These 21 Educational Board Games Are Perfect For Homeschoolers

The Hang In There game is basically an updated version of Hangman: one player picks a word, and if the letter the other player chooses isn’t in the word, they have to add a body part to the chameleon. It’s a fun game for kids who are learning how to spell (and they may even double check their spelling in a dictionary or with an adult to make sure the game doesn’t veer into a meltdown). One cool thing about this is that the board and pieces are magnetic, so it’s good for taking on-the-go.

Imhotep blends strategy and building skills in a game of reasoning and architecture. The intricate game is played over six rounds, and players aim to get their stones into the most valuable spots. It may just prompt a lesson on Egyptian history.

Younger kids will learn the principles of programming in a fun and creative way. Robot Turtles is designed for parents and kiddos to play together, with different color cards moving the turtle game piece in different ways. The game has additional cards that make the game more difficult, and these can be added in once your little one gets the hang of it.

A classic for a reason, Monopoly Junior teaches kiddos the (very) basics of money management. And since all the properties are labeled with a corresponding picture, the game can be a fun way to teach literacy.

Continent Race was created by a 6-year-old, Byron, during an extended stay in the hospital for a ruptured appendix. The game teaches geography in an unexpected way. Similar to the rules of classic card games like rummy, in order to win, players must lay down two cards from Oceania and four cards each from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Using the included colorful maps, players will also have to locate each country they play on a map which gives kiddos an in-depth look at how the world fits together (plus they'll know the name and location of tons of countries).

A geography lesson and a fun strategic game in one, the object of the Trekking The National Parks board game is to be the first to get to each park. Players gather "trek cards" which determine their path around the board, plus each park has a corresponding card filled with facts. If you can't get enough of park games, there's also a fun Monopoly National Parks edition.

This game teaches financial literacy and Black history together, using real events from Tulsa, Oklahoma (sometimes called Black Wall Street) as the stage. It's played similarly to Monopoly with more real-life events, places, and people included.

Fans of Settlers Of Catan will love this version designed specifically with kids in mind. They'll use logic and strategy to build ships and hideouts, all while avoiding Spooky Island. The game cultivates math skills, plus it builds a solid foundation for logical decision making as players decide which supplies it makes the most sense to trade.

Kids (and parents) won't be able to resist the gorgeous, candy-colored Backgammon board that begs to be played. The game teaches math skills that can be simple for younger kids (counting the numbers on the dice, for example) and can get more complex as kids age. Plus, if they forget to put this away, it makes for a beautiful mess.

Somewhat similar to the rules of Candyland, the Wildcraft game asks players to collect berries on their way to grandmother's house. Players will have to overcome obstacles like a sprained ankle or a toothache by identifying the plant that can help them. Parents, too, will learn a lot about wildlife in this collaborative game that values working together above competition.

Pirates-in-training ages 4 and up can practice the basics (directions, colors, letter recognition) by following the clues on the treasure map to collect gold coins for their treasure chests. Kids will love the "wipe-away" treasure map and the cute little treasure chests in the Treasure Hunt Game (especially if you let them talk like a pirate while they play).

The Queen needs the help of the gnomes in this fun, collaborative game designed for kids ages 6 and up. Players move magnetic gnomes (the magnets make it less likely that you'll lose a piece) through a maze on a quest to find lost jewels. It teaches decision making, problem solving, and critical thinking.

An awesome science lesson disguised as a game, Planet is a 3D board where players compete to build 12-sided "planet cores" with the goal of creating the most flourishing ecosystem. Not only does this game have stunning visuals, it's a wonderful way to learn about the Earth and what makes it thrive, all while honing motor skills, spatial orientation, and building skills.

Who knew math could be so fun? In Proof!, cards are laid out randomly in a grid shape, and players are tasked with using addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and square roots to find relationships between the numbers. When you see, for example, a 3,12, and 36 in a row, you could shout out because 3 times 12 equals 36.

A feminist take on the classic, Guess Who, this game features 28 amazing women throughout history. Instead of asking, "Is she wearing glasses?" (for example) players can ask more pressing questions like, "did she win a Nobel prize?" This may seem like a lofty price tag for a game, but it's made with zero plastic and the craftsmanship is gorgeous. Plus, you'll be able to hand it down to the next generation of fierce girls. (There's also a cardboard version available for $19.80.)

Players are tasked with designing and building a palace using beautiful Portuguese tiles known as “azulejos.” Not only is this game stunning to look at, but it teaches pattern recognition, math skills, and spatial reasoning (because one of the goals is to finish the palace without wasting any tiles).

Scrabble Jr. has the same basic rules as the adult version of the game, except the board is smaller and comes pre-filled with certain letters. Younger kiddos may need some help completing words, but they can work on their letter recognition while older kids hone their spelling.

The name of this game alone suggests a wacky, good time. Another cooperative option from Peaceable Kingdom, this one is basically a reimagined version of collaborative Chutes N' Ladders, except it's mole rats in space, and the goal is to help the creatures avoid snakes.

This game only takes about 15 minutes to play, which makes it great when the kids need a quick break. The object is to quickly scoop the gelato in a way that exactly matches the image on the playing card (a customer's "order"). It teaches dexterity, attention to detail, and processing speed. Just be prepared for everyone to want ice cream afterward.

You don't have to leave home to learn about the different habitats around the world. This game encourages kiddos ages 8 and up (and adults) to be stewards of the Earth by teaching about environmental hazards and how to be mindful of your own environmental impact.

Perfect for the kid who loves all things spooky this (not too scary) game takes players on a treasure hunt through a haunted mansion. You have to literally shake, tilt, and shift the board to be the first to get the game pieces into the correct room of the mansion. This game helps to develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, quick-thinking, problem solving, plus as the description says, "it's easy to learn, challenging to master) so they won't get bored.