14 Educational Games to Keep Kids Learning In the Summer

Whether you're in the middle of winter break, in the thick of back-to-school prep, or slogging through the bulk of the school year, giving your kids time to play can make a big impact on their health and happiness. Fun activities and games are essential, but unlike decades ago, there is a seemingly endless amount of games for kids to play, especially ones designed to help little ones learn. So how do you choose the best educational game for your child?

When it comes to educational games for kids, “focus on how the game is played and what feedback is provided to children while they're playing,” Francyne Zeltser, Psy.D., a NY-based certified school psychologist and adjunct professor, tells Woman's Day. So if your kid is a spelling whiz but needs better communication skills, games that require teamwork and cooperation could offer the lessons she needs most.

“Although board games have winners and losers, it's more about the game's process and how it's played and less about the act of winning or losing,” Zeltser says. “Kids learn how to be fair, take turns, and provide encouragement, and that's where games get their educational value.”

To help your kids learn and grow in more ways than one, we asked parenting experts to share their favorite educational games for kids ages 4 and up. Here are their picks.