Six year olds are fast moving out of the little kid stage and feeling more and more like big kids every day. Usually in first grade, 6 year olds meet all sorts of developmental milestones. Such as:

• Learning to read
• Solve simple mathematical problems
• Increased focus and attention span
• A larger need for independence
• Moving towards abstract thinking

Kids learn much through play and pairing board games that are filled with the right type of challenges to meet them during this stage of development is an excellent way to help them grow.

I rounded up a few of my favorite board games to play with my 6 year olds. These are fun for the whole family and will be fun well beyond the age of 6!

Eight is one of my favorite ages for board games. At eight kids really begin to have the world of gaming open up for them, and it’s not just because the vast majority of board games list themselves for ages 8+!

I’m breaking down the new logical deduction game series The Key! This series from HABA will have players working individually to crack the case by examining clues to solve thefts, sabotage, and yes, even murder! (I hope you read that in an ominous voice, because I most definitely said it in an ominous voice.)

I don’t know about you, but all of my kids (and me!) LOVE dinosaurs.

We’ve been neck deep in dinosaur facts for about 6 years, fielding every question our kids can throw at us and leaning into the obsession. Honestly, by this point I practically have a degree in Paleontology.