explore their favorite fictional worlds! 

The TV network that brought us Sesame Street, Curious George and The Cat in the Hat just got even better!

PBS KIDS games cover 29 different topics (such as math, ABCs, feelings or music). While playing, kids get to interact with all their favorite PBS characters, from Elmo to Arthur and beyond!

Available on:  Web, Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Microsoft Store

Recommended age:  2 - 11

Additional paid features?  No

Whether your child wants to solve a tough puzzle or go back in time with a retro arcade game, CBC Kids has you covered.  

This Canadian TV network not only airs great kids shows, it also offers tons of games -- including crosswords, puzzles and card games. There’s something for every interest!

Recommended age:  2+

Nickelodeon

Free games featuring Spongebob? Sign us up!

Nickelodeon offers so many fun shows with hilarious characters. Now kids can keep the fun going away from the TV screen with the network’s online games. They’re guaranteed to stay entertained and laughing while they play Nickelodeon games!

Additional paid features?  No 

Cartoon Network  

With these games, kids can dive into adventurous fictional worlds straight out of shows they love, like The Powerpuff Girls and Adventure Time.

Cartoon Network has tons of games to choose from on its website.. Plus, you can download individual games and play them over and over on mobile!

Available on:  Web, plus individual games on Apple App Store and Google Play

Recommended age:  6+ (varies by game) 

Additional paid features?  Some games offer in-app purchases

Tons of different game categories (like racing, trivia, fashion and coloring, to name a few) + all the best Disney characters = a smash hit for any kid.

The incredible collection of games speaks for itself. Disney LOL will surely keep your children busy and happy for hours!

Available on:  Web, plus individual games on Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore and Microsoft Store

Recommended age:  4+ (varies by game) 

Budge World

Budge World describes itself as “one app featuring all your kids’ favorite characters.” 

Judging by its selection, we have to agree. Characters include Barbie, My Little Pony, Thomas & Friends and many more.

The game introduces a one-of-a-kind virtual world, where players can customize their own environments and play with various Budge World custom characters, called “Budgers.” 

Bonus: the platform also includes a recent feature that helps kids learn to code!

Recommended age:  All ages

Additional paid features?  Optional Subscription to remove ads and gain full access to all content

These three free games for kids will bring out children's artistic and creative sides. 

If your child loves creative subjects like writing, designing, building or drawing, then any one of these games will be a hit in your house! 

Toontastic 3D

This creative game from Google was built for storytellers.

 Imaginative kids who have an interest in writing, music, movies, art etc. are encouraged to sign up and start designing 3D cartoons and stories to share with family and friends!

Available on:  Apple App Store, Google Play

Recommended age:  6 - 12

Quick, Draw!

Here’s what Google had to say about this creative experiment on its website: 

Over 15 million players have contributed millions of drawings playing Quick, Draw! These doodles are a unique data set that can help developers train new neural networks, help researchers see patterns in how people around the world draw, and help artists create things we haven’t begun to think of.

Essentially, players are actively contributing to machine learning research. At the same time,  they’re having lots of fun seeing if the computer can guess what they’re drawing!

Recommended age:  Not listed

The classic brand so many of us grew up with is still a popular choice among children everywhere. And with its web games, LEGO is reaching online audiences to encourage more future builders through play!

In addition to the website, you can also download more specialized apps, like:

• LEGO Juniors
• LEGO DC Super Heroes Chase    
• LEGO DUPLO Train
• LEGO City game

Available on:  Web, plus individual games on Apple App Store and Google Play

Recommended age:  4+   

One of the new games added to this list, Prodigy English is a sandbox game that helps kids build their reading and language skills – all while they build their own world of fun!

In this game, players gather resources and use them to craft objects they can place in their very own village. This growing game includes regular new content, like the recent addition of pets for your player to care for and keep them company!

Like Prodigy Math, Prodigy English is powered by an adaptive algorithm that helps kids get targeted skill practice on their biggest areas of opportunity.

Plus, grown-ups can join in the fun with their own parent account, which lets you see how they're progressing in their reading and language skills.

Recommended age:  6 - 11

Additional paid features?  Optional  Membership  with extra features and rewards for players -- all educational content is free.  

These three free games for kids will help your child meet and interact with friends online in a safe way.They’ll be perfect if your child loves socializing with friends, or just wants to explore new and exciting online worlds!

This game takes kids on a virtual journey where they’ll explore new worlds, complete quests, create custom characters and interact with other players all around the world!

Poptropica puts safety at the forefront of their business. This is why they created a safe communication system, where players can only interact using scripted chat.

Recommended age:  6 - 15

Additional paid features?  Optional  Membership  with extra features and rewards

This one is a kid favorite, and parents will love it just as much.

The company’s mission is to “bring the world together through play.” This explains why they built a platform where anyone can join a growing community to play with friends, discover 3D worlds and use their imaginations to build and create anything they can think of!

Available on:  Web, Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, Microsoft Store, Xbox One

Recommended age:  10 +

Additional paid features?  Offers in-app purchases

With Animal Jam, players can customize animal characters and pets, and meet new friends within the game, while also learning about nature!

This role-playing game is full of educational content, fun mini games and plenty of adorable animals! It also provides tools to help parents stay involved in what their kids are up to. 

If Animal Jam is a hit in your house, you can also try its mobile app:

Animal Jam - Play Wild!

Available on:  Web, desktop apps for Mac and PC , Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore

Recommended age:  9+

Additional paid features?  Optional  membership  for extra items, offers in-app purchases

Free games for kids: final thoughts

While online games aren’t the only form of play, the right amount of screen time can be great for kids’ development. 

Any of the free games from this list will help you save money and ensure your child is having safe, productive fun. You can also use them for joint media engagement , to bond with your children and help them build important skills.

Stay involved while your child plays games with a Prodigy parent account!

If your child is playing a Prodigy Math or Prodigy English, you'll be able to stay involved and see how they're progressing in math or English with a parent account.

See how the parent account works below!

Create or log in to your parent account to get started. 

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• Baby and kid

Some of the Best Online Learning Games for Kids

By Courtney Schley

To find our favorite learning apps and games for kids, we spent more than 40 hours researching and testing 50-plus apps recommended by educators, experts, and parents. If your family has a tablet and you want it to be more than a game-playing and video-watching device, or if you’re trying to find apps for your smartphone that will do more than keep your kids occupied in a pinch, we have some great suggestions.

As with our guides to STEM and learning toys, we didn’t test scores of apps to try to find the “best” ones. Rather, most of the apps here have been chosen by teachers for their students in classrooms, used by Wirecutter parents and their kids, or recommended by the experts and educators we spoke with. (For details, read more about how we selected the apps in this guide.) The apps we cover in this guide are great learning apps not because they’re designed to make kids smarter, to drill facts, or to replace in-school learning, but because they each offer something fun, unique, and interesting for kids and adults.

The research

Our favorite math apps, our favorite coding apps, our favorite science and exploration apps, our favorite social and emotional learning apps, our favorite ebook app, how we picked and tested.

These math games don’t simply drill facts or make kids memorize but rather use visuals, narratives, and storylines to help kids discover math concepts and build their skills. We like these apps because they offer games and exercises tailored to different ages and skill levels and because they encourage adults and kids to play together.

A family math app: Bedtime Math

Bedtime Math (iOS and Android)

Bringing math home.

This free app makes math a part of daily family life, like a bedtime story. A peer-reviewed study showed that it not only helps improve kids’ math performance but also makes parents feel more comfortable with math.

Buying Options

How it works: Bedtime Math ( iOS and Android ) seeks to do for math what the bedtime story does for literacy, by turning math into an enjoyable bonding routine between child and caregiver.

The free app offers a daily word problem for children to solve together with an adult during bedtime or anytime. Each exercise centers on a short narrative or interesting fact and poses questions at four difficulty levels, from pre-K through elementary school.

Why it’s great: Bedtime Math is one of the few children’s educational apps that have been evaluated in a peer-reviewed study . This particular study demonstrated that students who used the app significantly boosted their math scores; it also showed that Bedtime Math can help parents mitigate their own math anxiety , a phenomenon that can negatively affect their children’s attitudes toward math and their ability in the subject. Teacher Jennifer Auten told us she liked that the questions were written at a middle-school reading level, meaning an adult must facilitate the discussion but you have a choice of four levels of difficulty based on the child’s age and math level.

Apps for visual math: DragonBox Numbers and DragonBox Big Numbers

DragonBox Numbers (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Visual numeracy.

Cute Nooms help kids visualize and conceptualize numbers and arithmetic operations.

DragonBox Big Numbers (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

More-complex arithmetic.

Kids follow characters called Nooms on adventures, solving long addition and subtraction equations in the process.

Ages: 4 to 8 and 6 to 9

How it works: DragonBox Numbers ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), aimed at kids 4 through 8, introduces number sense, addition, and subtraction through cute characters called Nooms. (The characters are designed to resemble Cuisenaire rods , math learning aids that introduce kids to arithmetic operations in a hands-on way.) Kids feed, slice, and sort the Nooms, developing familiarity with addition, subtraction, fractions, and ranges. In DragonBox Big Numbers ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), for kids 5 through 9, players follow the Nooms on more complex adventures, solving long addition and subtraction equations in order to gather and trade resources.

Why it’s great: The Nooms function as digital versions of what classroom teachers call math manipulatives , physical learning aids that help young children understand theoretical math concepts in a concrete way. For older kids, the DragonBox series continues on with algebra and Euclidean geometry.

Many great apps teach coding to kids as young as preschool and progressing through upper elementary grades. We’ve highlighted four of these apps because they’re particularly easy to get started with and don’t require reading or, for the child or the parent, a coding background. Regardless of what app they use, parents should think of coding apps as a family activity, said Pat Yongpradit of Code.org . “You will rarely have such a rich media experience as you can when coding with your kid,” he said.

Coding puzzles for beginners: Lightbot and Lightbot Jr

Lightbot (iOS and Android)

Coding puzzles.

The app’s simple puzzle challenges are easy to jump into for kids and adults with no previous coding experience.

Lightbot Jr (iOS and Android)

Coding puzzles for younger kids.

A slower-paced, easier set of puzzles for kids as young as preschool.

Ages: 9 and up (Lightbot); 4 to 8 (Lightbot Jr)

How it works: In Lightbot ( iOS and Android ), kids solve a series of simple puzzles by lining up commands that make a robot advance over obstacles and light up squares. As they master basic concepts, they add more-complex commands, such as conditionals, loops, and nested statements. Lightbot Jr ( iOS and Android ) follows a similar structure but at a slower pace and with simpler challenges that focus on reinforcing the basics. A minimal amount of reading is required, so pre-readers may need adult help at the beginning.

Why it’s great: Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a nonprofit educational organization that promotes and develops STEM curricula and resources, told us, “The best apps for young students without previous experience are those that teach and help build logic and reasoning skills [and] critical thinking skills, and provide brain teasers.” PLTW’s curriculum writers like the Lightbot and Lightbot Jr apps as ways to get kids as young as 4 started with the basic concepts and logical structures of coding.

A creative coding app: ScratchJr

ScratchJr (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Visual programming.

Using graphical coding blocks, ScratchJr lets kids animate characters and create storylines.

Ages: 5 and up

How it works: In ScratchJr ( iOS , Android , Amazon ), kids select characters and backdrop scenes and drag graphical programming blocks, which snap together like puzzle pieces, to make animation sequences and storylines. Although the app has some written cues, the programming blocks largely use symbols (such as arrows and stop signs) to indicate what they do (such as move the character forward or make them stop). As kids become familiar with how to structure the code, they can create multi-scene stories.

Why it’s great: ScratchJr isn’t lesson-based (though you can consult a variety of curricula and tutorials for the app) but rather designed to give kids a sandbox in which to experiment, learn, and create through trial and error (the app offers sample animations as well). Pat Yongpradit of Code.org , which recommends ScratchJr among other coding apps and games, noted one particular benefit: “It’s very free-form; you’re not basically being directed down a particular path.” Younger kids will need an adult or older child to guide them as they get familiar with ScratchJr .

An app for hands-on coding: Osmo Coding Awbie

Osmo Coding (iOS)

Tangible coding.

The Osmo system uses physical game pieces in conjunction with the device’s screen, making scripting and coding tangible and accessible for pre-readers.

Ages: 5 to 12

How it works: Osmo Coding Awbie requires a base system—a stand and a mirror that attach to the device’s camera and that are compatible with other Osmo games —for the iPad , iPhone , and Amazon Fire . The system allows players to use physical pieces to interact with the screen-based game. Kids use bricks marked with commands, arrows, numbers, and loops to create scripts that direct a silly character through mazes and challenges, picking up prizes such as strawberries.

Why it’s great: Teacher Jennifer Auten, who uses Osmo Coding Awbie and other Osmo games in her classroom, said the fact that it combined an app with physical pieces made kids more patient and thoughtful as they worked through the challenges: “When something is purely on the screen, kids will sometimes end up just tapping as fast as they can, randomly guessing. With the manipulatives, it slows their thinking down.” Auten also noted that the physical pieces made it easier to play the game with multiple people, fostering discussion, collaboration, and group problem-solving. She also likes that Osmo Coding Awbie is open-ended: “Kids can explore and create their own paths.”

In this category we chose these three apps—focused on anatomy, the natural world, and space—because they offer kids unique, open-ended ways to explore science topics. Each app encourages kids to meander, linger, and dive deeper at their own pace.

An app to see what’s inside: The Human Body

The Human Body (iOS and Android)

Seeing what’s inside.

The Human Body offers a visually and aurally interesting way to wander through the body’s organs, systems, and functions.

How it works: In The Human Body ( iOS and Android ), kids explore anatomy by jumping around to different organs and systems—for example, watching a mouth chew food and swallow drink, sliding into a stomach breaking down food, and following flashing nerve signals as they race up to the brain.

Why it’s great: The Human Body focuses less on teaching kids specific anatomical lessons and more on sparking wonder and fascination toward the body and what it can do. The app’s engaging visuals are neither cartoonish nor graphic, and the thoughtful sound effects are as compelling and instructive as the animations: Gurgles, wooshes, creaks, and spurts give kids a visceral sense of what’s happening inside them. You can toggle on or off the text labels that identify the systems and organs, but no reading is required to get deep into the app, making it equally accessible to pre-readers.

An app for discovering nature: Toca Nature

Toca Nature (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Natural-world building.

Toca Nature is an open-ended building app—similar to Minecraft—where kids can explore and shape the terrain, collect resources, and observe wildlife.

