7 Classic Games That Quietly Boost Brain Power

In a world of apps and virtual reality, we sometimes forget about the old standards like board games and card games. Some of these “old” games, however, can help young people pick up important lessons as well as keep their minds in shape. So, a lame-sounding “game night” may actually be a perfect opportunity to keep young folks engaged and intellectually stimulated. Below are seven classic games that will boost rain power without coming off as purely “educational.”

Scrabble: Much more than just something you play with your grandmother, this original word-making game remains a staple of the board game world. From creating interesting words to working the board to score maximum points to strategically keeping your opponents away from high-scoring spaces like triple word score, Scrabble is a mind-expander for the competitive spirt. If regular old Scrabble is too boring in our world of bigger, better, faster, check out Super Scrabble, which increases the number of spaces to make words and jacks up the points you can collect. And, naturally, there’s an app for that, too.

Uno: The games seems simple enough: match colors and numbers on cards with the goal of getting rid of your hand before your opponent. The simplicity is deceptive, however, as Uno requires players to pay close attention to fast-moving discards and pick-ups and think strategically about what cards to play when. I have had success in playing this game with kids with ADD, ADHD, and developmental delays, as it helps to sharpen focus and increase attention. It’s also a quick game, and one that kids love for its fast pace and level of competition.

Scattergories: This is a truly fun game that brings wordplay, timing, and creativity together. Tasked with creating lists using a particular letter (for example, “Things you see at the beach”) before time runs out, players work quickly and draw on their own experiences and observations to out-categorize their opponents. The epitome of a game that utilizes brain power without feeling overly “educational,” Scattergories is one for the masses and even works as a classroom activity. For a fun twist on the classic version, check out Scattergories Categories as well.

Cranium: This game is essentially brain Olympics but fun, competitive, and team-oriented. Marketed as “the game for your whole brain,” Cranium presents players with intellectual challenges such as spelling, puzzling, drawing, acting, humming, and using logical deduction. On top of all that, it’s really a party game, perfect for family game night, a rainy-day activity, or a fun hangout with friends. Don’t tell anyone, but it also boosts brain power along the way.

Simon: All these games that engage mastery of language and numbers are wonderful, but how about one that works on the reflexes and the memory? Simon, billed as “a computer with a remarkable memory” is pretty simple: it’s a low-tech, portable game that requires players to remember and repeat ever-increasing sequences of lights and sounds. Best of all, Simon doesn’t require any pricey game console or other technology: just three AA batteries.

Monopoly: Ok, so maybe being a real-estate tycoon who evicts people who can’t pay rent isn’t exactly the noblest of goals, but this game does much more than encourage greed. Winning at Monopoly requires having good fiscal sense, a strong sense of planning, and an ability to anticipate other players’ moves. In an era of fiscal irresponsibility, any game that encourages young people to engage in money management is ok in my book. If plain old Monopoly is too archaic, however, consider the many hybrid versions now available like Stars Wars Monopoly, Harry Potter Monopoly, or my personal favorite, Boston Terrier-opoly.

Set: Here is a game that challenges both left brain and right brain processes: in a race to complete the most “SETs” (three cards where each feature, when looked at individually, is either all the same OR all different), players must utilize their cognitive, logical, and spatial skills to best their opponents. This is a game that is both challenging and a lot of fun, and perfect for the young, developing brain.

Written by Phil Lane

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