Our Favorite Screen-Free Board Games Right Now (4-year-old approved)
3 Classic Games My 4-Year-Old Actually Loves Playing
(And we love them, too!)
Breaking some of our screen-time habits is so hard. It’s way easier to throw on a show while we clean-up dinner, put-away leftovers, and un-wind for the last hour of the night… but we found it just not being the family time we wanted.
Which is why most weeknights, we play a game after dinner. And these are our 3 favorites - and honestly? It’s always a yes from me.
Sneak peak of just some of the games on our shelf!
They’re simple, engaging, and secretly teach some really good skills: counting, taking turns, dealing with setbacks and disappointments, and even a little early strategy.
If you’ve got a preschooler at home, here are a few games I would add to your game night rotation.
Mancala
Why we love it: This one surprised me at being a hit. But it’s become one of our more peaceful and calming games. The art of scooping and dropping marbles is oddly satisfying for both of us. It’s simple enough for my 4-year-old to understand, but still feels like a big kid game. There are so many strategies, and this is a game I still enjoy as an adult.
Skills it builds:
One-to-one counting
Fine motor control
Planning ahead + basic tactics
Pattern recognition
How we play it: We skip some of the house rules (like landing in your own sides empty spot captures you opponent’s opposite side), and celebrate making it into the big spots at the end. We talk through opportunities to win an extra turn, and if you move here, here’s what might happen.
Pro tip: Find a wooden board with big, colorful stones that your kid loves. We love the flat marble style. I love a board that folds in half so that you can store your marbles directly inside.
Sorry!
Why we love it: This game is pure drama in the best way. The bright colors, the sliding pawns, and the moment you get to say “SORRY!” is kind of everything to a 4-year-old. It’s also a fun way to practice playing with rules and learning how to win (or lose) gracefully-ish.
Skills it builds:
Number recognition
Turn-taking
Emotional regulation (oof)
Learning to follow multi-step rules
How we adapt it: Sometimes I secretly stack the deck with the 1s or 2s to get our pawns out earlier… otherwise it can be a long wait for game-play to start.
Yahtzee
Why we love it: Rolling the dice alone is a full-body experience for my 4-year-old - but beyond that, Yahtzee is such a fun way to start building early number skills. We play by the rules, my one adult does the score-keeping for everyone.
Skills it builds:
Number recognition
Counting and adding
Grouping and matching
Early strategy + decision-making
How we play it: We follow the rules on this one… no extra rolls, and yes we do keep score!
Pro tip: There’s also a Yahtzee Jr. version with characters and pictures, which might be more approachable for early players, but we’ve stuck with the classic dice and it works just fine.
Want more game ideas?
These three are our current go-tos, but I’ve pulled together a full Benable list of screen-free games we’ve tried, loved, and actually still play - including classics like Uno, Crazy 8s, and Mouse Trap (chaotic but worth it).
Check out our full game-list here on Benable
I’m always adding it as we discover new favorites!