Ages: 4 and up

How it works: In Toca Nature ( iOS , Android , Amazon ), kids start with a simple plot of land where they can raise or lower mountains, create lakes, clear or plant forests, and make deserts. They can zoom in to different areas of their terrain to collect and distribute resources (like mushrooms, fish, or berries). As they change and shape the environment, different kinds of animals, plants, and fish will appear, multiply, migrate, or disappear.

Why it’s great: Similar to popular narrative-less building games like Minecraft , Toca Nature harnesses the enjoyment kids get from open-ended creating, wandering, and exploring games, with a unique focus on the natural world. Common Sense Media senior editor Christine Elgersma said that an app like Toca Nature doesn’t have explicit learning goals—it’s not trying to teach kids the names of animals or types of terrain, for example—but rather is “an exploratory app with experiences that a kid really couldn’t have off screen.” By creating and manipulating the environment, and then observing how the plant and wildlife change as a result, kids can see how animals, resources, and the environment interact.

An app for exploring space: Professor Astro Cat’s Solar System

Professor Astro Cat’s Solar System (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Cats in space.

Explore the solar system with a jet-propelled cat.

Ages: 8 to 12, or 6 and up with an adult

How it works: Kids explore the app much as they would read a book, delving into facts, illustrations, and animations about planets, moons, stars, and space exploration. At various points, quizzes and other challenges let you earn sardine treats for Professor Astro Cat.

Why it’s great: Jana Grcevich , an astronomer, science educator, and author , told us she enjoyed the Professor Astro Cat app ( iOS , Android , and Amazon ), along with the popular book series it’s based on, with her then 6-year-old niece. The app requires reading, but the entertaining storyline and fascinating facts make it fun for adults along with younger children.

Social and emotional learning , which includes self-awareness, empathy, communication skills, and building relationships, among other capacities, has increasingly been recognized as a critical component of children’s education. These three apps let young kids explore different aspects of self-expression, emotions, and social play.

An app for self-expression: Me: A Kid’s Diary

Me: A Kid's Diary (iOS)

A digital diary.

This app lets kids explore self-expression through drawing, writing, photos, and audio and video.

Ages: 7 and up

How it works: Kids create a digital diary of their lives by answering questions about themselves; making avatars for family members, friends, and other loved ones; and designing their own media. Kids navigate all these entries on their Me Map, a sort of multimedia landscape of their lives.

Why it’s great: Me: A Kid’s Diary helps kids creatively document their feelings, experiences, and loved ones through different media and modes of expression. In some ways, the app offers an experience akin to social media—uploading photos, making videos, writing reflections, and mapping personal connections—but in an entirely closed environment (there’s no actual communication or sharing within the app). This can create a space for kids to start to explore (and for parents to discuss) digital self-expression and sharing.

An app for emotions: Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings

Daniel Tiger's Grr-ific Feelings (iOS, Android, and Amazon)

Exploring emotions.

The beloved PBS character helps young kids identify, act out, and explore their feelings through games, songs and creative activities.

Ages: 2 to 5

How it works: Kids explore the familiar world of the PBS Kids series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood ( iOS , Android , Amazon ) through simple games, songs, and art activities that focus on identifying and exploring feelings and emotions. It offers different ways for kids to practice, talk about, and experience emotions, such as by drawing a picture, taking a photo of themselves feeling angry or happy, or practicing a calming exercise with Daniel Tiger.

Why it’s great: The app is simple and accessible for very young kids, with frequent verbal cues and reminders to help them through the easily navigable interface. “Even without the Daniel tie-in, it could actually still be a pretty successful app for teaching a lot of social, emotional, and self-care skills,” said Harry Sawyers, Wirecutter senior editor and father of three. “But having the familiar characters and songs really helps jump-start their interest if, for example, they ‘have to go potty—stop, and go right awaaaaay!’”

An app for social play: Toca Tea Party

Toca Tea Party (iOS)

Tea for two (or more).

Toca Tea Party presents the elements of a tea party—drinks, desserts, and dishes—for unstructured imaginative play.

Ages: 2 and up

How it works: Toca Tea Party couldn’t be simpler: You set a tea table with plates, cups, drinks, and treats for three guests, and the rest is up to your imagination. There’s no objective beyond pouring drinks, munching treats, and wiping up spills, and the app has a built-in end point: Once you’ve finished the snacks and beverages, the table clears itself and the dishes drop into a sink, ending the party.

Why it’s great: Toca Tea Party isn’t so much a game as a scene for unstructured imaginative and social play for young children. Kids can play alone (perhaps by inviting dolls or stuffed animals as guests) or with one or two others—a unique feature for a tablet game to pull off well. My two daughters, now 4 and 5, haven’t tired of Toca Tea Party after two years, and their play centers on chatting, pretending, and sharing.

An app for reading: Epic! ebook subscription

Epic! e-book subscription

Endless ebooks.

This app allows young readers to choose from up to 35,000 different books for a low monthly cost.

How it works: For $8 a month, kids gain access to some 35,000 children’s books in an intuitively designed app. Epic’s library is updated regularly with new titles, including classics and the site’s original content. Many of the picture books have a “Read to me” function, where a narrator reads the text aloud and the pages turn automatically. The app also suggests books by age and based on what a child has previously read, allowing kids to easily discover new titles at their reading level. Epic! works on iOS, Android and Microsoft tablets and smartphones.

Why it’s great: While some subscription kids’ e-book apps tend to be populated with the kinds of uninteresting titles you’d find in a bookstore bargain bin, Epic! offers an impressive library of children’s books, including many of the beloved classics and award-winning authors you’d find in a well-curated children’s library. (The Wizard of Oz, with the original 1900 illustrations, was one memorable find that gave us many nights of rapt bedtime reading.) The app is simple enough to use that both of my daughters can independently browse books by the cover art and find what interests them—even though they are both pre-readers. Fairy tales abound, but I’ve also found them paging through books about geology, Ramadan, and coding.

Since we began researching learning apps in 2016, we’ve spoken with a range of experts, including a classroom teacher, a child developmental psychologist, a pediatrician, an astronomer, education researchers, app developers, and others.

These have included Kathy Hirsh-Pasek , a professor of psychology at Temple University who has written about and conducted research studies on educational apps for young children; Jennifer Auten , an award-winning teacher in Cupertino, California, who has been using tablet and smartphone apps in her first- and second-grade curricula since the iPad was released in 2010; Christine Elgersma , senior editor, parent education, for Common Sense Media, an organization focused on children’s media; and Pat Yongpradit , chief academic officer at Code.org, a nonprofit that advocates for computer science education. Last, we’ve spoken with parents on our staff for recommendations of apps they and their kids love in categories such as science, music, and coding.

We read articles and reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and child developmental psychologists and educational researchers to learn about kids’ media use and about principles for designing learning apps. Finally, we read through reviews and ratings from well-regarded children’s media sites such as Common Sense Media .

Similar to what we found when researching learning toys , we discovered that developers and app stores often label apps as “educational” with little research or evidence, and few experts, to support those claims. In 2016, the AAP released a broad report on children’s use of digital media, calling for more-rigorous evaluation of apps that claim to be educational: “Unfortunately, very few of the commercially available apps found in the educational section of app stores have evidence-based design input with demonstrated learning effectiveness.” Similarly, in a 2015 article , Hirsh-Pasek writes that educational apps “present a significant opportunity for out-of-school, informal learning when designed in educationally appropriate ways” but notes later on that “[o]nly a handful of apps are designed with an eye toward how children actually learn.”

Experts are still studying what makes learning apps successful pedagogical tools, as well as fun and interesting activities for kids. But after speaking with experts, reading research, and trying out apps ourselves, we identified a few features that seem to be common among great learning apps.

• Offer unique experiences: Several of the experts we spoke to noted that a good educational app should offer children something they couldn’t simply do, learn, or explore in a classroom or the real world. If the app is “basically a worksheet on screen, [or] an experience that could be replicated off screen, then that’s not a good use of the screen,” Elgersma said. “You want it to be an experience that kids could really only have in that screen world.”
• Be open-ended, with limits: Most of the apps in this guide are open-ended in the sense that they encourage kids to independently explore, create, and navigate within the app. But researchers say it’s important to have built-in limits, as well. The AAP has pointed out that digital games have traditionally been designed with rewards and reinforcement designed to keep kids playing as long as possible. The organization recommends that learning apps instead have “automatic ‘stops’ as the default design to encourage children and caregivers to pause the game use and turn to the 3-dimensional world.”
• Be engaging but not distracting: Apps have great potential to engage children through interactive features, but some research has shown that too many bells and whistles can distract children or reduce their comprehension. A good learning app uses interactive, animated, and responsive features to engage kids or enhance their comprehension, not simply to entertain. Hirsh-Pasek has written that parents should evaluate an app’s interactive features and ask: “Do the enhancements actually add value and increase engagement, or do they cause distraction?”
• Encourage interaction: The AAP and other organizations say that learning apps that encourage real-life interaction among multiple people—adult and child, or child and peers—can be especially strong at facilitating learning. The apps in this guide are fun and interesting for kids and adults, and many foster conversation and play outside of the app itself.

As with our guide to learning toys , we focused primarily on apps aimed at kids 3 to 9 years old, though older kids can enjoy many of our recommendations, as well. We chose this age range because, as Hirsh-Pasek has written , “there are so many apps targeted toward [children in this range] that parents and educators do not know how to navigate the marketplace of possibilities.”

All the apps we recommend in this guide adhere to the FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act . Among other things, COPPA requires that websites and apps directed at children under age 13 obtain permission from parents before collecting or sharing personal information from children, or targeting them with behavioral advertising. None of the apps in this guide require children to enter personal information in order to use the app’s functions, and none offer social media sharing or connectivity.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, et al., Putting Education in “Educational” Apps: Lessons From the Science of Learning , Psychological Science in the Public Interest , April 20, 2015

Yolanda (Linda) Reid Chassiakos, et al., Children and Adolescents and Digital Media , Pediatrics , October 1, 2016

Jana Grcevich, PhD, astronomer, science educator, author , phone interview , December 1, 2016

Jennifer Auten, first- and second-grade teacher, Cupertino, California , phone interview , November 8, 2016

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, professor of psychology, Temple University , phone interview , January 8, 2019

Christine Elgersma, senior editor, parent education, Common Sense Media , phone interview , March 12, 2019

Pat Yongpradit, chief academic officer, Code.org , phone interview , April 18, 2019

Meet your guide

Courtney Schley

Courtney Schley, a senior editor covering sleep and appliances, has been at Wirecutter since 2014. She has held several roles at Wirecutter, including research editor, as well as supervising editor of baby and kid coverage.

Further reading

How to Set Up a Remote Learning Space for Your Kids

by Melanie Pinola

With many schools closed this fall, it’s time to set up a remote schoolwork area for kids that’ll make learning a little easier.

Kids Exercise Videos to Help Keep Your Family Moving (and Sane)

by Ingrid Skjong

Free online exercise videos can help everyone from toddlers to teenagers stay active and calm during a coronavirus self-quarantine. These are our favorites.

These Four Video Games Are Fun for the Whole Family

by Haley Perry

If you’re looking for a video game for your next family game night, these are the games we recommend for all ages and skill levels.

8 Time-Tested Sidewalk Games We Love

by Dan Koeppel

Old-school games from the sidewalks of New York are still surprisingly fun—and require not much more than chalk.

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30 Best Educational iPad Games for Kids in 2024 (Free and Paid)

Learn while you play!

Tablets are a regular part of most kids’ routines these days, and teachers and parents can use that to their advantage. There are a lot of terrific iPad games for kids that are designed for learning but disguised as fun! Here are some of the best that cover reading, math, science, social studies, and more for kids of a variety of ages.

Free iPad Games for Kids

The earlier kids start to learn new languages, the better. When we’re young, our brains are more receptive to learning language in general. Duolingo no longer has a specific version just for kids (though they do have a reading program; see below). But the general app itself is still great for kids by upper elementary or so. It’s completely free, and offers more than 40 languages to explore. Teachers should check out Duolingo for Schools , too.

Duolingo ABC

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 1

The foreign language learning company has brought its same philosophy to teaching kids how to read. The entirely free lessons focus on phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, and reading comprehension, all the skills emergent readers need. The lessons increase in difficulty as children progress, with tailored reviews to help kids strengthen skills they struggle with. It’s aligned with Common Core standards too.

PBS Kids Games

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 2

You know you can trust PBS to provide safe, fun, and educational iPad games for kids. Their collection features stars from popular shows like Daniel Tiger and the Wild Kratts, with hundreds of games on just about every subject. This is one iPad app every parent and teacher needs, especially since it’s all entirely free (and available in Spanish too!).

iCivics Games

Ages: Middle and High School

iCivics has a suite of terrific social studies games that kids will truly enjoy playing. They’ll feel like they’re right in the action as they try to get a new law ratified, run in an election, or try a case in court. These apps are all free, and their website has lots of excellent accompanying resources for teachers.

Bedtime Math

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 3

Bedtime stories are a longstanding tradition, but what about bedtime math? That’s what this free app, along with its accompanying books , aims to do. Each day, the app adds a new fun math problem for parents and kids to do together. (Teachers could also use them as daily problems in the classroom.) Each math problem has three levels of difficulty, and many offer challenge questions too.

Little Alchemy 2

Ages: K to 12

Starting with just a few basic elements (air, earth, fire, and water), players mix these to create dozens of new items, both real and imaginary. For instance, mix water and earth to get clay, then mix clay and fire to make bricks, add brick to brick to build a wall, and so on. This robust free game is completely engrossing, and it encourages both creativity and logical thinking.

World Geography Quiz Game

Ages: Grades 3 to 12

This isn’t one of those iPad games for kids full of animated characters and flashy graphics. It’s a straight-up geography quiz game and a very good one. Kids who are into maps and globes will enjoy checking their knowledge of flags, capital cities, statistics, and much more. The game is free to download and play; you have the option to buy “hints,” but they’re not necessary to enjoy the fun.

Sushi Monster

Ages: Grades 2 to 6

Looking for a fun way to practice math facts? Check out this free app! Sushi Monster is hungry. Feed him the sushi plates to make the correct goal number and practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Lyrical Letters

Ages: Pre-K to Grade 12

Combine music with spelling and vocabulary in this charming game, enjoyable for anyone at any age. Listen to the sequence of notes, then play them back to spell the right word. You can also simply play around with the keyboard and synthesizer functions, composing tunes just for fun. Lyrical Letters is free to download and play; you can remove the in-game ads for $1.99.

