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by Cindy Leave a Comment

The Best Critical Thinking Games for Your Homeschool

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Critical thinking games are the perfect way to teach and practice important thinking and decision making skills in your home. I’ve been using games as part of my plan of attack for years and it’s been such a fun and challenging way to strengthen my children’s ability to think and reason.

Critical thinking is extremely important for everyone because it’s the process by which we analyze and process information to solve problems and make decisions. Little people and adults alike need critical thinking skills.

When we specifically practice critical thinking with our children, we set them up for success in a lot of ways. First, they are more likely to make good decisions when given the opportunity whether they’re 6 or 16. (That can surely make parenting easier!) Second, they can feel less stress when faced with big issues because they know how to think through the options. And third, all that thinking practice can help them to do better on school assignments.

The brain training activities we’ve talked about before definitely include critical thinking practice. Most of the games I’ve suggested for gameschooling do, too. In fact, almost all games inherently require critical thinking and make great opportunities for practice.

These critical thinking games will help your children develop deep thinking skills almost effortlessly.

This post includes affiliate links.

Some games are especially made for the express purposes of teaching, stretching, and strengthening critical thinking and others just so happen to be amazing whether that was an original intent or not. Each of the games I’ve included in this list is tried and true in our homeschool. We’ve used them during school hours, family game nights, and even in co-op classes.

Independent Critical Thinking Games

When you have a kiddo that needs something to do, these independent games are perfect. They can wake up tired brains, keep bored kids busy, and strengthen critical thinking skills without much (if any) help from you. (A partner is never a bad thing if one wants to tag along and play, too!)

ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic Jam Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Tons of Fun With Over 20 Awards Won, International Bestseller for Over 20 YearsThinkFun Dog Crimes Logic Game and Brainteaser for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up - A Smart Game with a Fun Theme and Hilarious ArtworkThinkFun Cat Crimes Brain Game and Brainteaser for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up - A Smart Game with a Fun Theme and Hilarious ArtworkThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Award WinnerThink Fun Rover Control Coding Board Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and UpFoxMind Games Zoologic Logic Puzzle GameThinkFun Invasion of the Cow Snatchers STEM Toy and Logic Game for Boys and Girls Age 6 and Up - A Magnet Maze Logic PuzzleFoldology - Origami Puzzle Game | Hands-On Brain Teasers for Kids, Teens & Adults | 100 ChallengesFoxmind, Smart Cookies Puzzle-Solving, Logic Game, Brain Builder Series

 

Rush Hour (Also, consider Rush Hour Jr. and My First Rush Hour)

Dog Crimes and Cat Crimes

Gravity Maze

//Code: Rover Control

Zoologic

Invasion of the Cow Snatchers

Foldology

Smart Cookies

Relatively Calm Games

These games practice critical thinking with relative calmness – as opposed to the games in the next list that require a little more action. Don’t confuse calm with boring. These games are still tons of fun!

Qwirkle Board GameTicket to Ride United States of America Map | 2 to 5 Players, 60 Minutes | Connect Trains from Canada to MexicoCarcassonne Board Game StandardASNEY Upgraded Magnetic Chess Set, 12” x 12” Folding Wooden Chess Set with Magnetic Crafted Chess Pieces, Chess Game Board Set with Storage Slots, Includes Extra Kings, Queens and Carry BagPoint Games Checkers Board – Stackable Grooves to Secure The King – Fun Game for All AgesPressman Mancala - Real Wood Folding Set, with Multicolor Stones by PressmanScrabble GameGuess WhoBlokus Game [Amazon Exclusive]Jax Sequence in a Tin - Five-in-a-Row Fun for Everyone!Matty's Toy Stop Deluxe 15

 

Qwirkle

Ticket to Ride

Carcassonne

Chess or Checkers

Mancala

Scrabble

Guess Who?

Blokus

Sequence

Backgammon

Family Game Night Fun

Critical thinking is the name of these games, but the entire family or groups of friends can have a lot of fun at the same time. We’ve had a lot of Friday game night fun with these.

ThinkFun Chicken War Game and Brainteaser for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up - A Smart Game with a Fun Theme and Hilarious ArtworkCzech Games CodenamesMattel Apples to Apples Party Box The Game of Crazy CombinationsCatan The Board Game, MulticolorClue GameMonopoly Classic GameGame Of LifeOutset Media Party Charades - 500 Charades Updated for The Year 2019 for Kids Adults and Family Time- The Fun Acting Game with Updated CluesRummikub by Pressman - Classic Edition - The Original Rummy Tile Game, BluePhase 10 Card Game with 108 Cards, Makes a Great Gift for Kids, Family or Adult Game Night, Ages 7 Years and Older

 

Chicken War

Codenames

Apples To Apples

Settlers of Catan

Clue

Monopoly

Life

Charades

Rummikub

Phase 10

Learn More About Brain Training

I’ve included critical thinking activities in our home for years. We actually call them brain training activities because they focus not only on critical thinking, but logical thinking and other activities that generally boost cognitive skills, too.

Our brain training time has been so much fun because it’s mostly focused on games that work hard to strengthen the brain. Since we typically begin our school days with a brain training game or two, that’s made for a fun and purposeful start that sets a great tone to our days!

