10 Best Word Board Games for Kids That Make Learning Fun!
Word board games are popular in classrooms and homeschools, but kids who struggle with reading, spelling, and grammar may find them intimidating. Studies show that two-thirds of American children struggle to read fluently, and a 2025 report by The Nation's Report Card indicates a continued declining trend in reading skills among U.S. students.
Compounding the issue? Children who struggle in reading and spelling may also find it challenging to 'catch up' as their language arts curriculum grows increasingly complex, leaving them vulnerable to remain below reading and spelling expectations year after year. So, how do parents and educators flip the script and help children build literacy confidence now? Play word board games! It's as simple as making language arts fun through the power of play!
Why Word Board Games?
-Playing word board games removes the seriousness of language arts and turns it into a fun adventure.
-Playing word board games allows kids to feel comfortable with winning and losing, providing parents and educators the pathway to help them learn without fearing failure.
If you are concerned your child or students are struggling with reading and spelling, this blog is for you! Here are 10 fun word board games to turn language arts from boredom and dread into "let's read ahead!"
Where Literacy Challenges May Start
Have you noticed your child or students struggling in the early years of reading? It is quite common for kids to exhibit challenges as they enter first grade. By 4th grade, studies show that around 34% of students struggle to read proficiently. As the achievement gap persists, so does a child's deflated confidence, which may result in kids claiming they "hate spelling and reading." This distaste for language arts can compound as their peers begin spelling bigger words, learning grammar concepts, and book reports become longer and more complex.
Students entering middle school, high school, and college may continue their ongoing struggle in language arts. As they age, the stakes become higher while their challenges may limit their ability to craft compelling essays or articulate their big ideas in academia or, later, in the workforce.
The Solution? Play Word Board Games!
Word game board games do more than help boost scores in language arts; they open doors and help children explore and communicate with the world around them. Playing a word game now can ingrain the confidence kids will need in the future to thrive. Those board games with words help children establish early skills that will one day help them find their creative writing voice, craft a persuasive pitch, and communicate their ideas easily and confidently. Needless to say, literacy skills are essential! When the foundation of spelling, writing, grammar, and reading are enjoyable, it can spark a child's curiosity and transform language arts into a passion that boosts their confidence. Don't know which word game board game to start with? Keep reading for 10 popular reading and spelling game recommendations to get you started.
The Best Word Board Games for Preschoolers
Color Huey & The Four Seasons
Learn colors and early reading in this adorable preschool word game.
2-5 players, ages 3 and up. 10 minute playtime.
Start your preschooler with early reading in this word board game for ages 3 and up. Toddlers explore the four seasons with Huey, the adorable caterpillar, as they match the colorful tokens on his shoes. Flip the board to match the words associated with the colors for a fun adventure in early reading, colors, and seasons!
Lily Pond
Hop into spelling in this preschool word board game.
2-4 players, ages 4 and up. 15 minute playtime.
Let's go on a pond adventure with the preschool word board game, Lily Pond! Your littlest learners will love hopping on lily pad letters as they spell and read primary words around the pond. Race to complete all three cards and hop back to the center to claim victory!
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The Best Word Board Games for Ages 5-6
Clover Leap
Make sentence structuring silly fun with this kindergarten word board game.
2-4 players, ages 5 and up. 30 minute playtime.
Teach your kindergartner how to structure sentences but make it silly with Clover Leap! In this kindergarten word board game, players roll the dice to move their sheep or grab a clover tile. Use the words on the tiles to structure silly sentences for points. Just don't let the dog herd you away from the clover tile you need most!
Spell Trek
Trek around the world in this word board game for young spellers.
2-4 players, ages 6 and up. 30 minute playtime.
Take a voyage into vowels and kindergarten spelling as you trek around the world! Your mission? Journey to help animals find their missing vowels and complete their name cards in this word game board game for adventurous kids! Spell Trek is one of our most popular board games with words for early childhood learning!
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The Best Word Board Games for Ages 7 and Up
ARTributes
An artfully fun guess the word board game.
3-6 players, ages 7 and up. 30 minute playtime.
Ready, set--draw and use vocabulary skills in this fun guess the word board game that feels more like play than language arts!
Select two cards to combine descriptive words. Now, get ready to unleash your imagination and draw your masterpiece while players try to guess what you are drawing. The first to 15 points wins the ultimate doodle duel.
Letter Slide
A word board game that helps kids splash into spelling!
2-4 players, ages 7 and up. 20 minute playtime.
Splash into consonants and vowels in this spelling and reading game that plays like a day at the water park! Before the sand timer runs out, spell as many four-letter words as you can with the letters on your card! Boost your spelling, vocabulary, and knowledge of consonants and vowels while you're at it. How many words can you make before time runs out?
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The Best Word Board Games for Ages 8+
Gumball Words
A word board game that is a bubble gum blast!
2-4 players, ages 8 and up. 30 minute playtime.
Spell your way through this magnetic gumball machine as you follow the paths, make your moves, collect tiles, and spell the biggest words with the highest points. Don't blow your chance to spell as sticky fingers take letters from the gumball machine with each turn, limiting your options. Looking for more board word games for ages 8 and up? Click here.
Linkity
A word association card game that links up words!
3-8 players, ages 8 and up. 15 minute playtime.
While not a word association board game, this word-association card game makes language arts portable and hilarious for children ages 8 and up. Think fast to play letter cards and shout words starting with that letter. The tricky part? Saying words relevant to the ever-changing category. Stay on your toes, because every play can switch up the category in the blink of an eye!
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The Best Word Board Games for Family Game Night!
Asymbol
A guess the word board game you build in 3-D!
3-6 players, ages 8 and up. 30 minute playtime.
This guess the word board game will have players building subjects from simple shapes while others try to guess the word associated with the creation. Is it surfing? A safari? A worm? The correct guesser and builder earn points, and the player with the most points wins!
Get 4 & Score
A word board game meets race against time!
2-8 players, ages 8 and up. 20-30 minute playtime.
Pick a category card and set the hourglass timer! Quickly list a word for each of the 4 letter cards to score points. Each letter card carries a value that determines the points you earn. Pick and choose your words carefully as you race against the timer to Get 4 and Score. Looking for more board word games for family game night? Click here.
Board games with words are the ultimate way to help kids improve their reading, spelling, and grammar skills through the power of play! Language arts can be a subject a child either loves or hates, but through word board games, you give them the tools to find passion and joy in learning. Word board games also expand vocabulary, improve spelling and reading skills, and boost literacy confidence. A world of wonder awaits children who feel confident enough to read and express themselves freely through writing and communication. Board game words help engage students through tangible play and sets them up for success in the classroom and future workforce. Ready to help children thrive with a word board game?
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