Ages: Grade 4 and up

Build vocabulary and work on spelling with this innovative word game. As you connect letters to make a word, they disappear from the board, collapsing others around them. New letters are always rising from the bottom, though, so you’ll have to think quickly to stop them from reaching the top and ending the game. The game is free to download, but many reviewers note that it’s ad-heavy; pay $4.99 to unlock the full version.

More Great Educational iPad Games for Kids

Think of this collection of iPad games for kids as your personal set of Montessori activities on the go. From busy boards and blocks to music sequencers and a marble machine, the youngest learners will find plenty to keep them engaged as they develop key skills. Pok Pok is subscription-based ($6.99/month or $45.99/year), with a free 7-day trial.

Hands-On Equations

Ages: Grades 4+

The Hands-On Equations iPad games teach algebra skills in a fun and engaging way. There are three levels available, plus Hands-On Equations Lite, a free version you can try to see if you like it. Level 1 covers the basics of equations, while 2 and 3 build up the difficulty to include order of operations and negative numbers. Levels 1, 2, and 3 range in price from $2.99 to $3.99 each.

Endless Alphabet

Ages: Pre-K

This iPad game has been around for awhile, but parents and kids both continue to love it. Kids build their vocabulary and alphabet knowledge through interactive games and fun animations. They’ll also enjoy the adorable monsters that join in on the game! Get Endless Alphabet for a one-time purchase price of $8.99.

ABCmouse is one of the most popular educational iPad games for kids who are learning to read, count, and more. They offer thousands of learning activities across the curriculum, including hundreds in Spanish. It requires a subscription ($12.99/month or $45/year), but you can try it for free for 30 days to see if you like it.

Adventure Academy

Ages: Grades 3 to 8

Adventure Academy is ABCmouse’s older cousin. Upper elementary and middle school students can learn math, science, language arts, and more. They’ll create their own avatar and make their way around a fully interactive school environment, learning as they go. It has the same subscription rates as ABCmouse ($12.99/month or $45/year).

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Ages: Pre-K to Kindergarten

Everyone’s favorite caterpillar is now available in an app! Play games to match colors and shapes, put together puzzles, and learn to take care of plants and animals. The app is free to download, but it costs $4.99 to unlock all of the available activities.

Ages: Grades 1 to 5

Solve math problems and try to get five Bingo Bugs in a row. Be careful, though, because wrong answers will affect your end score. High scores earn you your very own Bingo Bugs for your collection! There are five modes: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and mixed. Math Bingo costs $2.99 to download and play.

Ages: Grades 3 and up

Everything you love about Mad Libs in an app! Kids will get sneaky practice in learning the parts of speech, while creating zany stories that make everyone laugh. You get a limited number of Mad Libs for free, with the ability to buy more packages starting at $1.99.

Sight Words Ninja

Ages: Grades 1 to 4

This is such a fun way to practice sight words! As various words appear on the screen, slice through the target word as fast as you can to score points. At only $1.99, this game is a terrific bargain and one that students will beg to play.

Wee ones will love helping Tim and his family as they learn colors and shapes. The game is available in multiple languages, so you can also use it to help kids learn basic words in Spanish, French, and more. Dino Tim is free to download and $2.99 to unlock all content.

Presidents vs. Aliens

Ages: Grade 3 and up

Learn more about U.S. presidents while you battle aliens in this silly but informative game. As you answer the questions and beat each level, you add a new president to your collection. Then, you can fling these presidents at the aliens to help defend the planet! The app costs $1.99 to download but has no in-game ads and doesn’t require any additional purchases to play. Kids will need to be able to read to play on their own.

Ages: K to Grade 4

This subscription-based iPad game for kids promises to make learning math fun and engaging. Kids set out on missions to earn monsters by solving math puzzles. This is a program that can grow with any child, starting with very basic counting skills and building through to multiplication and division. After a 7-day free trial, the program costs $7.99 a month or $49.99 annually.

Where’s My Water?

Ages: Kindergarten and Up

Swampy lives in the sewers under the city, but he loves to stay clean! His shower is constantly getting stopped up, though, so kids need` to dig through the dirt and avoid obstacles to guide the fresh water to Swampy. This game is a lot of fun, but it’s based on real physics and the movement of water, so they’ll learn while they play. This Disney game costs $1.99 to download and includes additional storylines for purchase.

Stack the States 2

Ages: Grade 3 and Up

Learn U.S. geography the fun way by answering questions and building your own collection of states. Kids master state capitals, cities, landmarks, flags, and more. The app costs $2.99 to download and play, with no ads or other in-app purchases to worry about.

Teach Your Monster to Read

They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to another. That’s the idea behind this popular iPad game, where kids “teach” a monster to read while learning the skills themselves. It covers early reading skills, from letter recognition through phonics and word-building. Download and play for $8.99.

Monster Physics

Kids who love to tinker will get a real kick out of this game. They can design and build their own inventions, then see how (and if!) they would work in the real world. There are 50 different missions for them to invent and conquer alongside their own monster avatar. At only $1.99 to download, with no in-game ads, this one is definitely worth a look.

Cut the Rope

Ages: Kindergarten and up

This game has been around for a while, but it’s popular for a reason. The concept is simple: arrange the objects on the screen and then cut the rope to release the candy into the hungry monster’s mouth. The laws of physics apply here, so kids will learn without even knowing it. The levels get progressively more challenging as you play. Cut the Rope costs $1.99 to download, with the ability to buy hints, solutions, and more puzzles in the app.

Slice Fractions

Ages: Grades 1 to 6

Learn fractions in an interactive environment as you slice through ice and lava to clear the mammoth’s path. There’s no reading involved in this game, so kids can focus purely on numbers and fractions. Slice Fractions costs $3.99 to download and play.

Ages: Grades 2 to 12

You don’t need any coding experience to play this game; you’ll learn as you go. Solve puzzles by guiding a robot to light up tiles with basic commands. Multiple players can save their progress on the same device, so this one’s great for classrooms or families. Some reading is required, but otherwise, even little ones can play on their own. Lightbot costs $2.99 to download and play, without the need for in-app purchases.

Reading Raven

This well-reviewed app teaches basic reading and writing skills, starting with letter recognition and tracing. As their skills advance, so do the challenges, until they’re able to practice reading aloud using voice recording. Reading Raven is a one-time cost of $3.99 to download and play, with no in-game ads.

Did we miss one of your favorite iPad games for kids? Come share your thoughts in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, our favorite online games that are fun and educational too ., you might also like.

34 Best Coding Games for Kids in 2023 (Digital and Board Games!)

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28 Smart STEM Toys for the Techie Kids in Your Life

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Colorful Construction Clixo Rainbow Pack Read more

Marble-Powered Computer Turing Tumble Read more

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Lego Robots Lego Spike Prime Robot Read more

Anyone who has ever watched a toddler methodically take apart a Tupperware drawer should know that many children are natural-born engineers. Your only job as a parent is to nurture their creativity … and clean up the mess afterward. Between us—product reviewer Scott Gilbertson, editor Adrienne So, and I—we have seven kids. This, honestly, is the most fun part of my job—calling in STEM toys for my kids and I to test together and recommend to you. It hardly feels like work at all.

Wrap up a few of these STEM toys (also called STEAM toys; we love you too, Arts!) and books for your future scientist to blow up, burn up, or dismantle. Hopefully, they'll thank you for the early encouragement when they're older. Be sure to check out our many other buying guides , including Our Favorite Subscription Boxes for Kids and How to Build the Lego Collection of Your Dreams .

Updated November 2023: We added Clixo Kits and Kanoodle Pyramid, and updated prices throughout.

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Colorful Construction

Construction kits are compelling no matter your age, and my entire family found Clixo’s colorful, versatile, snap-together magnetic pieces irresistible. You can build three-dimensional shapes from these flexible pieces by connecting the magnetic ends and bending them the way you want (my youngest made a cat, my teen made a crown). These durable and washable pieces stack neatly to pack away. We love that you don’t need a flat surface to build because it means you can play with these kits anywhere. If you prefer a themed pack, we also liked the Mars Rover Pack ($45) and the Ocean Creatures Pack ($45) , and both sets feature glow-in-the-dark pieces. The kits are recommended for kids aged 4 and up. —Simon Hill

Marble-Powered Computer

Turing Tumble is a wonderful way to teach kids coding fundamentals. It combines the simple pleasure of marble runs with a beautifully illustrated sci-fi comic book packed with challenging puzzles. The board resembles a pachinko game, and you have to slot in different pieces to divert the blue and red balls and get the required pattern at the bottom. My 9-year-old spent hours working through the puzzles, reconfiguring this marble-powered computer. As the challenges grew tougher, the whole family joined in to find solutions. Well-designed, satisfying, and rewarding, this is a good pick for kids 8 and up. —Simon Hill

Teaching basic coding concepts to young kids is a challenge. To do it without a screen is even tougher. But QUBS has come up with an elegant solution. These beech wood blocks look like buildings, but each has a symbol relating to a command (turn left, turn right, U-turn, repeat the last command, stop, record path, play path). When kids put the magnetic top on the red car, it begins to drive. Using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, the car reads the commands on the blocks. There’s a lovely guidebook that includes stories and activities, but the best thing about this Montessori-inspired wooden toy is that kids can dive in and learn how it works through play. —Simon Hill

Lego Robots

Lego Education's Spike Prime building set is a complete DIY robot-building classroom in a box. Literally. Prior to the abrupt rise in distance learning several years ago, Lego marketed this primarily to schools. It comes with its own lesson plans, but don't let the seriousness fool you—my kids love this set and went from never having used it to programming their own robots (using the drag-and-drop Scratch programming language) in a couple of afternoons.

Lego keeps updating Spike Prime too. Recently it released a new series of plans for bots that track exercise and help kids learn about motion and energy transfer. —Scott Gilbertson

Eric Ravenscraft

Julian Chokkattu

Make Music From Colors

Sphero acquired STEAM toy company LittleBits in 2019. Sphero's toys are always so cute, I want to eat them whole; I particularly liked the Sphero RVR ($279) . But for sheer aesthetic pleasure, it's hard to compete with the Specdrums.

These tiny, pocketable rings turn all the colored surfaces around you into a potential musical instrument, and turn anyone into an amateur DJ. Use the app to assign sounds to colors or vice versa. When you tap on different colors, you can hear the different tones. Anyone from toddlers on up can play with these and find them vastly entertaining. You can also buy a one-ring set for $25 . —Adrienne So

Coding Ball

The Sphero Edu app is packed with computer science lessons and activities for different age groups. Bolt has an 8 x 8 LED board on top, various sensors inside (compass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer), and supports infrared communication. My wife is a teacher and uses this in the classroom to teach basic coding skills, giving students (9 year old and up) challenges like navigating a maze. She says many kids grasp the concepts much faster than they might with a book or screen, because they can see the Bolt moving in physical space. —Simon Hill

Endless Building Fun

The return on investment with Magna-Tiles staggers me. It's been years , and at 6 and 8 years old, my children can still occupy themselves with these for hours. Translucent Magna-Tiles click together to form both two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects. Younger kids can make a house with a backyard and fences, or ice cream cones. With an older kid, the sky is the limit—or, rather, your credit card is, since there are wheelbarrows full of expansion sets you can buy. My daughter can currently build a full village in an afternoon for her stuffed animals.

If these are too pricey, there are alternatives that work just as well, like Picasso Tiles, which are $20 for 60 pieces . —Adrienne So

Tacto uses physical pieces to turn your iPad, Android, or Fire tablet into a game board. Tacto Chess teaches the basics, from how the pieces move to strategies for victory. The animated app boasts friendly voice acting and stories to draw kids in. There are also chess puzzles to solve and a move predictor, and your child can play against AI or another person. Both my kids (9 and 12) have enjoyed some time with this, so it works well for different ages and abilities, but it was a little fiddly to get pieces to register on the iPad Mini, so a larger tablet is advisable. Other Tacto packs cover dinosaurs , classic board games , coding , lasers , and electronics . —Simon Hill

Underwater Vistas

Chronicle Books' gorgeous picture book tells the story of Ken Nedimyer, an environmental scientist, live rock farmer, and fish collector who founded the Coral Restoration Foundation .

The book weaves together details of Nedimyer's biography with facts about coral reefs—I did not know that corals spawn like fish do—and luminous underwater landscapes and depictions of scuba diving. It makes environmental preservation and following your passions look both doable and fun. —Adrienne So

Table Tiles

The Osmo tablet accessory and gaming platform for kids merges the physical and digital worlds in a way few toys manage. Your kids can tackle solving puzzles and playing word games with blocks and tiles you move around on the table in front of them. The Osmo hardware captures what they're doing and translates it into actions on the screen.

Osmo recently launched several new titles, including a math-related dragon game that's been a hit in our house. Give the hardware requirements a close look to be sure your iPad or Fire tablet is compatible. —Scott Gilbertson

Construction Capers

My entire household found this magnetic construction set irresistible, and there has been a new 3D structure on the coffee table every morning. The kit comprises glow-in-the-dark magnetic rods (crafted from recycled plastic), steel spheres, and plastic bases in different shapes. You also get storage boxes to put everything away in. There’s a guide in the box with a few suggested structures, but creating your own is a big part of the appeal. There are sets of various sizes suitable for kids 3 and up. —Simon Hill

Women in STEM

These beautifully illustrated cards depict legendary women who made significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There’s a focus on Black and Indigenous women of color, because they are woefully underrepresented in most STEM discussions. Stylized portraits are combined with interesting brief biographies that recount their journeys and highlight their achievements. There are also thoughtful questions to provoke conversation and debate, which makes the deck a useful teaching resource for teens. But it is on the pricey side.

