11 Family-Friendly Board Games to Beat the Winter Blues

Family-Friendly Board Games to Beat the Winter Blues
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11 Family-Friendly Board Games to Beat the Winter Blues

These family-friendly board games are great for cold nights spent indoors!

With the cold temps finally here, it feels like winter’s really starting to settle in. What better way to spend those cozy days inside than with some classic board games? Whether it’s a lazy afternoon or a chilly evening, board games are a fun way to bring the family together.

Of course, the classics like Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, and Scrabble are always a good time, and Candyland, Cootie and Hungry Hungry Hippos keep the younger crowd busy. However, there are many more fun board games that can help pass the time on cold winter days.

Psst… Check Out Bumper Cars on Ice Are Back at Bryant Park

Whether you’re reliving your childhood favorites or introducing new ones, these games are sure to keep your family entertained.

Ticket to Ride

Age Range: 8+
Game Duration: 30-60 minutes
Price: $25

This classic strategy game has players building train routes across North America (or in the case of its many expansions, across the world). It’s easy to learn but offers plenty of strategy, making it perfect for families with children 8 and up.

Catan

Age Range: 10+
Game Duration: 60-90 minutes
Price: $25

In Catan, players become settlers trying to build and grow their settlements on a newly discovered island. With a mix of strategy, resource management, and negotiation, it’s a game that families love. It’s perfect for older kids and teens, encouraging teamwork and a little friendly competition along the way.

Uno

Age Range: 7+
Game Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $10

Uno is a fast-paced card game but it works for players of all ages. Simple to learn and easy to play, it’s the perfect choice for families with younger kids who want quick, accessible fun. The goal is simple. Be the first to get rid of all your cards!

Of course, you can also get a regular deck of playing cards and teach your kids how to play Go Fish or enjoy a good old-fashioned game of War.

Guess Who?

Age Range: 6+
Game Duration: 15-30 minutes
Price: $13

This classic two-player game lets kids ask yes/no questions to try to guess their opponent’s mystery character. It’s a great game for younger children to practice some deductive reasoning while also having fun.

Pandemic

Age Range: 8+
Game Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $32

In Pandemic, players team up to stop the spread of diseases across the globe. This cooperative game is great for families who want to work together to tackle a common goal. It requires strategic gameplay so is ideal for kids 8 and up. It also encourages teamwork in a fun, relaxed way.

Apples to Apples

Age Range: 12+
Game Duration: 30-60 minutes
Price: $13

This is a truly fun one. It’s a party game where players match descriptive cards to a category card. It’s a great choice for families with older children and teens. The game is quick to play, fun, and often leads to laughs as players come up with the silliest or most creative matches. There is also a junior version for kids 9 and up.

The Game of Life

Age Range: 8+
Game Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $22

In The Game of Life, players move through a fictional life, making choices about careers, family, and money. It’s a fun way to explore big decisions while enjoying an easy-to-play game that can appeal to everyone in the family.

Blokus

Age Range: 5+
Game Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $27

Blokus is a game of spatial strategy where players take turns placing their pieces on the board, while aiming to block others and expand their own territory. This fast-paced and easy-to-learn game is good for younger children and families who enjoy strategic thinking without the need for reading.

King of Tokyo

Age Range: 8+
Game Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $35

In King of Tokyo, players become giant monsters battling to take over the city. With a fun mix of dice-rolling and strategy, this board game is perfect for families looking for an exciting, action-packed game. It’s easy enough for kids as young as 8, but still has enough strategy to keep older players engaged.

Battleship

Age Range: 7+
Game Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $15

Battleship is all about strategy and guessing while players attempt to sink each other’s fleet of ships on a grid. It’s simple enough for younger children to play, yet still offers a challenge, making it ideal for families with kids ages 6 and up.

Risk

Age Range: 10+
Game Duration: 60-120 minutes
Price: $34

In Risk, players try to dominate the world through strategic movements of their army. It’s perfect for older kids and teens who enjoy a longer, more involved game. It’s also ideal for families who love a competitive challenge with a global twist.

