Learning should be FUN. All kids learn faster and retain more when they are engaged, involved and having fun. Carefully selected games can have a positive impact on your child's learning.

My 3 year old loves playing UNO. Uno reinforces color and number recognition and matching skills, and helps teach pre-reading skills like matching and object identification. It's simple to learn, he picked it up quickly,and now plays his own hand, and he loves it. We play Uno Attack, and he just loves when the machine spits cards out at him.

We also play a lot of Candyland. My 3 yr old step-daughter has bipolar disorder. She has a hard time following directions and staying on task. Candyland helps her learn colors and the concept of first and second. It's an easy, quick game so she can practice taking turns and following directions without getting frustrated.

My 5 year old step-son has ADHD along with language difficulties. He loves to play Uncle Wiggley. It's a game that both boys enjoy playing. My step-son practices repeating the rhymes and sounding out words, while my son practices number recognition up to 20 and simple phonics.

Of course all board games give children a chance to practice counting how many spaces they get to move and it's never too early to learn good sportsmanship.

The next time you're looking for a fresh way to teach a new skill, or reinforce an old one, consider finding a board game. With literally thousands of games out there, you're sure to find something that you and your kids will enjoy. Or.. make it a family project or design and create your own.

Until next time,
Happy Homeschooling