The makers, the Represented Collective, also offer puzzles for younger kids. We tried Nakira’s World Nature Hike ($24) , a jigsaw with two pairs of decoder glasses and a puzzle book. Youngsters will enjoy examining the nature scene, and the booklet has links to culturally relevant reading and offers an introduction to Ojibwe vocabulary. —Simon Hill

Color Chemistry

Everyone who has come across a Crayola crayon has probably melted one, whether accidentally or on purpose. Crayola's Color Chemistry set includes enough brightly colored Crayola ingredients for 16 activities out of the box, and up to 50 with common household ingredients. Exploding volcanoes and colorful quicksand are just a few of the eye-catching experiments that you can look forward to trying. —Adrienne So

Remote-Controlled Robot

This super-cute robot looks like it rolled straight out of a Pixar movie. With a big, expressive eye atop three balls, it zips around with real personality, which helps it successfully combine play and learning in a way that every STEM toy aims for but many fall short of. Dash has lived with us for several years now. It’s a durable toy that works on a simple level like a remote-controlled car, but it also ties in with various apps to play games, solve puzzles, and create programs. Lego connectors for Dash’s head add to the creative possibilities. Wonder Workshop also offers some optional accessories. —Simon Hill

A Twist on a Classic

No one needs a Bluetooth-enabled Rubik's Cube, but once you get your hands on a GoCube you probably won't be able to put it down. Smart sensors inside the beautiful, glowing cube connect to a companion app on your phone and sense where each block is positioned. You can learn algorithms and strategies that will help you get your solve-time down. And if you give everyone you know a GoCube, you can also stage live competitions with friends and family! —Adrienne So

Sand Castles

My kids love this moldable sand and have happily spent countless hours over the years making tabletop structures. It behaves like wet sand and never dries out, so you can shape it with your hands or use tools and molds to make castles. It comes in many colors and clumps together easily but doesn’t stick to your hands or surfaces. While it’s generally easy to clean up, it’s a good idea to confine play to a tray or table and supervise your kids, or you may end up picking tiny bits of pink sand out of your carpet. —Simon Hill

Unlimited Books

No parent has ever complained that their child was reading too much. You might think that Amazon's Kindle Kids a regular Kindle Paperwhite , but it includes a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+ (formerly FreeTime Unlimited), a two-year replacement guarantee, and, yes, a cute cover.

Not only does Amazon Kids+ give your child access to more than a thousand kid-friendly books in both English and Spanish, as well as Audible titles, I found it easy to whitelist even more free titles (free books!) from my local library using Amazon's parent dashboard. You can also highlight or look up difficult words, or add them to a Vocabulary Builder tool. Testing this Kindle is the first time I've gotten my 5-year-old interested in longer chapter books, so I'd give it a ringing endorsement based on that alone. —Adrienne So

Real Coding

Many STEM toys dumb down programming tasks, and that can limit their usefulness. The kits from Let’s Start Coding reject that approach, offering hands-on time with electronic components and challenging kids to dive straight in and create programs in C++. The Ultimate Kit includes 23 separate parts, including an LCD screen, speaker, LED strip, various sensors, and more. There are more than 100 projects to embark on, with example code that kids can tweak and helpful, if somewhat dry, walkthrough videos.

My kids required some encouragement and supervision with this, and I think the suggested age of 8 years and up is low. Perhaps more important than age is a genuine interest in hardware and coding. But there’s satisfaction in successfully controlling hardware components. A Windows, Mac, or Chromebook desktop or laptop is required to use the free software. Younger kids may be better starting with a smaller, more focused kit like Code Rocket ($70) . —Simon Hill

Unlock the Rocks

The best toys are the ones that aren't toys at all. This year, my children became extremely interested in fossils and geology. We've been taking walks in the woods or at the beach, putting promising specimens in our pockets. We often keep the rock tumbler running for weeks (outside, because it's a little noisy), changing out the grit and watching as rough rubble eventually reveals itself as sparkly quartz or agate. If you're feeling ambitious, you can also throw in a rock guide and plan a rock-hunting trip. —Adrienne So

Colorful Clay

Part of exploring the world is feeling the world, digging in the dirt as it were, but if you don't have a yard or live near a park, you can bring some of that same spirit of exploration inside with polymer clay.

This is the mold-and-bake clay you might have used growing up. It just has a fancy new name. The things your kids create might not always hold up, but that too is a learning process—after her doll's table fell apart several times, my daughter asked if I could reinforce the legs with wire.

Other fun sculpting options include modeling clay ($10) and good old-fashioned Play-Doh ($21) . —Scott Gilbertson

Odds and Ends

Most kids love construction kits, and the OffBits combine special components with standard hardware bits you might have lying around the house, like nuts and screws. Each kit boasts a special assembly tool and a robot, creature, or vehicle to build. My daughter enjoyed putting the UnicornBit together, and kids are encouraged to get creative in their approach and adapt designs to suit them. The only roadblock we ran into was that some pieces were tough to connect, requiring some adult muscle, and others felt loose, but the end result was charming. OffBits offers various kits (mostly for kids ages 6 and up), but with small pieces and tricky assembly, we advise adult supervision. —Simon Hill

Fantastic Stickers

I know what you're thinking: Painting with stickers sounds kind of lame. But trust me, kids love these books. There's something about the balance of fun and meticulous concentration that draws children in. These are also a fun and mess-free activity for traveling with younger children. If your child isn't a dinosaur fan, there are plenty of other options, including unicorns , undersea animals , bugs , and more. —Adrienne So

Creative Cardboard

If you already have a Nintendo Switch, you must try Nintendo Labo ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ). These clever kits composed of corrugated cardboard sheets and stickers must be assembled so you can play related games with your creations on the Switch console. Beyond the challenges and mini-games, you can dip into the software and learn how each kit works. You can even set up your own rules, reprogramming your creations in the Toy-Con Garage by dragging and dropping blocks to create simple inputs and outputs. We like the Vehicle Kit best, but there are several alternatives. —Simon Hill

Yeasty Goodness

We've tested many gift subscription kits , but my 5-year-old declared this baking kit to be the most fun of all. We've talked about yeast, watched carbon dioxide fill up balloons ("We're eating fungi farts!"), talked about the different states of matter while making butter, kneaded dough, and finally, had cinnamon toast for a snack. It requires a lot of parental supervision over a lengthy period of time, but I also liked that she now has her own separate measuring cups and tools and can quit stealing mine. —Adrienne So

Tetris-Style Teaser

Can you fit these Tetris-pieces into a three-dimensional puzzle board? My 11-year-old loved this logic puzzle, though she found the 2D puzzles too easy. Luckily, there are 100 3D puzzles that require spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills to beat. They get tougher as you progress, but never too hard. This puzzle kit is recommended for kids aged 8 and up, but some younger kids could have fun with it, too. Kanoodle does also offer a bunch of other brain teasing puzzles specifically for younger kids. —Simon Hill

A Crayon Replacement

Tempera paint sticks are like oversized crayons, but instead of wax, your kids smear tempera paint around. Don't worry, it dries quickly (in about a minute and a half), and it's easy to clean off most surfaces. It's all the fun of painting, but there are no brushes or other mess to clean when your kids are done. There are sets of all sizes. We started with this 12-piece set but have since expanded to a 32-color set ($28) . —Scott Gilbertson

World of Learning

Budding adventurers can learn about countries around the world with this interactive globe. Using a companion app on a tablet, your child can scan the included globe and get augmented reality pop-ups that trigger fact files on famous monuments, animals, cuisines, and more. My 9-year-old had some fun with this but felt the goofy voices were more suitable for younger kids. (PlayShifu recommends it for ages 4 to 10.) The globe feels cheap, and the AR pop-ups tend to clip through it, but this is a novel way to learn more about the world. Shifu offers two alternative globes covering dinosaurs and the planet Mars . —Simon Hill

Coding Cutie

It’s amazing how bleeps and bloops, colored LEDs, and cute animations lend personality to a tiny robot. The Ozobot Evo is like a mini R2D2 your kids can control. There are a couple of ways to program the Ozobot Evo. It follows black lines drawn on paper and changes the color of its lights to match the colors drawn. Blocks of varied colors also act as codes to trigger animations, change speed, or perform another action (a workbook explains). Ozobot is an easy, screen-free introduction to coding principles for younger kids. Older kids can try Ozobot Blockly, a typical drag-and-drop coding language that lets them build simple programs quickly.

My 10-year-old enjoyed playing with this for a while, but I agree with  our original review that the Ozobot Evo would work best in the classroom. Ozobot offers handy teaching resources, and the Evo makes for an engaging problem-solving activity for small groups. —Simon Hill

Adrienne So

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The best mobile apps for tweens can provide a rich world of entertainment for growing minds. Our app reviews will guide you toward the best apps for this age group, and steer you away from the ones that aren't worth your time. This is a great time to be the training wheels for your kid as they learn to use smartphones responsibly. Plus, you want their screen use to provide the best experiences possible, since there's a lot of cool stuff out there for them to try. Look for apps that give kids experiences they can't have off-screen. And, ideally, encourage learning from those experiences as much as possible. Review our app tips for more advice, and check out some other top picks for even more fabulous apps for your kids.

Adventures of Poco Eco - Lost Sounds

A meditative musical journey through a lush neon wonderland.

Alto's Adventure

Stunning graphics bring snowboarding to endless runners.

Box Island - Award Winning Coding Adventure

Cute coding adventure introduces logic of computer science.

Kahoot! Geometry by DragonBox

Innovative geometry app integrates learning with play.

The Infinite Arcade by Tinybop

Design, play, and improve your own arcade games.

Inventioneers Full Version

Excellent physics puzzler emphasizes engineering practices.

Marble Math

Marble mazes make for fun math practice.

Monster Heart Medic

Fab medical sim promotes heart-healthy living.

Arloon Geometry

Shape up spatial skills with augmented reality tool.

Challenging puzzler teaches kids to think like programmers.

A Dark Room

Terrifically imaginative game uses text, not graphics.

Powerful sequencer lets kids create pro-quality recordings.

Lumino City

Stunning visuals and tough puzzles delight and challenge.

Monster Physics

Colorful graphics, fun missions engage as kids experiment.

The Orchestra

Stellar videos, interactive features make beautiful music.

Swift Playgrounds

Learning feels like play in sleek, approachable coder.

Thomas Was Alone

Completely charming -- and funny -- puzzle game.

Brainfeed - Educational Videos for Kids

Curated learning videos still best after parental preview.

Plentiful, fun, fantastic, and free language lessons.

HappiMe for Young People

Brain-centered mindfulness helps kids learn positivity.

Other great lists from our editors

• Best Apps for Kids Age 5–8
• Best Apps for Kids Age 13–17
• 5 Ways to Curb Kids' In-App Purchases on the iPhone
• 7 Apps to Help Your Kid Be More Responsible
• How to Download Kids' Apps Smarter (and Cheaper)

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Search by interaction, refine for your family, video game accessibility filters, board game accessibility filters, diversity and inclusion filters, best games for 12-year-olds (year 8 secondary school) on android.

Android smartphones and tablet devices can run the same games. The operating system offers similar features to Apple's iOS on iPhone and iPad, but for non-Apple hardware made by a range of manufacturers. This means that these devices are usually cheaper. Android games can use the motion controls, touch screen as well as connect Bluetooth gamepads and controllers. You can also send the game visuals and sound to a TV to play games more like a console.

Platform Details

Among Us is a strategy game where crew-mates prepare their spaceship for launch by completing tasks.

Among Us is a strategy game where crew-mates prepare their spaceship for launch by completing tasks. However, one of the players is an impostor intent on sabotaging the ship and killing the crew.

Out Now: Android, PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and iOS

Unpacking is a meditative puzzle game where you unpack belongings into a series of spaces, each representing a stage in life.

Unpacking is a meditative puzzle game where you unpack belongings into a series of spaces, each representing a stage in life. You get to know the owner of the objects by their possessions and circumstances.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Before Your Eyes is a narrative game about an 11-year-old boy revisiting his life before "crossing over" to the other side.

Before Your Eyes is a narrative game about an 11-year-old boy revisiting his life before "crossing over" to the other side. You play by exploring scenes that represent snapshots of his life.

Out Now: Android, PC and iOS

Hello Neighbor is a stealth survival game with a horror feel where you try and sneak into the basement of your neighbour’s house to uncover a "horrible secret".

Hello Neighbor is a stealth survival game with a horror feel where you try and sneak into the basement of your neighbour’s house to uncover a "horrible secret". The game responds to your strategy by setting traps along paths the player followed in previous attempts.

Out Now: Amazon Fire, Android, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch and Xbox One

Stardew Valley looks like a farming simulator.

Stardew Valley looks like a farming simulator. That’s partly what it is, but you also develop relationships with the other townsfolk and delve deep into the mines.

Out Now: Amazon Fire, Android, Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Townscaper is a creative town-building game where you pick colours from the range available and click to put down a house in the sea.

Townscaper is a creative town-building game where you pick colours from the range available and click to put down a house in the sea. As you continue to add houses of different colours the game automatically orientates the architecture for you.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, Switch, Web, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and iOS

Florence is a puzzle game that tells the story of a relationship.

Florence is a puzzle game that tells the story of a relationship. It follows the usual stages of loneliness, meeting, dating, falling for and moving in with another person.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, Switch and iOS

Terraria looks like a 2D, lesser version of Minecraft.

Terraria looks like a 2D, lesser version of Minecraft. However, this is a game every bit as complex and creative as the better-known block-building game.

Out Now: 3DS and 2DS, Amazon Fire, Android, Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS3, PS4, Stadia, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and iOS

Halo is the longstanding sci-fi shooting video game series that started when Halo: Combat Evolved launched alongside the Xbox in 2001.

Halo is the longstanding sci-fi shooting video game series that started when Halo: Combat Evolved launched alongside the Xbox in 2001. The franchise has featured on every Xbox platform since then, with Halo 5: Guardians serving as the latest entry in the series on Xbox One.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and iOS

Night in the Woods is a narrative adventure which follows college dropout Mae Borowski returning home to the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs.

Night in the Woods is a narrative adventure which follows college dropout Mae Borowski returning home to the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. Play involves exploring the town, interacting with the locals and working out what has happened now her friends have grown and changed.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Conduct Together is a strategy game where you control toy trains along overlapping train tracks.

Conduct Together is a strategy game where you control toy trains along overlapping train tracks. Each train can be started and stopped with a specific button.

Mini Metro is a sequencing strategy game where you create an ordered, efficient underground train system.

Mini Metro is a sequencing strategy game where you create an ordered, efficient underground train system. It sounds like hard work, but the simple Tube-map visuals, calm music, and streamlined interactions make this relaxing, like sudoku.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch and iOS

Don't Starve is an open-world survival game where it’s the environment and enemies, rather than other players, that you have to work with.

Don't Starve is an open-world survival game where it’s the environment and enemies, rather than other players, that you have to work with. You need to find and develop food, weapons and shelter to survive.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS3, PS4, Switch, Wii U, Xbox One and iOS

The Alto Collection is a series of games including Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure.

The Alto Collection is a series of games including Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure. Both are action traversal games where you explore beautiful mountains, dunes and canyons on a snowboarding journey full of serenity and secrets.

Out Now: Android, Apple TV, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Bury Me My Love is a narrative adventure game where you play the husband of a Syrian woman, Nour, travelling to Europe.

Bury Me My Love is a narrative adventure game where you play the husband of a Syrian woman, Nour, travelling to Europe. Play involves receiving and sending simple messages where Nout tells you how she is getting on and you influence her choices.

