Holiday Gift Guide: Fun & Educational Games and Books for Kids

The holiday season is the perfect time to find gifts that are both entertaining and enriching. We’ve compiled a list of games and books that cater to a range of ages, helping kids build skills while having fun. Whether you’re shopping for a young learner, a teen, or looking for family activities, we’ve got you covered!

Games for Grades K-3

• Left Center Right: A dice game that helps children with directionality in a simple, engaging format.

• Cat Crimes: This fun board game promotes deductive reasoning skills as kids solve who committed the "crimes."

• Sequence for Kids: Encourages children to compare and search systematically while strategizing to win.

Games for Grades 3-8

• 5-Minute Dungeon: Perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons! This fast-paced game sharpens problem-solving skills and promotes teamwork.

• Minecraft Travel Puzzle: Ideal for long car rides, this puzzle challenges deductive reasoning and visual transport skills.

Games for Teens

• Blink: A fast-paced game to build processing speed and categorization skills.

• Charades: A classic group game that promotes quick thinking and creativity while being great for parties.

• Kanoodle Head-to-Head: This competitive game tests visual-spatial awareness.

• Abalone: A strategic 2-player game that enhances planning and decision-making skills.

K-5 Movement Games

• Yoga Pretzels: Combines movement and mindfulness, helping kids calm their minds and stay active.

• Tap It: A fun, fast-paced game for improving hand-eye coordination.

• Stomp it Out: Encourages kids to express their emotions and practice problem-solving skills.

• Exercise Dice: Kids roll the dice to discover movements like hopping, crawling, and climbing—a perfect way to stay active!

Family Fun Games

• Little Off Topic: Challenge your family to think of as many related answers as possible—great for quick thinking and creativity.

• Guess in 10: A trivia game where players ask up to 10 questions to guess the answer—fun and educational!

• Draw It, See It, Say It: Work on memory and communication skills while building descriptive language.

• Story Cubes: Encourage creativity with this storytelling game using prompts from dice rolls.

Stocking Stuffers

• 15 to Zero: A strategy game that builds addition skills.

• Corner Center Match: Quick-thinking matching fun that kids will love.

Books That Inspire Growth Mindset

For Elementary Students:

• Y is for Yet

• I Can Do Hard Things

• The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes

• Perseverance Is My Superpower

• Gritty Ninja

• I Choose to Try Again

For Middle School Students:

• When You Trap a Tiger

• New Kid

• Fish in a Tree

• Hatchet

• The Benefits of Being an Octopus

This holiday season, choose gifts that entertain and educate, sparking joy and curiosity for the kids in your life. Happy gifting! 🎁