If you’d like to learn more about brain training, please enjoy this practical Homeschool Masterclass!

  • What is brain training? Why should I be interested? Where do I start? This video training answers those questions and shares practical tips to get you started right away!
    Brain Training at Home: What, Why, and How?
    $15.00
    Add to cart

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Last Updated: December 9, 2020 Filed Under: Brain Training, Creative Homeschooling, Elementary, Gifted & Struggling Learners, Middle School Tagged With: critical thinking, games, gameschooling, logic

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When my boys were little, I loved reading these “letters from God” to them as blessings to start the day.
As I was sorting bookshelves earlier this month, I stumbled across this sweet book again. I decided the blessings are still as pertinent today for my bigger boy as they were years ago. So, we’re starting our day yet again with a quick, but powerful “letter from God” before jumping into our daily Bible studies.
Do you do anything special to start your day off on the right foot? I’d love to hear about it!
Click the link in my bio for a link to the book.
#homeschoolblessings #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolmom #homeschool #homeschooling #yourmorningbasket #startthedayoffright #charlottemasonmama #loveyourkids #wildandfreemama #childrensbook #devotionalforkids #homeschool365 #homeschoolmorning #ourjourneywestward #ihsnet
Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. Winter homeschooling can be tough in normal years. It’s cold, the days are dark, and everyone’s cooped up together 24/7. That’s a recipe for the winter blahs to march right into your house and wreak havoc on attitudes and motivation.⠀
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This year’s winter is unlike any other and those blahs may have actually settled in long before now. If you or your children are feeling down, anxious, or bored with school, are “at” each other constantly, bouncing off the walls, or tears and fighting are the norm…the blahs are there.⠀
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Let’s get you, your children, and your homeschool back on track. I’ll be teaching a Homeschool Masterclass on Thursday afternoon to help you kick the blahs to the curb. If you can attend live, come! If you can’t attend live, catch the replay!⠀
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We’ll tackle all sorts of problems the blahs bring with them with very practical  ideas that are easy to implement! ⠀
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Click the link in my bio to join me. There is no shame in admitting that the blahs have arrived and you need a little boost from a friend. ❤️ ⠀
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Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’ Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’s true, you know. I’ve told my children for years that it only takes a nature walk to see God through His handiwork and to know that His promises are true.⠀
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When the world seems to be falling apart around you, the sun never stops shining. The seasons never stop moving. Without a single, solitary effort of human hands, the woodlands still buzz with life.⠀
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A student of nature can see the consistency in cycles and notice the incredible and creative intricacy of even the smallest specimen and be in awe that we truly serve a God who isn’t unaware of even one tiny detail in our world right now. ⠀
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Life kind of seems overwhelming, though, I know. Remember when I said my motto lately has been to just put one foot in front of the other to do the next right thing? Nature walks (even when it’s cold) never fail me as a right thing. ⠀
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Breathe, friend. Take a nature walk today and let God speak to your soul.⠀
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It might seem trite to post a winter picture book It might seem trite to post a winter picture book list right now, but I’m a big believer in keeping things as normal as possible in my home when things aren’t so normal otherwise.⠀
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It’s the principle of putting one foot in front of the other as you simply do the next right thing. Good books almost always can be a “next right thing” choice.⠀
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Even though I’m not homeschooling younger children anymore, I’ll probably never stop sharing wonderful picture book ideas with you. 🤓 I’ve spent way too many hours reading and collecting to ever stop loving them!⠀
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Eli and I may not be using these books right now, but they are still some of my favorites for winter reading. Whatever may be going on around you, the winter months are always a good time of year to get in lots of extra reading. Snuggling and hot chocolate are optional, but encouraged.⠀
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Click the link in my bio to find a blog post about these books + some of our favorite winter chapter books, too!⠀
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#homeschool #readmorebooks #livingbooks #livingliterature #picturebooks #winterpicturebooks #homeschoolmom #wildandfreefamily #charlottemasonirl #winterhomeschool #homeschoollookslikethis #thisishomeschool #winternaturestudy #nosweatnaturestudy #homeschool365 #ihsnet
We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break We celebrated a 14th birthday over Christmas break! 🎉🎁🎂🏀🥰
I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍 I love being auntie to a sweet baby again! 😍
Merry Christmas from the Wests! 🎄 Merry Christmas from the Wests! 🎄
Christmas picture books are some of my very favori Christmas picture books are some of my very favorite books of all time. I’ve spent years collecting new ones here and there (and will probably continue collecting for years to come because there are at least a few favorites I still don’t own).🤗🤫⠀
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When the kiddos were younger, I would sometimes wrap each of the books and place them in a basket near the Christmas tree. 🎁 Each morning during December, one of my children would choose a book to unwrap and that was the one we would read for the day. Oh, such precious memories!⠀
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This year, even though my youngest is in 8th grade, the books are not hidden away! I’ve found a creative way to read them with Eli. We’re using them as mentor texts for his own stories during language arts. #sneakysmart (He’s writing some pretty great stories, too!)⠀
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Click the link in my bio if you’d like to see my entire list of picture book favorites for the Christmas season!🎄If you’d like to know more about using picture books to teach writing to older kids, search “writing with picture books masterclass”on my website.⠀
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