Lost In Play is a feel-good adventure about a brother and sister exploring their dreams.

Lost In Play is a feel-good adventure about a brother and sister exploring their dreams. Lost in their imagination, Toto and Gal must solve puzzles to journey back home.

Out Now: Android, PC, Switch and iOS

Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise is a puzzle game where you infiltrate a spy hideaway to stop an evil plan.

Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise is a puzzle game where you infiltrate a spy hideaway to stop an evil plan. Each location is full of retro futuristic contraptions, hidden gizmos, gadgets and clever logic-based puzzles.

Out Now: Android, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Dead Cells is a running, jumping and fighting game where you are escaping a prison.

Dead Cells is a running, jumping and fighting game where you are escaping a prison. In a bright pixelated world you must accurately time attacks and dodges to defeat a wide range of enemies.

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney is a courtroom murder mystery series where you piece together clues to challenge testimonies and uncover the truth.

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney is a courtroom murder mystery series where you piece together clues to challenge testimonies and uncover the truth. It’s like a visual novel, although you must interact with characters and evidence to progress.

Out Now: 3DS and 2DS, Android, GBA, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Wilderless is a traversal and exploration game where you are left to discover a fantasy world at your own pace without the usual hindrances.

Wilderless is a traversal and exploration game where you are left to discover a fantasy world at your own pace without the usual hindrances. You run, jumping and glide your way around the landscape that unfolds beautifully before you.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC and iOS

Legend Of The Skyfish is a puzzle exploration game where you head into a dangerous land, hopping from island to island, solving puzzles and battling enemies.

Legend Of The Skyfish is a puzzle exploration game where you head into a dangerous land, hopping from island to island, solving puzzles and battling enemies. Each arcade-style level is a chance to put your unusual weapon to use -- for fighting but also for swinging around and moving things.

Out Now: Android, Apple TV, Mac, PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

The Gardens Between is a puzzle game set in dreamlike island gardens where you play as best friends Arina and Frendt.

The Gardens Between is a puzzle game set in dreamlike island gardens where you play as best friends Arina and Frendt. You work around the island levels collecting balls of light in your lantern, manipulating time to solve puzzles and remove obstacles.

80 Days is a travel and culture discovery game set in 1872, where decisions about your journey around the world impact the course of the story and characters.

80 Days is a travel and culture discovery game set in 1872, where decisions about your journey around the world impact the course of the story and characters. You play be deciding where to go next and talking to the people you meet to find the right resources for your journey.

Out Now: Amazon Fire, Android, Mac, PC, Switch and iOS

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a turn-based strategy game where you take command of a squad of soldiers and use your wits and tactics to plan and lead them to battle.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a turn-based strategy game where you take command of a squad of soldiers and use your wits and tactics to plan and lead them to battle. You play as Commander Claude Wallace and the soldiers of Squad E and experience a gripping tale of a tight-knit group of friends set out to turn the tides of war in a last-ditch secret mission.

Out Now: Android, PC, PS Vita, PS4, PSP, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Iris and the Giant is a narrative strategy card game about a young girl named Iris who braves an imaginary world to tackle her inner demons and face her fears.

Iris and the Giant is a narrative strategy card game about a young girl named Iris who braves an imaginary world to tackle her inner demons and face her fears. It's a game about depression and anxiety where Iris uses escapism to cope with her life.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One

Brok The Investigator is a point-and-click narrative adventure set in a cyberpunk future where animals have replaced humans.

Brok The Investigator is a point-and-click narrative adventure set in a cyberpunk future where animals have replaced humans. Play is an unusual combination of finding and combining items along with action fights and exploration.

Slice and Dice is a small retro adventure game you play by rolling dice to progress with your five heroes.

Slice and Dice is a small retro adventure game you play by rolling dice to progress with your five heroes. More than this, the faces on the dice represent your party and determine not only who can attack or defend but how likely you are to roll them.

Rootown is a traversal strategy game where you guide tree roots down through the soil.

Rootown is a traversal strategy game where you guide tree roots down through the soil. You play by planting a tree and then steering its roots to find good soil and avoid stones.

Coming Soon: Android, Mac, PC and iOS

PinOut is an action pinball game played against the clock in a Tron-like world.

PinOut is an action pinball game played against the clock in a Tron-like world. You use your flippers to work up through an endless series of tables, collecting time to stay alive.

Out Now: Android and iOS

Fortnite is an online multiplayer shooting game where 100 people compete to be the last player standing.

Fortnite is an online multiplayer shooting game where 100 people compete to be the last player standing. You stealthily traverse the world to collect weapons, out-maneuvering and out-gunning your opponents, while a storm gradually shrinks the playable area.

Out Now: Android, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and iOS

Gris is a platform game where you guide a young girl through a crumbling world.

Gris is a platform game where you guide a young girl through a crumbling world. Through beautiful metaphoric landscapes and soaring music, the game touches on emotions of loss and longing but doesn’t resolve to a firm narrative.

Out Now: Android, Apple TV, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and iOS

Oxenfree is an adventure game where a teenagers’ beach party spirals into a supernatural story.

Oxenfree is an adventure game where a teenagers’ beach party spirals into a supernatural story. You guide the outcome with your choices as the well-written dialogue reveals characters coming to terms with family breakdown, death of a sibling, blame and a fraying grip on reality.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a brain-communication game where you’re confronted with a bomb on the screen that has to be defused, requiring a series of modules to be disarmed.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a brain-communication game where you’re confronted with a bomb on the screen that has to be defused, requiring a series of modules to be disarmed. The bomb defuser player can see and operate the bomb but the other players, who have the defuse instructions, can’t.

Just Dance 2022 is part of a physically active rhythm game series.

Just Dance 2022 is part of a physically active rhythm game series. Dancing in front of each other isn’t something we often do in families.

Out Now: Android, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, Stadia, Switch, Web, Wii, Wii U, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One and iOS

There Is No Game is a comedic adventure with a strange twist.

There Is No Game is a comedic adventure with a strange twist. From the outset, the game’s narrator insists that there is no game to play.

Her Story is a narrative puzzle game where you attempt to solve the 1994 mystery of a murdered man by searching an old police computer archive of interview videos of his wife.

Her Story is a narrative puzzle game where you attempt to solve the 1994 mystery of a murdered man by searching an old police computer archive of interview videos of his wife. The game presents a retro computer interface but the interviews themselves are short films with real actors.

Never Alone is a running, jumping and exploring game based on the traditional Iñupiaq tale, "Kunuuksaayuka".

Never Alone is a running, jumping and exploring game based on the traditional Iñupiaq tale, "Kunuuksaayuka". You swap between controlling an Iñupiaq girl named Nuna and her Arctic fox companion as you complete puzzles and move the story forward.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and iOS

Gorogoa is a puzzle game where you rearrange and resize tiles to make a singular picture.

Gorogoa is a puzzle game where you rearrange and resize tiles to make a singular picture. It appears to be simple, but to solve the puzzles you need to play close attention to how they interrelate.

Dicey Dungeons is a video game adventure where you build a deck of cards to represent characters, attacks and weapons.

Dicey Dungeons is a video game adventure where you build a deck of cards to represent characters, attacks and weapons. Here the novelty is that these cards combine with dice rolls to determine who wins battles.

Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and iOS

The Longing is a point-and-click adventure about waiting and loneliness.

The Longing is a point-and-click adventure about waiting and loneliness. It's an intentionally slow game that takes 400 elapsed days to finish.

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The best PC games for kids

As video games continue to evolve and mature, it can sometimes be difficult to find a fun, family-friendly PC game. Fast-paced shooters and brooding RPGs have dominated the spotlight as of late, but that doesn’t mean lighthearted adventures have completely vanished from the marketplace. In fact, there are hundreds of highly rated, family-friendly titles that everyone can enjoy.

From Minecraft and Fortnite to Planet Zoo and more, here are the best PC games for kids. Whether you’re looking for an educational simulation or an outlet for creativity, these popular video games are bound to be a hit with kids of all ages.

• This curved gaming monitor is down to just $160 at Best Buy
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Stardew Valley

Spyro reignited trilogy, slime rancher, lego star wars: the skywalker saga, fall guys: ultimate knockout, sonic generations, editors' recommendations.

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Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more Japanese game devs than his own neighbors, and has a way better knowledge of the game industry at large than anything going on in "real" current events. You can catch him defending the plot of Kingdom Hearts and geeking out over awesome combo videos in character action games any day of the week. Connect with Jesse on LinkdIn.

There are a lot of gaming laptop deals online, but not all of them will get you a dependable device for a reasonable price. To help you narrow down your options, here's one of the best ones we've come across recently -- the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 at $430 off from Best Buy, which brings its price down to $1,050 from $1,480 originally. We're not sure how much time is remaining before this bargain gets taken down though, so if you think this is the perfect gaming laptop for you, proceed with the purchase right now so that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 gaming laptop Lenovo is one of the best laptop brands and a mainstay in our roundup of the best gaming laptops, so you can be sure that you'll be getting a topnotch gaming machine with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5. It's got enough power to run the best PC games without any issues as it's equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, combined with 16GB of RAM that's the best place to start for gaming, according to our guide on how much RAM do you need. The gaming laptop also features a 1TB SSD with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

The latest generation of consoles has been one of the hottest yet when it comes to performance, games, price, and even looks, with some getting the side-eye when they first came out. Even so, there are a lot of folks who might want to upgrade, and there are some great Xbox Series S and X deals, PlayStation 5 deals, and Nintendo Switch deals you can take advantage of below. We've done our best to go out and find the best deals we can, although you should be aware that there's currently a bit of a Nintendo drought going on, and most deals on the Switch and its versions that are worth grabbing are refurbished. Xbox Series S deals -- starting at $275

The Xbox Series S is the less powerful but cheaper option out of the newest generation Xbox line. When comparing the Xbox Series S versus the Xbox Series X, the Series S takes a hit in all the component categories. That means it's not quite as fast. But if you're not hung up on getting the optimal performance out of your system, you'll actually notice very few differences. The two biggest ones are the Series S's inability to play in 8K, and its lack of a disc drive. Most people don't even have 8K TVs, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you're alright with downloading all of your games straight to the console's memory (and you have a separate DVD or Blu-Ray player), the Series S will work fine. It's quite a bit smaller anyway, and easier to fit on a shelf.

When it comes to putting together a gaming setup, you can always build a gaming PC from scratch, but if you’re looking for some savings, there are often deals taking place on gaming PCs with pre-spec’d builds to take advantage of. There are certainly a lot of gaming PC deals taking place right now, and among them are some of the best desktop computer deals we’ve seen. So whether you’re a light gamer or want to find the right piece of equipment for taking on the best PC games, we’ve rounded up what we feel are not only the best PC deals out there, but the best PC deals for certain shoppers. Read onward for more details. Best gaming PC deal for entry-level gamers Lenovo LOQ Tower -- $876, was $1,030

If you're looking for the cheapest gaming PC that's still a viable gaming PC, then the Lenovo LOQ Tower is an excellent option. It comes with an RTX 3050, which is entry-level but should handle most free-to-play games just fine, as well as older games from the past few years at 60Hz on lower graphical settings. It also comes with a mid-range Intel Core i5-13400F CPU that's fine for gaming and productivity work, and the 16GB of DDR4 RAM is a surprisingly large amount for this price point and will give you a solid day-to-day experience.

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17 video games that are kid-approved, according to a 12-year-old

There's a lot of video game talk in my house.

My son is 12, and he's been gaming since preschool. We've had just about every gaming console in our house at some point, from the handheld Nintendo 3DS to multiple versions of Xbox and Playstation.

It's his passion, and although there are nights where I ban all talk about the latest game releases at the dinner table, my husband and I do our best to support him and encourage his career dreams of becoming a software developer someday.

Since we talk about video games and the consoles you play them on non-stop in my house, I asked my kid to tell me the best video games out there right now. His picks cross all systems, and I think the highlight of his week was sitting in my office, telling me all of the things about each of his favorites.

When you're raising a tween, you've got to take those bonding moments where you can get them, right?

1. "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"

"Animal Crossing: New Horizons"

In this Nintendo game, released in 2020, players move to a deserted island and interact with anthropomorphic animals while taking their assigned island from a desolate landscape to a thriving town. Users can fish, snorkel, grow flowers and fruit trees and customize their entire island into a society of their choosing.

My son likes to play "New Horizons" when he wants to relax.

"I like going fishing," he said. "It's a casual, laidback game that you can really customize into anything you want."

Pro tip: If you run out of ideas on customizing your island, turn to YouTube. The amount of user videos dedicated to everything from growing hybrid flowers to making lots of money catching tarantulas is an incredible resource.

2. "Marvel's Avengers"

"Marvel's Avengers"

This 2020 video game, played from a third-person perspective, is based on Marvel Comics' superhero team the Avengers. Users play as popular characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Black Widow, and are tasked with saving the world from peril by playing in either single-player, multiplayer or online co-op modes.

"This game felt like a superhero movie at times," said my son, who felt major superhero vibes the entire time he played through the game. "The cut scenes felt like I was watching a Marvel movie in the theater and playing it made me feel really powerful."

Also available for Xbox One .

3. "Super Mario 3D All-Stars"

"Super Mario 3D All-Stars"

Nintendo released this compilation for the Nintendo Switch in September 2020 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario game franchise. Nintendo fans will enjoy playing through three iconic games from years past: "Super Mario 64," "Super Mario Sunshine" and "Super Mario Galaxy."

With three games to choose from, my son likes all the different things that are available to do in just one game cartridge.

"So far, I've enjoyed 'Super Mario Galaxy' the most," he said. "When you hop from planet to planet, you aren't focusing on just one world like most video games — you get a different experience each place you land."

Pro tip: Don't tell the kids, but moms and dads raised in the '80s and '90s may want to sneak some playtime of their own, enjoying the nostalgic Super Mario Bros. memories this game provides.

4. "Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville"

"Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville"

This third-person shooter game is the third installment in the "Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare" series. Players can play the game in single or multiplayer format and connect with other online players to defend their turf from those pesky zombies.

"I've played all the 'Garden Warfare' games," my son said. "I like how it takes 'Plants vs. Zombies,' one of my all-time favorite phone games, and does something completely different with it while still keeping the general vibe."

Also available for PlayStation 4 and PC .

5. "Puyo Puyo Tetris"

"Puyo Puyo Tetris"

"Puyo Puyo Tetris" combines "Puyo Puyo" and "Tetris" for a challenging puzzle-solving experience. Players can attempt the various modes of play on their own, or sync up with other players for a multiplayer experience on a shared screen or online.

