1. Monopoly

Object of the game: To purchase as many properties as your money can afford, thereby beating all the other players in terms of cashflow and real estate assets.  

Rules: Each player is given a starting fund (paper money) in different denominations. Using their individual tokens, players take turns rolling the dice to move forward and decide whether they wish to buy the property/utility/railroad which they land on. Cash payments are transacted with the “banker” (one of the players appointed to do this task), who is also the safekeeper of the title deeds. Beware of the Luxury Tax, Income Tax and the Jail which either makes you pay a fine or cause you to lose a turn. By the end of the game, the player with the highest value in terms of properties and remaining cash wins.

Why it’s fun: Kids learn how to handle money, invest and make financial decisions. Monopoly is also a good way to teach younger children basic math and finance.

Photo from commons.wikimedia.org

5. Scrabble

Object of the game: To compose words using only 7 random letters or connect to the  through strategic positioning

Rules: Players pick 7 random letters from a container.  Values are assigned to each letter, and the checkered board has pre-assigned premiums through which the value of a letter can multiply.  Words are to be formed either horizontally or vertically, as in a crossword puzzle.  Only standard words appearing in the dictionary are acceptable.

Why it’s fun: Scrabble helps children become more linguistically developed in an atmosphere of healthy competition.


Photo from flickr.com

3. Snakes & Ladders

Object of the game: To reach the finish line by taking advantage of ladders and avoiding the snakes

Rules: Using tokens, each player moves forward into the boxes as dictated by the number in the dice. Throughout the board, “snakes” and “ladders” are scattered, connecting boxes from different levels randomly. Landing on a box with a ladder allows you to advance to the higher box on the other end, while a “snake” means you have to go back to a lower box.

Why it’s fun: Kids will clamor to get to the finish line first, and have fun jeering other players who stumble upon snakes. The graphic board makes it easy to navigate though the game, and the rules are simple enough even for younger kids.

Photo from commons.wikimedia.org

4. Chess

Object of the game: To trap the King of the opponent and force a checkmate

Rules: Each of the two players has 16 pieces composing a “kingdom” – a king, a queen, rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns, where each piece has a distinct style of movement (forward, diagonal, L-shape, etc). Players move forward and “attack” the opponent, while preventing the opponent from conquering his pieces.

Why it’s fun: Rather than just making moves, children will learn the necessity of strategizing. Usually a game played by boys, they will spend hours trying to guess what the other is up to and outwitting his plans.

Photo from commons.wikimedia.org

2. Boggle

Object of the game : To form words from adjacent letters in a gridbox, and score the highest point

Rules : The plastic grid containing letter cubes is shaken up.  When the cubes have settled into the grid, each player must search for as many words as possible from sequentially adjacent cubes.  At the end of 3 minutes, the lists are tallied.  Points are given depending on the number of letters per word, e.g., 1 point for words with 3-4 letters, 2 points for 5-letters words, and so on.  The player with the highest score wins.

Why it’s fun : Because the letters are shaken up, they could be positioned randomly (upside down, sideways), as such making the search a bit more challenging.  Also, some players will come up with crazy lists and prompt others to wonder if such words exist.


Photo from commons.wikimedia.org