Gameschooling 101: Everything You Need To Know
Although we are fairly structured in our homeschool, we still enjoy playing educational board games as part of our home education. It is just a more fun way to learn that also encourages free thinking and less pressure, gameschooling is the best!
In this post, I am going to share with you everything you could possibly need to know about gameschooling. What the best games are, whether it is right for your homeschooling style, plus the many benefits of gameschooling.
**There may be affiliate links in this post. You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.**
What is Gameschooling?
Gameschooling is simply learning through play.
This can be through board games (our favorite) or online games. Any game whether it is educational or not can be used for gameschooling, as they all have benefits.
You can either choose the game based on the subject, see at the bottom of the post our favorites, or just play organically. Every game has some educational benefits whether it is obvious or not.
How to start game schooling?
All you need is a deck of cards and the desire to play with your children.
It really is as simple as that.
We love board games, but we know they can be expensive. So we always ask for a board game as gifts. Over the years, we have accumulated hundreds. But you can always borrow them from your local library if they offer that.
What are the benefits of gameschooling?
There are so many benefits to playing while learning, I could go on endlessly about all the reasons this should be part of your homeschool schedule. But I will list the top 20 benefits of game schooling if you are not convinced:
- helps with communication skills
- critical thinking skills
- strategic thinking
- helps with focussing on tasks
- regulating emotions
- helps with listening skills
- great for following instructions
- patience
- helps with taking turns
- understanding different points of view
- helps with empathy
- self-monitoring
- connection with family
- reduces stress
- prioritizing and planning (especially with strategy games)
- paying attention
- working memory
- flexible thinking
- assertiveness
- increases brain function
I could go on. But I think you can see the benefits!
These gameschooling benefits are not just for kindergartners and elementary aged kids either. We continue to play board games now my son is in middle school, and I know we will continue to play them in high school.
We tend to play them now when my son needs a brain break, which is at least once a week.
Over the years we have accumulated hundreds of board games, in pretty much every subject imaginable. Carry on reading to see our favorites by subject.
Games for homeschooling by subject
As we love gameschooling we like to incorporate it into our homeschool as much as we can.
These are the best board games for homeschooling by subject, for kids of all ages.
- Math board games
- Board games about money
- History board games for kids
- Geography board games
- Science board games
- Word games
- Christmas board games
- Card games for teenagers
Gameschooling Online
Online games are great for kindergartners and elementary-aged children. We have not yet found any good gameschooling online games for middle schoolers and above. If you have please let me know in the comments.
Night Zookeeper (you will get 50% off if you follow this link!) is an excellent writing game for elementary aged kids. Especially for kids who need a little more help with writing. Check out our Night Zookeeper review for more information.
Adventure Academy is a fantastic educational online game perfect for elementary aged kids. It covers math, science, and language arts, and my son loved it. Check out our Adventure Academy review for more information.
ABCMouse is probably the best first online game the kids should have. Perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners, they will learn to read and count. Check out our ABCMouse review for more information.
Free Printable Games for Gameschooling
Matching Games
Have fun with gameschooling with these free printable matching games.
Memory Game Printables
Download all of our 25 different themed memory games that can be printed at home.
This is a paid product including all of our memory games in one place.
Money Memory Game Printable (free)
You can have fun learning about money with this free money matching game. There are a few different ways you can play this fun game
Pirate Memory Game (free printable)
Ahoy me hearties! Have fun with this free printable pirate matching game.
Butterfly Matching Game (free printable)
Have fun with this fun butterfly matching game printable.
Chinese New Year Memory Game Printable (free)
Whether you celebrate the Chinese New Year or not, the kids will love matching the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.
Free Printable Presidents Memory Game for Presidents Day
Have fun on President's Day with this fun matching game. But before you play get the kids to color in all of the presidents first. We like to use wacky colors!
Valentine's Day Memory Game (free printable)
Spread the love on Valentine's Day with this super cute matching game.
St Patrick's Day Memory Game (free printable)
Have fun on St Patrick's Day with our free printable matching game.
Earth Day Memory Game Printable (free)
Celebrate the planet with our fun Earth Day matching game printable.
Star Wars Memory Game (Free Printable)
Play either on Star Wars Day or after you watch one of the films. Is the force strong with you? Can you match the sith lords and jedi masters?
Roald Dahl Memory Game (Free Printable)
We are huge fans of Roald Dahl books, so why not play this fun memory game after you have read the BFG, Matilda, the Twits, or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Free Thanksgiving Memory Game Printable
This is a great family game to play with the younger kids this Thanksgiving.
Elf Memory Game a Fun Free Printable Game
If you are fans of the Elf on the Shelf as we are, you are going to love having fun matching the Elf images.
Hanukkah Memory Game Printable (free)
Even if you don't celebrate the Jewish holiday, why not play this Hanukkah matching game and have some fun.
Free Christmas Memory Game Printable The Kids Will Love
Have fun with the kids this Christmas with these fun matching games.
New Year's Memory Game Printable (free)
Have fun with the kids this New Year's Eve with this fun matching game.
Printable Scattergory Boards
Slightly older kids will absolutely love these free printable Scattergory boards. Although the original Scattergories game is still a family favorite.
Free Halloween Scattergories Printable Game
This is a great game to play this Halloween, see how many words you can find that begin with these spooky words.
4 Free Printable Thanksgiving Scattergories Fun For All
We like to add this to the table on Thanksgiving and have all the family join in. Young and old will love playing this.
Christmas Scattergories 7 Free Printable Games for Festive Fun
December is the month we put all of the core curriculum away and just gameschool. These Christmas scattergory boards are a great fun game to play
New Year's Scattergories Game (free printables)
These New Year's printable games are great to play with the kids if you are staying in on New Year's Eve. See what else we get up to on New Year's Eve with the kids.
Bingo printable games
Bingo is a great game to play with younger kids, and we have a game for every holiday of the year.
Free Valentine Bingo Cards to Enjoy With The Kids
Download our super cute Valentine's Day bingo boards.
St Patrick's Day Bingo - Free Printable with 5 Bingo Boards
Do you have the luck of the Irish? If so you are going to love playing our St Patrick's Day bingo game.
Free Printable Road Trip Bingo The Kids Will Love
Going on a trip?
If so download and play our free road trip bingo.
Pirate Bingo Game for Kids (free printable)
Have fun anytime of the year, on Talk Like a Pirate Day with our fun and free pirate bingo boards.
Free Halloween Bingo Cards For Spooky Fun (Printable)
Boo! Have fun with the kids with these Halloween bingo boards.
Free Thanksgiving Bingo Cards Printable
Have fun playing Thanksgiving bingo with the entire family.
Free Printable Christmas Bingo Perfect For All The Family
Have fun this Christmas with these festive bingo boards.
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Last Updated on 22 January 2023 by homeschoolof1