"This one is fun to play with your family," my son said, remembering the times my family of four has had epic showdowns of the game together on our couch. "There are two different 'Tetris' games in there — the 'Puyo Puyo' mash-up version and regular 'Tetris' — so it's fun to try both."

Also available for PlayStation 4 .

6. "Team Sonic Racing"

"Team Sonic Racing"

Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog will love this racing game where players can choose one of 15 players from the Sonic universe to compete in races using sports cars.

Racing games are a hit in my house because they're competitive.

"If you're playing with your friends, it's really fun to race against each other," said my son. "And I like that there's a Sonic twist to it."

Pro tip: Since the film "Sonic the Hedgehog," starring Jim Carrey and James Marsden, was a sleeper hit this winter, rent the film from your favorite streaming service and have a themed family night watching the movie and racing the night away.

Also available for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One .

7. "The Sims 4"

"The Sims 4"

In this simulation game, players create a world of their own, from characters to neighborhoods and landscaping.

Kids will love the Sims because they can build anything they want, from a "house full of dogs" to a "yard where the entire plot is a pool," according to my son.

Our family enjoys the downloadable content available for the Sims — packs of extra content that add new elements to the game. Our current favorite simulates the planet Batuu, located at Star Wars-themed Galaxy's Edge inside Disney Parks. (Yes, there's even a Baby Yoda.)

Also available for PC/Mac and PlayStation 4 .

8. "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield"

"Pokémon Sword"

One of many releases from Nintendo in the Pokémon franchise, this role-playing video game has adventure elements and lets players control a young Pokémon trainer who goes on a quest to catch mythical creatures called Pokémon and battle other trainers.

"I liked 'Sword' and 'Shield' because there are only 400 Pokémon in the game that you can catch, and in some of the other Pokémon games, there are way more and it feels overwhelming" my son explained. "I liked the graphics, too. They feel really cartoony and are definitely on point as far as the Pokémon style."

"Pokémon Shield"

Pro tip: Another Poké-perk of "Sword" and "Shield" is the downloadable content. The first update launched earlier this year, and another is expected to come later in 2020. Downloadable content adds a tremendous amount of new perks to a video game and keeps players interested and engaged long after they've become a Pokémon champion.

9. "Final Fantasy VII Remake"

"Final Fantasy VII Remake"

This 2020 reboot of the 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII takes place in a dystopian society where the player takes on the role of a mercenary trying to stop the planet from being destroyed.

This game looks beautiful on the screen and gets high praise for graphics from my gamer son.

"This is one of the best-looking games on the PlayStation console," he said. "The graphics are some of the best of all the games I've played on the PS4 so far — they're really impressive."

And, there's more to "Final Fantasy VII Remake" than just good looks.

"The game is very immersive," he continued. "You don't even really have to play the main game, it's also fun to interact with all of the characters and play around with the side activities you can do."

10. "Minecraft Dungeons"

"Minecraft Dungeons"

Unlike the extremely popular sandbox-style game "Minecraft," the new "Minecraft Dungeons" is not an open-world game featuring mining and building. This popular game in the "Minecraft" franchise has players move through dungeons, battling monsters, solving puzzles and finding treasure for a unique adventure of its own.

This is the second-most played game on my son's Nintendo Switch. He's a big fan.

"There's a lot of combinations of weapons, armor and enchantments and that lets you try new ways to beat the levels," he said, explaining that if at first you don't succeed in a task, you can try lots of other ways to accomplish your goal.

Also available for Playstation 4 , Xbox One and PC .

11. "Marvel's Spider-Man"

"Marvel's Spider-Man"

This Spider-Man title came out in 2018 and is a third-person game where players control Spidey as he does what he does best — saving the city.

With the release of the PlayStation 5 console later this year, a second Spider-Man game will be released, "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales," which follows the adventures of "Into the Spider-Verse" hero Miles Morales as he, too, saves the day.

"This is one of my favorite games I've played in a long time," said my son. "I liked the motion of swinging around New York and the missions were great because they were pretty long and each seemed to have a solid point that helps the overall problem of the story."

Pro tip: According to my tiny gamer, if you buy "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Launch Edition" when PlayStation 5 launches, you'll receive the original Spider-Man game and loads of downloadable content as well, so consider pre-ordering it today.

12. "Ratchet and Clank"

"Ratchet and Clank"

"Ratchet and Clank" is a third-person shooter video game that has become a huge franchise since its 2002 release. The game stars a feline humanoid character and his robot partner, and the duo travels their universe saving it from evil.

"Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart" will be released after the PlayStation 5 console is available. Although there is not currently a release date, it's sure to be a hit with fans of the game series.

My son only recently played through this older game.

"It's funny and entertaining, and the missions are hard and challenging sometimes," he said. "I really liked it."

13. "Horizon Zero Dawn"

"Horizon Zero Dawn"

Following a hunter living in a world overrun by machines, Horizon Zero Dawn is an action-packed role-playing game where players can explore open worlds and take on side quests.

In 2021, after the release of the PlayStation 5 console, the game's follow-up, "Horizon: Forbidden West" will be available.

It was the problem-solving nature of this game that made it stick out for my son.

"There are so many ways you can approach everything," he said. "Every single monster has a weakness and you have to figure out the best way to defeat it, which weapon to use and the best form of attack."

14. "Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order"

"Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order"

This "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" game is the third in the popular series and lets players play as characters like Black Panther, Spider-Man, Deadpool and Iron Man. The game can be played cooperatively by up to four players on the same screen, and online play is also available.

"Me and my dad used to sit down and play it on the couch together until we beat it," my son recalled. "It's really fun to play together with someone. The missions are challenging and there's also good downloadable content to add to it later on."

15. "Kingdom Hearts III"

"Kingdom Hearts III"

This 2019 role-playing action game was the twelfth "Kingdom Hearts" game to be released in the popular series and adds even more Disney fun to the mix. Sora, the main character, is joined by familiar Disney faces like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse in the game, and several Disney Parks attractions are woven into the gameplay.

"I liked having Disney tied into it because I like the Disney franchise and it's not often in video games," said my son. "It was kind of cool to see Mickey and Donald fighting alongside the main character."

16. "Untitled Goose Game"

"Untitled Goose Game"

In this puzzle game, players control a goose who bothers the residents of an English village. The silly sandbox-style game was only available as a single-player game until September 2020, when an update allowing cooperative play was released.

"This one is kind of silly, but you can steal things from the people in the village and they run after you angrily," said my son. "It's really funny and making them mad is fun."

17. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

This 2017 addition to the iconic "Legend of Zelda" series allows the player to control popular character Link as he defeats villain Calamity Gannon and saves the kingdom of Hyrule.

A prequel to the popular game, "Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity," will be released in November 2020 and is available for pre-order.

Since getting this game, my son has put in over 300 hours of gameplay, making it the most-played game in his Nintendo Switch library.

"Even once you've beat it, it becomes a sandbox game where you can play around, changing the environment and building," he said. "I loved the graphics, too, they feel very realistic and are some of the best I've seen on the Switch."

Pro tip: There are a lot of similarities between "Breath of the Wild" and "Horizon Zero Dawn." The visual, open-world style will attract players who loved one or the other.

For more stories like this, check out:

• Nintendo Switch: What it is, where to buy it, and what games to get
• Why the Nintendo Switch is the comforting dose of nostalgia I needed
• 32 fun games for family game night 2020

To discover more deals, shopping tips and budget-friendly product recommendations, download the new TODAY app and subscribe to our Stuff We Love newsletter !

Terri Peters is a writer and editor for TODAY.com. She lives in a small beach town on the Atlantic coast of Florida with her husband and two kids. When she isn't writing, she can be found at the beach or exploring Florida's theme parks with her family.

35 Best Toys and Gifts for 12-Year-Old Boys, According to Tweens

They gave our experts their opinions on the best tech ideas, birthday presents and more.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

The Good Housekeeping Institute knows what gifts will meet them at their level through constant testing and surveying. Lab experts call in toys and other gifts, test them to make sure they're built correctly and safe, and then ship them out to real tweens for feedback. (The favorites from testers of every age go on to win Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards .) After hearing from countless tweens, and adding in some trendy editor's picks and best-sellers, these rose to the top as the best toys and gifts for 12-year-old boys this year.

Our top picks for the best gifts for 12-year-olds in 2023:

• The Don't Laugh Challenge: 12-Year-Old Edition , $8 on amazon.com
• The Two Million Dollar Puzzle by MSCHF , $11 on amazon.com
• Educational Insights Kanoodle Extreme Puzzle Game , $12 on amazon.com
• Air Hogs Zero Gravity Laser Race Car , $29 on amazon.com
• MYNT3D Super 3D Pen , $70 on amazon.com
• Sky Viper Vector Stunt Plane , $76 on target.com

As you can see, puzzles, games and anything that combine the two are a big hit this year, which is good for those growing tween brains!

Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

Gifts for 12-Year-Olds | Gifts for 12-Year-Old Girls | Gifts for Teen Boys

TCG Toys Spin Flip Puzzle

In order to solve the puzzle, they'll have to spin, flip, twist and slide it all around. It'll keep their brains and their hands busy. During our tests for the 2023 Toy Awards, families reported using multiple Spin Flips to do head-to-head battles to see who could solve their it first.

Vector Stunt Plane

Most of the drones we tested are only rated for kids 14+, but the Sky Viper Vector Stunt Plane is easy enough for tweens to handle. That's because of its auto-stabilization feature, which even accounts for winds. In the air, it can fly up to 35 mph, do barrel rolls and make 360-degree loops. It also has other neat bells and whistles, like a tracer that beeps when it lands so you can find it again. Ages 12+

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards

Kanoodle Extreme

TikTok and other social media sites are buzzing about the #KanoodleChallenge — and, after trying to complete the puzzles in the brainteasing Kanoodle game, it's easy to see why. But tweens can show off their intellectual prowess with Kanoodle Extreme, which offers bigger and better challenges. Cards start players off by making a certain shape, and players have to use their wits to see how the rest of the pieces fit in to complete the puzzle. Ages 8+

Chronicle Books LOL 101: A Kid's Guide to Writing Jokes

This book not only takes kids through the process of joke-writing, it also gives them pointers on timing and delivery, which is good for their self-confidence. Good Housekeeping Institute testers had a lot of laughs with this one. Ages 7 – 12

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Awards

When it's time to take notes, this is a pen. But, when it's time to listen to lectures, tweens can take apart, twist and bend, and connect the magnetic shaft into different shapes like a fidget toy. It comes with 14 magnetic rings, 30 steel balls, two stylus heads and a box to keep it all in. Ages 12+

The Two Million Dollar Puzzle by MSCHF

It pays for tweens to put this jigsaw puzzle together — literally. When they're done, users can scan a QR code that'll win them real money. The catch? The value ranges, from $1 all the way up to a million dollars. But do it fast, because the last day to redeem us February 28, 2024. Ages 5+

Super 3D Pen

With this kit, they'll be able to design, plan and create their own 3D-printed objects by melting filaments in different colors. The kit comes with a pen (users can adjust the flow of the filament through the pen), a DesignPad to help form neat geometric shapes, and a FreePad to help trace different patterns. You can also get additional filament in different colors.

Lying, cheating, bribing, bluffing? It's just part of the game. In this card game, players are given cards that give them roles like Assassin, Captain and Contessa, and each person has their own ability (like being able to steal from other players or see their cards). Each player must use their skills to their advantage and try to gain absolute power over the others. It's a game designed to be learned quickly and played in 15 minutes, which makes it good to keep around for whenever friends are hanging out. Ages 10+

The Don't Laugh Challenge: 12 Year Old Edition

This is basically a cross between a game of skill and a joke book: Players take turns reading the jokes to each other, and the opponent has to try not to laugh. They'll get to work on their ability and comic timing, but really, in the end, everyone breaks!

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Laser Race Car

Tweens can use the included laser to guide this car across the floor, sure, but it gets even cooler than that — it also drives up walls and even onto the ceiling! Good Housekeeping Institute testers said this had a huge "wow" factor. Ages 8+

Touchcreen Gloves

He'll never miss a text or social-media post, even in winter, when he's wearing these touchscreen gloves. They're soft and warm, too — no wonder they've received nearly 33,000 five-star reviews on Amazon!

Complete 22" Skateboard

If your tween is looking to get started skating, Amazon reviewers say this is the perfect board for beginners that holds up well . Plus, it comes in about two dozen color combos and patterns, so you can find one that suits their style.

Tribit XSound Go Bluetooth Speaker

Now he can share his tunes wherever he goes. This speaker connects either wirelessly with Bluetooth or through a USB-C, and can operate for 24 hours on a batter charge. It's even waterproof, so he can bring it with him in the shower.

Lego Minifigure Photography

He's spent a lifetime building elaborate LEGO sets — now what? He can share his art with the world with this how-to kit, which gives ideas for cool photographs he can take using his LEGO sets. It comes with props and pieces to help him take his photos to the next level, like a clear posing rod, plus tips and tricks about using different photography techniques.

The StickyWallet

He can stick this to his phone or other device, and instantly have a few extra pockets for storage. The elastic wallet can hold five cards, has a hidden pocket for cash and has a thin metal plate inside so it's also magnetic. There's even a finger strap, which makes taking selfies easier. (Note: It does not stick to silicone device cases.)

Shape-Shifting Box

He'll love folding and unfolding this confounding box, revealing all the groovy patterns inside, and then trying to figure out how to get it back into cube form again. According to Shashibo, it can make 70 different configurations (and there's an app that can help with that), but he might just like the feeling of using it as a fidget toy. Ages 8+

Frigidaire Retro Mini Fridge

He'll be so excited to keep cold drinks in a spot that's his alone. This mini fridge is just big enough to hold six cans, which he'll thrill to have at arm's reach at all times. The retro design also comes in four different colors.

Slammo Game Set

Slammo is great for athletic kids who are ready to try a demanding sport. Players work in teams of two, and each team has three hits to return the ball to the circular net (which is harder than it sounds). The set comes with everything they'll need to get started, including a net, a large ball for beginners, two small balls for experienced players and a carrying case so they can bring it on the go. Ages 8+

Pillow Pad Tablet Stand

If he watches videos on his device for hours, frequently FaceTimes with friends, uses an e-reader more than a paper book or needs to reference his screen while he's doing homework, this plush stand will make it easy by holding his tablet up for him. It has three viewing angles (or folds away when not in use), and also has a pocket to keep charging cords and other helpful items. He can use it to watch his device in bed, on a couch or anywhere he might want to get cozy.

