If you’ve ever wondered whether board games “really count” as learning once your kids hit middle or high school, here’s the short answer:
Yes—when you choose the right ones.
Board games aren’t just filler or busywork. Many of them build the exact skills teens need for academics, life, and future careers—often with less resistance than traditional schoolwork.
What Skills Do Board Games Actually Build?
The right board games strengthen:
- Critical thinking and logic
- Strategic planning
- Problem-solving
- Reading comprehension
- Math fluency
- Communication and persuasion
- Emotional regulation (winning and losing)
And they do it without worksheets, lectures, or power struggles.
Board Games Worth Using for School Time
You don’t need shelves of games. A few solid options go a long way.
Strategy & Logic Games
These require planning ahead, weighing consequences, and adapting when things change.
- Chess-style or resource-management games
- Area control and long-term strategy games
Word & Language Games
Great for reluctant writers and readers.
- Vocabulary-building games
- Games that require explanation, storytelling, or persuasion
Math & Probability Games
Perfect for strengthening mental math without drills.
- Dice-based games
- Economy or trading games
History & Civics-Inspired Games
These spark discussion and critical thinking.
- Games based on historical events, trade, or government systems (like Histopoly)
How to Use Board Games in Your Homeschool
You don’t need to overcomplicate this.
- Schedule a weekly game-based learning block
- Ask teens to explain their strategy after playing
- Tie the game to writing prompts, discussions, or real-world connections
- Let it count as logic, electives, or enrichment—because it is
Why This Works (Especially for Teens)
Teens learn best when they feel:
- Engaged
- Respected
- Challenged—but not micromanaged
Board games meet all three.
If your middle or high schooler shuts down with textbooks but lights up during a game, that’s not avoidance—that’s information.
Learning doesn’t have to look rigid to be rigorous.
Sometimes, the skills you want most are built right around the table.
List of 20 Board Games for Your Homeschool
Logic & Strategy
- Chess
- Risk
- 7 Wonders
- Dominion
- Carcassonne
Math & Probability
- Catan
- Splendor
- Machi Koro
- Sequence
- Ticket to Ride
Language & Communication
- Scrabble
- Bananagrams
- Codenames
- Apples to Apples
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
- Pandemic
- Clue
- Set
- Blokus
- Azul
- The Resistance
Game-Based Learning Resources Worth Bookmarking
When motivation is low, educational games for homeschool can keep learning moving without burnout. Activities like a grammar bingo game, idiom matching game, and online times table games help reinforce language arts and math skills in a way that feels light and engaging. You can also support literacy with spelling games and activities, build real-world knowledge through money lessons for kids using books and games, and strengthen critical thinking with board games for middle and high school students. These game-based homeschool activities are ideal for low-energy seasons, helping kids learn effectively while reducing stress for parents.
Game-based learning doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, play can become a powerful—and legitimate—part of your homeschool rhythm.
Lisa Nehring and her husband, Dr. David Nehring, a Clinical Psychologist, and Biblical Scholar speak together on a wide variety of topics, including education, classical education, vision, mission, parenting, marriage, and more.
- 25% Of Colleges Could Close – And What Smart Families Are Doing About It - February 25, 2026
- All The Options - February 15, 2026
- Life and Leadership Skills - February 3, 2026