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Since its inception, Child's Play NY has touched the lives of hundreds of students, worked inside dozens of schools and is consistently ranked as among the top theater arts programs. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is the 2019 winner of Brooklyn Family's Choice award for Best Performing Arts Class.</span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fall/Winter 2020-21 Virtual Class Guide</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make a Movie Class</span></strong></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Experience creative fulfillment and movie magic with Child’s Play NY! 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They work alongside professional performers with years of experience bringing their passion to children. Class culminates in a movie showcase of scenes and songs.<br />Join for the full session, or enroll as a drop-in!<strong><br /></strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Shakespeare Scene Study (Grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)</strong></div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young people become confident with Shakespeare’s world, language and characters as they learn how to interpret a role with technique and courage. Classically trained professional actors assist the players in their physical, vocal and emotional transformations. All Shakespeare teaching artists are classically trained professional actors and have performed Shakespeare both on and off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students jump into the worlds of Shakespeare in this robust mash-up of improvisation and classic text scene study class. After learning the plot and characters from several plays, they rehearse and memorize scenes from the original text. New material, devised by the cast, adds a contemporary through-line to their show and highlights the universality of Shakespeare’s themes.<br />Class culminates in a movie showcasing their work.</div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </div> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Big Twist: A New Musical (Grade 1-4)</strong></div> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <div style="caret-color: #222222; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this acting class, students get to perform a brand new musical based on The Wizard of Oz.<br />The Wicked Witch of the South wants to return Oz to a time when WITCHES reigned supreme, and all was evil. Summoning a dark magic Tornado, the Wicked Witch of the South sends Oz hurtling into an alternate Oz. 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Adventuring Portal

<p><a name="m_-1473885667065203258__Hlk72147528"></a>Adventuring Portal runs Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games for kids.   We have created a safe online space for tweens and teens to learn and play D&D.</p> <p>Our D&D Summer Camp session are a one-week experience.  Monday – Friday.  Each day will be 3 hours of gaming (with 2 breaks build in).  15 total gaming hours for $180.  If you have played with us before, you are entitled to 10% off.   </p> <p>Need your kids, nieces or nephews, grand kids or neighbor’s kids to be occupied for a bit so you can get work done & take care of your to-do list? Maybe your tween or teen is still a bit isolated and craves connection with their peers? Whether your teen/tween has played D&D before or is brand-new to the experience, this safe space brings players together to have fun and solve problems as a team in ways few other online opportunities do.</p> <p>All our games focus on experiential learning.   Our players leave knowing all the basic game play as well as experiencing: teamwork, bravery, compassion, generosity, negotiation, improvisation, gamer etiquette, strategy, critical thinking, problem solving, cartography and probability - all through online D&D adventuring!</p> <p>We are an inclusive organization and welcome gamers who are LGBTQIA+ and those on any spectrum. </p> <p>All girls’ groups available. </p> <p>I am a parent, a certified elementary school and middle school math teacher and last summer in the midst of the mess started Adventuring Portal, an online Dungeons & Dragons business for kids. There are so many benefits to playing D&D and I hope you will consider us as a great way for your child to safely socialize, grow as people and have a great time.</p>

Once Upon A Mattress

<p>Bring your kids.</p> <p>Bring your parents.</p> <p>Bring your favorite pajamas!</p> <p>Once Upon a Mattress is back on Broadway, and it’s “pure let’s-be-kids entertainment” (New Yorker) fit for ages 7 to 107!</p> <p>Two-time Tony® winner Sutton Foster stars as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, alongside royalty of stage and screen Michael Urie and Queen of Comedy Ana Gasteyer. Adapted for a new generation by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), this uproarious retelling of The Princess and the Pea introduces the unapologetically eccentric Winnifred to an uptight kingdom, where she charms, delights, and dances her way to the top… of a stack of mattresses.</p> <p>So give the babysitter the night off and your kids a night on the town – you'll all live happily ever laughter!</p> <p>Get tickets at <a href="https://onceuponamattressnyc.com/">https://onceuponamattressnyc.com/</a></p>