Magical Felt Pens

He can add textures, layers and other details — or just correct some mistake — with these markers, which come with a neat trick: two either erase the color or change the color to something else. There are 16 felt pens in total.

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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The 12 Best Kids Games on Steam

Kids’ games are usually simple, educational , whimsical, but more importantly, PG-friendly. There are a ton of games that meet these criteria, and we have listed all the best kids games on Steam in no particular order.

These games range from all types of genres like tower defense games , casual games , simulation games, and a whole lot more.

Almost every game will be different and you will surely find a game that your kid will enjoy without worrying if it is unsafe for a kid or too complicated.

Bloons TD 6

Bloons TD 6 is a great way to teach their children the wonderful experience of playing tower defense.

Developed and published by Ninja Kiwi, the game was released in December 2018 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews on the Steam store.

Kids can play it solo or with up to three of their friends through an online co-op. Bloons TD 6’s art is cartoonish but sharp and full of fun details that can cater to both young and old.

Flashy and colorful effects from various skills and explosions will flood the screen as you do your best to defend your realm from every balloon.

Bloons TD 6’s tower defense gameplay is very deep and well-executed. It features twenty-two different (monkey) tower types, thirteen unique heroes, and fifty-six handmade maps that will generate endless combinations and playing time.

Beneath the game’s kiddie appeal is a content-filled tower defense experience that makes popping balloons fun and addicting. Bloons TD 6 is one of the best children’s games on Steam that is enjoyable to both the parent and their kids.

Fall Guys is a ridiculous and masterfully-executed multiplayer platform game that exceeds childish yet timeless fun. Developed by Mediatonic, the game was released in August 2020 and was met with very positive reviews.

It is a family-friendly online game that pits you with countless other goofy cartoon avatars in a silly race of survival from obstacles and challenges that become more and more chaotic every round.

Only one player will survive among up to sixty different gamers, and the winner is rewarded with the pride of overcoming some of the most challenging and ridiculous obstacles ever played by humans.

Fall Guys can be overwhelming for younger kids below nine years old due to mild cartoon violence and semi-scary drops to the abyss.

The game is also a great way for youngsters to appreciate and experience gravity and physics as they play and see their characters tossed and flying through the air.

Fall Guys is an instant classic and will be forever recognized as a game that brings out the kid in all of us through pure fun.

LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga

LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga is an iconic Star Wars LEGO game that features the whole nine-episode movie series. Developed by Traveller’s Tales, the game was released in April 2022 and received very positive reviews from the steam store.

It is a single-player 3D adventure game that is filled with so much content and Star Wars lore that it is a great way to introduce this legendary story to your children.

Adding to this mix is the timeless LEGO universe that has both young and old addicted to its unique and classic charm.

LEGO® Star Wars™: The Skywalker Saga is an almost faithful representation of the entire main Star Wars story with a dash of LEGO fun and silliness.

Despite the childish look, the game is beautiful and full of exhilarating action and character build customization.

You get to play as over three hundred different characters and travel across twenty-three different planets using over a hundred unique vehicles.

Swing and slash your lightsaber or engage in epic space dogfights; the game is an immersive Star Wars LEGO experience that kids will surely enjoy.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a beautiful experience, a game that teaches about nature through the lens of an adventurous young girl visiting her grandparents on a majestic island.

Developed and published by ustwo games, the game was released in December 2020 and has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews in the team store.

It is a single-player story-filled family-friendly game that creates an immersive world that is visually impressive and memorable, especially for kids.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure succeeds in combining cuteness with quality story-telling, and the game paints a sobering yet inspiring reality of nature and how we, as humans, affect it in our everyday lives.

The island is a joy to explore as the lush sceneries contrast well against areas littered with unsightly trash.

Along the way, countless opportunities to help the island and its animal inhabitants pop up as part of the adventure.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a family-friendly game that is full of heart and memorable lessons that make it a must-buy for parents who wish to teach their kids on how to love our world.

Wobbledogs is a fun and quirky 3D virtual pet simulation that can both engage and relax players of all ages. Developed by Animal Uprising, the game was released in March 2022 and has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from the steam store.

It is a single-player kid-friendly life simulation game that allows you to create your own pet while loosely using a dog as its base.

As you progress in the game, your “dog” changes or evolves into unique and silly forms, and the change will depend on what they eat or how their environment is set up.

Wobbledogs is a refreshing and unique experience as the player interacts with their own genetically fascinating pet using an interesting in-game mechanic where the animal’s gut can be filled with different food, thus determining their specific mutations.

You are also encouraged to build the perfect habitat to encourage their unique growth, and you can find various items to decorate their home with.

Wobbledogs is a gem of a game filled with charm and opportunities for children to experiment and vaguely learn about the concept of mutation while having mindless fun.

Webbed is a charming 2D indie game that follows the life of a small spider with a big appetite for adventure.

Developed and published by Sbug Games, it was released in September 2021 and was reviewed with an overwhelmingly positive rating on the Steam website.

The art is full of cel-shaded charm that is appealing to both young and old. Webbed follows the story of an energetic spider and her mission to save her love from being eaten by a bird.

Webbed builds an immersive world through insectoid eyes, and one of the most fun features of the game is how you can swing and web-spin your way across the entire screen to the next area.

The web-swinging mechanic is simple, effective, and quite fun as you fling yourself all over the forest and encounter different friends or foes.

The game looks simple, but the gameplay is superb despite having a relatively short story. Cute and unforgettable, Webbed is something parents should check out for their kids.

Machinarium

Machinarium is a point-and-click adventure game set in a distinct and unique cyberpunk world. Developed and published by Amanita Design, it was released in October 2009 and has fared with overwhelmingly positive reviews from the Steam store.

Family-friendly and light, the game sets you on the capable feet of Josef, a robot whose current mission is to save his girlfriend from a group of robot thugs.

You play by pointing your mouse cursor over specific items or areas in the beautifully drawn world of Machinarium in the hopes of triggering certain events or actions to solve the puzzle.

Rustic, dusty, and a bit gloomy, the world of Machinarium is filled with other robots, yet it still feels very human and has a lot of heart.

The short yet satisfying plot is communicated not through walls of text dialogue but rather through symbols and images.

The game is a great learning tool for kids to hone their focus, planning, and overall critical thinking as they find ways to solve every unique puzzle Machinarium throws at them. This game is a highly-satisfying experience that will stretch any player’s imagination and creativity.

Island Saver

Island Saver is one of the most colorful, family-friendly games available right now. Developed by Stormcloud Games Limited, it was released in May 2020 and was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from the steam store.

The game sets you on a wild and action-filled adventure to save a group of islands from one of the most real problems our world faces today, human litter and waste.

You are given an amazing weapon, the Trashblaster, to defeat monster globs or clean up trash along the beach, effectively making cleaning up fun.

Island Saver’s world is full of colors and cartoon relief, and it will definitely appeal to a younger audience. They are given the opportunity to play around and learn about different ecosystems; jungles, deserts, and beaches.

There are over forty-two local animals to save and then eventually ride on. Island Saver is a game full of fun and life and is very appropriate for the younger gamers to build their appreciation of nature and our role in protecting it.

Unravel Two

Unravel Two is a beautiful and refreshing take on simple platform gaming but introduces a lot of heart and humanity in its immersive story. Developed by Coldwood Interactive, the game was released in June 2018 and has garnered very positive reviews from Steam.

The game follows a thread-like creature called Yarny and its adventure in scaling through various obstacles and puzzles while uncovering deep game lore that can be appreciated by both young and old.

Being a sequel, Unravel Two doubles down on this experience and opens up the option of creating your own Yarny and playing with another person in a local co-op.

Unravel Two is a game of friendship, and the story and gameplay encourage teamwork and playing with other people.

Enjoying this experience with a partner or your kids is highly recommended to unlock the full potential of the well-designed gameplay of the game.

It’s always better to share the awe of traversing through the game’s lush and immersive world based on Scandinavian landscapes.

Unravel Two sounds as good as it looks while also being masterful in spinning a heartwarming story full of symbolism and personifications that may fly over the younger gamers.

Despite this, it’s still a great platform for kids to develop courage and sharp thinking while enjoying.

Brick Rigs is an interesting take on open-world building games where you are given the freedom to craft your own vehicle using LEGO-like bricks and then proceed to do whatever you want with your creation.

Developed and published by Lukas Rustemeyer, the game was released in November 2016 and received very positive reviews from the steam store.

The two main mechanics of the game is both vehicle creation and destruction as you experience the convincing in-game destruction physics as you crash your colorful car into a not-so-colorful lamp post.

Brick Rigs is very kid-friendly and is a great way for them to develop their creativity and building skills as they make their own car.

The other half of the fun is doing whatever they want with their car as they drive across a vast and open world filled with fun opportunities to destroy their creation.

Like real-life LEGOs, there are people who enjoy dismantling their works rather than building them, and Brick Rigs offers other modes online to play with your car or plane with other people on the server.

This game is a must-buy just for being able to offer the unique experience of breaking your block creations in a comically realistic fashion.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated

SpongeBob%20SquarePants:%20Battle%20for%20Bikini%20Bottom%20–%20Rehydrated%20is%20a%20great%20visual%20remake%20of%20the%20classic%20SpongeBob%20game%20that%20was%20released%20way%20back%20in%202003.%20

Developed%20by%20Purple%20Lamp,%20the%20game%20was%20released%20in%20June%202020%20and%20has%20met%20overwhelmingly%20positive%20reviews%20on%20Steam.%20

The%20game%20once%20again%20puts%20you%20in%20the%20clunk%20and%20goofy%20shoes%20of%20SpongeBob%20Squarepants%20or%20his%20other%20two%20friends,%20Patrick%20and%20Sandy.%20Primarily%20a%20platform%20game,%20Battle%20for%20Bikini%20Bottom%20is%20a%20fun%20and%20wholesome%20experience%20that%20kids%20will%20definitely%20enjoy.

SpongeBob%20SquarePants:%20Battle%20for%20Bikini%20Bottom%20succeeds%20not%20just%20because%20of%20the%20heavy%20name%20the%20game%20carries%20but%20rather%20it%20is%20also%20with%20how%20it%20executes%20and%20simulates%20the%20fun%20and%20goofy%20experience%20of%20being%20a%20Bikini%20Bottom%20character.%20

Full%20of%20color%20and%20iconic%20SpongeBob%20humor,%20the%20game%20offers%20refined%20platforming%20action%20mixed%20with%20inevitable%20nostalgia%20for%20the%20popular%20tv%20show.%20

SpongeBob%20SquarePants:%20Battle%20for%20Bikini%20Bottom%20is%20a%20great%20entry%20for%20your%20kids%20to%20know%20more%20about%20this%20beloved%20franchise,%20and%20you%20will%20miss%20out%20on%20a%20lot%20by%20not%20getting%20this.

The%20Jackbox%20Party%20Pack%207

The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is a fun-filled package of a game that is definitely a great bang for your buck. Developed and published by Jackbox Games Inc., the game was released in October 2020 and enjoyed overwhelmingly positive reviews from Steam users.

It is intended as a multiplayer game that would fit with any fun party occasion. Playing with other players can either be through local split-screen or through online multiplayer modes.

The Jackbox Party Pack 7 consists of five unique and silly games that will test both your knowledge and patience as you battle it out with your friends and family.

The games are called Quiplash, The Devil and the details, Champ’d, Talking Points, and Blather Round. Each game has its own quirky mechanic and min-max number of players per round.

From word vomit-type games to self-drawn figures fighting to the end, The Jackbox Party Pack 7 is an all-around entertainment platform that is best shared with family and friends of all ages.

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The 7 Best Offline Games for Kids

No internet? No worries. These games will keep your kids happily occupied

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Online video games are fun but an internet connection isn't always available and sometimes you just want to play offline. Offline video games can also be important for kids as they are a reliable way to protect children from being exposed to online bullying, harassment, and inappropriate content.

Here are seven of the most-fun video games that are just as much fun for kids to play offline as online.

Best Offline Kinect Game for Kids: Fruit Ninja Kinect 2

Halfbrick Studios

The Kinect motion sensor works perfectly for gameplay and menu navigation.

Up to four players can play at once which makes is great for parties.

Things can get out of control when players start moving their arms while on the menu screen and wrong items are selected.

You need a large playing space for four players.

Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 is the second motion-based spin-off from the popular Fruit Ninja mobile games. This rather ingenious game uses the Xbox One's Kinect sensor to scan players' bodies and then render digital shadows of them on the TV screen. Players must then chop, punch, and kick the air to move their shadows and destroy any fruit or weapons that fly towards them.

Best Offline Fighting Game for Anime Fans: Dragon Ball FighterZ

Bandai Namco

A great visual style that replicates the anime look perfectly.

A huge roster of Dragon Ball characters to play as.

Experienced fighters may find this a bit too easy.

Those new to Dragon Ball will have no idea what's going on.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is without a doubt one of the best fighting games based on the popular Dragon Ball Z anime and manga series . The game boasts a 3D style that actually looks like the Japanese cartoon series and almost every character from the franchise that fans would want to play as are playable.

Solo players will enjoy the story mode which features fully-voiced cutscenes while the two-player offline matches are great for local multiplayer gaming sessions.

Best Offline Kids Game for Groups: Super Mario Party

Up to four players can play at once.

Some truly creative mini-games and uses of the Nintendo Switch.

Would have been nice to have more players.

Some games may seem too childish to older players.

Super Mario Party is the first Mario Party video game for the Nintendo Switch console and it impresses. As with previous Mario Party titles, Super Mario Party takes the concept of a digital board game and adds as many bells and whistles as possible. In this case, that means adding over 80 new mini-games that can be played as the main game progresses and players move around the board.

Most-Magical Offline Game for Kids: Lego Harry Potter Collection

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

The entire game supports local two-player multiplayer.

Over 200 playable characters from the Harry Potter movies to unlock.

Graphics aren't as impressive as newer Lego video games.

Characters don't talk.

The Lego Harry Potter Collection is a rather impressive release as it contains both of the original Lego Harry Potter video games which in themselves contained story content from all eight Harry Potter movies. This means that kids will be able to play through the storylines of every single Harry Potter movie in one game without having to change disks or worry about losing progress.

As with other Lego video games , Lego Harry Potter Collection uses humorous interpretations of the source materials characters and events which makes this a great entry into the franchise for younger gamers who may get too scared watching some of the later Harry Potter films.

Best Offline Dragon Game for Kids: Spyro Reignited Trilogy

 Activision

A fantastic re-release of three iconic games.

