Board Games For Teenagers

I grew up with board games. It was a regular evening tradition in the winter time, and when the snowstorms blew in, and the TV reception fizzled, board games were a logical form of entertainment. I spent many happy hours around the kitchen table trying to best my brothers at Monopoly.

Monopoly: The Classic Board Game

When my youngest son was fifteen, he developed an interest in chess. He challenged his older brother and then all his friends. He bested all of them. It was as if the gauntlet had been thrown. For the following year Chess was the game of choice. I would come downstairs late at night and find six to eight boys huddled around the two playing chess.

Deluxe Wood Chess Set

Silence Reigned.

Everyone was focused on the game in play.

It was amazing.

I didn't think teenage boys knew how to be quiet.

I was wrong.

Scrabble is one of the most challenging games invented. I grew up playing scrabble and introduced my children to it as soon as they could read. It increases word power and encourages "thinking outside the box."

Scrabble Deluxe Edition Crossword Game

Scrabble is sold in 121 countries and in 29 different languages. Over one hundred and fifty million games have been sold worldwide. A Scrabble game can be found in one out of every three American homes.

It is one of the most popular games around.

I buy a new board game every year. My pick for this year is Five Crowns.

Product Description (Amazon)

Five Crowns is a fast paced ingenious rummy-like card game. Its double deck contains five suits (the stars are new), but it has no aces or twos. This unique deck gives you many more options for arranging your hand into sets and sequences. The challenge is to see them make the right combinations, be the first to go out, then watch the others scramble as they get one last chance to cut their losses.

When you do your Christmas shopping this year, consider adding a board game or two to your list. Family Game Night is a great way to bond with your children, and when they're older, they can play with their friends. There's nothing like a game a Chess or Scrabble to stimulate the brain cells.