Did you know that board games help kids develop social skills like how to manage emotions, take turns, and work as a team. Board games are great for family bonding time and keeping kids occupied, and this list of eco-friendly board games for kids will take your game night to the next level. These 7 games are engaging to play and sustainably made. Some of them even sneak in some environmental facts to help your children learn more about nature and sustainability! Whether you like modern games or the classics, dive in and enjoy your next family game night with one of these fun eco-friendly board games.
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1. Hoot Owl Hoot
I really like this game because it is a cooperative game where all players work together to try to get the owls home in their nest before the sun rises. There are various ways the game can be modified for difficulty based on the age of the players. This is a game that can keep my four year old occupied for an hour. It also involves some simple strategy. On the environmental side, I like that there are no plastic game pieces. The game includes colored cards and tokens that come packaged in a paper envelope.
2. Eco Edition Playing Cards
A deck of cards is one of the most versatile activities. Kids can play anything from single-player games like solitaire to games with the whole extended family. This deck of playing cards is completely recyclable. They use starch based laminating glue and vegetable based printing inks.
3. Activities from the NOAA Marine Debris Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is the U.S. Federal government’s lead for addressing marine debris. They have a free printable activity book for kids of all ages that introduces the concepts of marine debris. The activity book includes games like matching, crosswords, connect the dots, and coloring pages that are educational and will have your kids thinking more about where their trash can end up if not properly disposed of.
4. Memory Matching Games
Memory games are another activity that my four year old can play for hours. eeBoo makes memory matching games in cute themes such as ocean and garden. These sets of 18 pairs of matching cards are made with recycled board and printed on FSC-certified paper using vegetable-based inks.
5. Wooden chess, checkers, and tic tac toe
Wooden chess, checkers, and tic tac toes are classic eco-friendly board games. This reversible board allows you to play all three games which makes it great for kids of all ages. It also comes with wooden playing pieces.
6. Wooden Puzzle Brain Teaser
This shape jigsaw puzzle by Coogam will challenge your kids’ brains to make all the pieces fit and create cool patterns. The board and pieces are made of 100% natural wood with harmless water-based paints. Just think of all the car trip time you can use this for! P.S. if you are looking for more eco-friendly travel tips for vacation, check out my post here.
7. National Parks edition of Jenga
Jenga is a classic game and I’ve found that kids of all ages enjoy it. Older kids may tend to play by the traditional rules, but even babies enjoy watching the stacked blocks fall down. This National Parks version of Jenga is a wooden set that contains more than 100 facts and trivia about the U.S. National Parks. Proceeds benefit the National Park Foundation.
All of these eco-friendly board games will let you create a fun environment for your kids while doing your part to live sustainably. Board games are a parenting win, and hopefully these ideas help inspire you to integrate sustainable materials and content into your next family game night. What is your favorite eco-friendly board game?