Wonderfully voiced and designed magical creatures.

Some of the controls still aren't as intuitive as other modern games.

No multiplayer.

The Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a collection of the three classic Spyro video games, Spyro the Dragon , Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! , and Spyro: Year of the Dragon . All three games have been given complete makeovers with new HD graphics and improved controls that reflect the standards expected in modern games.

None of these games feature any sort of multiplayer but the single player content will keep solo gamers happy for a very long time. Fans of Skylanders, which spun-off from the Spyro video games , in particular will enjoy this collection.

Best Offline Game for Pixar Fans: Rush: A DisneyPixar Adventure

Support for two-player local co-op in all games.

Optional motion controls with the Xbox One's Kinect.

Character models look a little dated.

4K resolution on the  Xbox One X  doesn't impress as much as other games.

Rush: A DisneyPixar Adventure is the perfect video game for the Disney Pixar fan in the family. This game invites players to visit a unique theme park that's dedicated entirely to Pixar movies and characters. Each part of the theme park features its own special mini-game relating to that movie with the Finding Dory and Cars areas sporting their own racing games while the Up and The Incredibles focus more on action and adventure.

Best Offline Platformer for Kids: New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe

Over 164 levels to complete.

Up to four players can play simultaneously.

Experienced platformers will find the early levels to be too easy.

No new levels for those who played all of the original on Wii U.

New Super Mario Bros U was the perfect Super Mario platforming experience when it was released on the Wii U and New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch is even better.

This re-release of the hit Wii U game comes with all of the content from the original, includes all of its additional content that was released digitally after its launch, and features new playable characters like Toadette who are designed to make the gameplay easier for younger players.

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Top 5 Best Board Games for 4-Year-Olds in 2024: Where Fun Meets Learning

A re you on the hunt for the perfect board game for your 4-year-old, but feel overwhelmed by the sea of options? You're not alone. Selecting a game that's both engaging and educational can seem like finding a needle in a haystack. The right board game can transform playtime into an enriching experience, fostering essential cognitive and social skills. However, not all games are created equal . That's where we step in. Let's navigate this vibrant world of board games together, ensuring your next pick is nothing short of perfect.

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Board games enhance cognitive and social skills in 4-year-olds.
• Look for games that balance fun with educational value.
• Consider durability and ease of understanding when choosing a game.
• Popular brands offer a variety of options tailored for young children.
• Evaluate games based on child development expert recommendations and real-world testing.

JH5 My First Treasure Hunt!: A Perfect Family Game Night Adventure

In the world of board games for the young adventurers, "JH5 My First Treasure Hunt!" emerges as a shining jewel. This product by Jumping High Five isn't just any board game; it's a gateway to fostering creativity, strategic thinking, and teamwork among children aged 4 and up. Crafted with vibrant colors and engaging illustrations, this game is designed to captivate and educate, making it an ideal pick for family game nights.

The game's premise is simple yet thrilling: players work together to uncover hidden treasures on an island before a looming storm washes them away. This cooperative approach ensures that every player is engaged and contributes to the game's outcome, making victory a shared achievement. The game is applauded for its balance of fun and educational value, as it subtly enhances skills like basic counting, turn-taking, and strategic planning.

ThinkFun Zingo Bingo: Sparking Joy and Learning in Preschoolers

"ThinkFun Zingo Bingo Award Winning Preschool Game" has quickly become a household name, enchanting families worldwide with its engaging blend of fun and educational gameplay. As a top choice among both teachers and parents, Zingo stands out for its ability to develop critical language and matching skills in preschoolers through fast-paced play. This Amazon exclusive version allows up to 7 players to join in, thanks to an additional Zingo card, making it even more accessible for family game nights and classroom fun.

Equipped with a unique Zinger device that adds an element of surprise and delight, Zingo ensures everyone, from young to old, is engaged and entertained. Its ease of understanding, underscored by a high-quality instruction manual, means play can commence immediately out of the box—no lengthy setup required. Moreover, Zingo's recognition in the form of multiple awards, including an Oppenheim Gold and a Parents' Choice Award, speaks volumes of its value as a gift for children aged 4 and up.

Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures: A Colorful Journey for Preschoolers

"Hasbro Gaming Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures Board Game" remains a cherished introduction into the magical world of board games for children. This classic game, adored across generations, invites little ones to embark on a sweet adventure towards the castle, racing through a realm filled with delicious surprises, without the need for reading skills. Suited for players aged 3 and up, it stands as an exemplary first board game that teaches color recognition, simple strategy, and turn-taking in an enchanting setting.

The game's allure is enhanced by its vibrant board and whimsical illustrations, capturing the imagination of its young audience. Hasbro Gaming has updated Candy Land with brighter, more engaging graphics while retaining the game's straightforward gameplay. It's a game where every card drawn propels the cute gingerbread man pawn closer to the castle, making it an exciting race to the finish.

Hasbro Gaming Don't Break The Ice: A Frosty Adventure for Preschoolers

"Hasbro Gaming Don't Break The Ice Preschool Game" brings a refreshing chill to family game nights, offering a perfect blend of suspense and laughter. This game sets the stage for an arctic adventure, where players take turns chipping away at a block of ice, hoping not to let Phillip the Penguin fall through. Aimed at children ages 3 and up, it's a wonderful way to introduce young minds to the world of board games without the need for reading.

The excitement of Don't Break The Ice lies in its simplicity and the immediate fun it offers. It's not just a game; it's a race against the melt, with each tap bringing either relief or a hilarious splashdown for Phillip. Families can gather to share in the thrill, making it an ideal choice for bringing everyone together, from the youngest members to the oldest.

Swing into Action with Hasbro Gaming Chutes and Ladders: Marvel Spider-Man Edition

Dive into the thrilling world of superheroes with "Hasbro Gaming Chutes and Ladders: Marvel Spider-Man Edition Board Game," a captivating adventure that combines the timeless fun of the classic Chutes and Ladders with the exciting universe of Marvel. This edition invites players to ascend with heroes and slide down with villains in a race to the finish line, featuring a vibrant game board adorned with your favorite characters.

This preschool-friendly game, suitable for kids as young as 3 years old, offers an engaging way to practice numeracy without the need for reading. The inclusion of eight Spider-Man character movers, such as Venom, Iron Spider, and Green Goblin, adds a personalized touch to the gameplay, allowing children to embark on the adventure as their favorite superhero or villain.

What Are Board Games for 4-Year-Olds?

Board games for this age group are designed to engage young players in activities that develop their cognitive abilities, motor skills, and social interactions. These games often include simple rules , appealing characters, and tactile elements that cater to their developmental stage.

Exploring Varieties

From cooperative board games that encourage teamwork to competitive ones that spark a healthy desire to win, the variety is endless. Subcategories include educational games focusing on numbers and letters, strategy games to enhance problem-solving skills, and games that improve memory and concentration.

Spotlight on Brands and Their Offerings

• Hasbro : Known for classics like "Candy Land," which teaches color recognition and simple counting.
• Melissa & Doug : Offers "Suspend," a balancing game that enhances fine motor skills.
• Peaceable Kingdom : Specializes in cooperative games like "Hoot Owl Hoot!" that encourage teamwork.
• ThinkFun : Introduces basic logic with games like "Zingo."
• Ravensburger : Their "My First Orchard" game is excellent for developing color recognition and dexterity.
• Educational Insights : "The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game" improves hand-eye coordination.
• LeapFrog : Offers technology-driven learning games.
• HABA : Known for high-quality, wooden games that last.

7 Must-Know Buying Criteria

• Educational Value : Look for games that promote learning through play.
• Age Appropriateness : Ensure the game matches your child's cognitive and motor skill level.
• Durability : Kids can be tough on toys; durability is key.
• Ease of Play : Simple rules and quick setup times are preferable.
• Replay Value : Games that grow with your child or offer varied gameplay are ideal.
• Social Interaction : Encourage games that foster interaction either through cooperative play or family involvement.
• Safety : Non-toxic materials and choke-free pieces are essential.

Statistic & Fact

According to Grand View Research, the board games market was valued at USD 13.1 billion in 2020, with a forecasted growth rate of 9.3% from 2021 to 2028. This growth underscores the enduring appeal and importance of board games in child development.

Expert Insight

"Board games for young children are more than just playthings. They're tools that stimulate brain development while fostering important social skills like taking turns." - Dr. Carla Marie Manly, Clinical Psychologist.

Potential Weaknesses and Solutions

• Complexity : Avoid games that are too complex. Look for simplicity in rules and objectives.
• Fragile Components : Seek out games made with durable materials.
• Limited Age Range : Choose games with flexible rules or expansions to grow with your child.

Evaluating Board Games: 5 Tests

• The Durability Test : Inspect the game components for sturdiness.
• The Engagement Test : Observe if the game holds your child's attention.
• The Learning Curve Test : Ensure the game introduces new concepts at a comfortable pace.
• The Social Interaction Test : Watch how the game affects interactions with peers and adults.
• The Fun Factor Test : Ultimately, the game should deliver joy and excitement to your child.

Buyer Avatars

• The Educational Enthusiast : Focuses on games that offer a clear learning benefit.
• The Social Butterfly : Looks for games that encourage interaction and teamwork.
• The Durability Seeker : Prioritizes high-quality, long-lasting game components.

Choosing the best board game for your 4-year-old is about striking a balance between fun and educational value. With the right game, you can turn playtime into a golden opportunity for growth and learning.

What skills can my child learn from board games?

Board games can enhance cognitive skills, motor skills, social skills, and emotional development.

How often should we play board games?

As often as you can! Regular play enhances the benefits.

Are digital board games as beneficial as physical ones?

While digital games offer convenience, physical games are better for developing fine motor skills and real-world social interactions.

Can board games help with preschool readiness?

Absolutely. They can introduce basic math, reading, and social skills necessary for preschool.

What if my child gets frustrated with a game?

Choose games with adjustable difficulty levels and encourage a growth mindset, emphasizing effort and learning over winning.

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Crab Toys for Babies - Tummy Time Toy with Intelligent Sensor Crawl Music & Lights Infant Toy for 6-12 12-18 Months,1st Birthday Gifts, Toddler Toys for 1 2 Year Old Boy Girl

Purchase options and add-ons

• 【Hilarious & Cute】 If you’re looking for toys to help baby crawl and chase, you won’t  unique“crab” disappointed with this one
• 【Encourage Baby to Crawl】to grow with your baby,our motorized crawl toy challenges and encourages little ones learning to crawl to attract children to grab baby boys girl toddler
• 【Excellent Baby Toy】It has a catchy tune when it moves, flashing eyes and clattering claws. Simple wheel mechanism connected to two sensors which respond to obstacles by rapidly changing its left-right direction of motion, the beat matches the speed.
• 【Long Time Playing】 Electronic Musical crab toys powered by 3.7V lithium battery , 2 hours charging time will last up to 20-30 minutes non-stop operation. Package With USB charge cable.It is very convenient to charge by USB charger, computer, power bank.Make sure that the toy is turned off during the charging process.
• 【Perfect Toddler Gifts】 This crab toy is suitable for kids as Children's Day gifts, Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts ,Easter basket stuffers, Ideal baby gift for boy girl
• 【High-Quality Musical Toys】 You can rest assured that, as the crab toy is made from durable, non-toxic ABS plastic. No sharp edges or small parts and 100% kid-safe.

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OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 requires textiles-based products to be tested against a list of 1,000+ chemicals, to limit those which may be harmful to human health. Certification focus: #ProductSafety and #ChemicalsUsed.

Product information

Warranty & support, product description, crawl crab baby toy interactive with intelligent sensor, lights , dancing crab auto-avoiding obstacles.

Cute Music Crab Helps Baby 3-6 Months learn to Crawling

Fun interactive with intelligent sensor crab helps 7.8.9.10.11.12 months baby learn walking.

Toddler Toys for Boys Girls Gifts

Enjoy endless family fun with crab toys,making it an ideal gift for birthdays,Thanksgiving,Christmas etc. Crab toy helps infants exercise muscles,develop head control,and encourages crawling inspires babies to walk

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Customer Review: Best toy ever!

Kathy Waterland

Dancin Crab Baby Toy

Dancin Crab Baby Tummy time Toys 12-18 Months

Musical Infant Toys

Looking for specific info, customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the entertainment value of the toy figure. They say it keeps kids entertained for hours. They also appreciate the cute, brilliant design. However, some customers report issues with the noise level and speed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the toy entertaining and fun for all ages. They say it's funny and keeps kids entertained for hours. Some mention that it'll keep them interested in trying to catch a crab. Overall, customers are satisfied with the entertainment value of the product.

"Overall this is a fun toy that my son loves! A couple things to note if you are debating purchasing this:1) It is super loud...." Read more

"This is a fun toy and the child it was gifted to loved it." Read more

"Funniest baby toy I've ever seen. It is so fast and really funny to play with ." Read more

"My baby absolutely loves this! He thinks it’s so funny ! Does die quick but that’s the only downfall" Read more

Customers like the design of the toy figure. They mention it's really cute, brilliant, cool, and unique. Some say it'll make a fun toddler gift.

"The crab is cute and lively with loud sound. I have found it needs to be watched to make sure it stays in baby’s sight...." Read more

" Very cute but very loud!!!" Read more

"Okay, so my 18 month old son LOVES this crab. It is admittedly really cool and fast - keeps him entertained for a good while!..." Read more

"This little guy is cool and had the kids entertained. Went through 3 charges of losing my mind day one. lol. Only one WARNING!..." Read more

Customers are mixed about the speed of the toy figure. Some mention it moves fast and keeps littlest engaged, while others say it moves a bit too fast and stopped moving.

"...It moves great on hardwood floors , but not nearly as well on carpet. Just fyi depending on what you have in your house." Read more

"Funniest baby toy I've ever seen. It is so fast and really funny to play with." Read more

"...It also moves a bit too fast . Not a toy for new walkers/crawlers as I had hoped. It’s a great idea just a bit too fast." Read more

"Much louder then you would expect. Moves wonderful on hard flooring but depending on the type of carpet, it catches badly...." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the noise the toy figure makes. They mention that the music is repetitive and pretty loud. They also say that the audio quality is poor and that there is no noise control. Some customers also say the sound is not working.

"...change is that the music plays the entire time it is on and it is super loud with no volume control... but when babies are having a great time and..." Read more

"... It is super loud . The music that plays is very repetitive and pretty loud...." Read more

"The crab is cute and lively with loud sound . I have found it needs to be watched to make sure it stays in baby’s sight...." Read more

"Very cute but very loud !!!" Read more

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