Spark Children’s Curiosity Through the Power of Play!
Written by: Liza Gresko, Mom and PR Specialist at Moss Tucker Group
Do you find yourself curious about things? Ever take a minute to wonder “why does that do that?” or “why does this happen?”
Many think curiosity is something only kids have time for; a childhood phase. But it’s actually a lifelong tool for learning, discover and confidence that should begin in childhood in order to continue the rest of our lives.
When kids are encouraged to wonder who? what? why? and “how does that work?” they develop the tools they need to think deeply about things, ask great questions, and solve real-life problems.
According to ScienceDirect.com, child development experts alike stress the value of nurturing curiosity and creativity in everyday experiences, not just in classrooms but at home in play and exploration.
At SimplyFun, we believe that play isn’t just fun, it’s actually purposeful. Our thoughtfully crafted games are designed to spark curiosity, inspire creative kids, and engage curious kids across different ages and interests.
Whether your child loves animals, geography, social sciences, or strategy, there’s a game that will not only entertain but also ignite questions that lead to deeper learning.
Why Curiosity is Important
Curiosity is the spark that leads children to explore the world around them and to grow into confident, creative adults. When kids ask questions and are encouraged to seek answers, they:
- Build critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Develop resilience and adaptability
- Learn to connect ideas across subjects
- Experience joy and excitement in learning itself
Curiosity drives children to explore, discover, and engage with their environment, whether it’s through play, reading, experimenting, or conversation. These experiences create pathways to both creativity and academic success.
Think of curiosity as a muscle: the more we engage it, the stronger it becomes. And one of the most powerful ways to strengthen curiosity is to play in a way that challenges and delights. Everything from strategic ecosystem games to globe-spanning geography adventures have a way of inspiring questions and creativity curiosity without effort.
Our Favorite Games That Inspire Curious Kids
Our games are designed to do more than fill a rainy afternoon or check off academic criteria. These fun-filled board games help kids explore real concepts like ecosystems, geography, history, and strategic thinking.
Here we highlight a few of our top board game picks that can help you foster curiosity in fun and meaningful ways:
SavannaScapes
2-5 players • 30 min • 8 & up
If your child is fascinated by animals they see on TV or in books, why not bring that curiosity to life through gameplay?
In SavannaScapes, children explore the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem and its incredible wildlife. Players strategically place species tiles to create perfect habitats and earn points by meeting animal needs and event tiles. Children must master the ecosystem to score the most points.
Made for ages 8+, SavannaScapes is good for developing knowledge of ecosystems as players learn about the different habitats of the Serengeti-Mara region and how the animals, plants and environmental events interact with each other.
SavannaScapes also helps players learn Strategy Skills as they move around the play area choosing animal, plant, or event tiles to score points and build their ecosystems. Questions are automatically inspired like:
- Why does this animal need this habitat?
- How do changes in the environment affect different species?
- What happens if one part of the ecosystem is missing?
Players don’t just memorize facts, they experience decision-making and ecological balance. The fun doesn’t stop when the game ends: curious kids will want to research real animals, watch documentaries, or build their own habitat models together. Because SavannaScapes involves so much decision making, including predicting what others will do, it may help to encourage children to "Wait. Look. Think." This will help them spend time enough time considering options and implications of different possible decisions. This will also help with impulsivity and planning. Using such verbal cues can give children a model for approaching future play as well as complex life choices.
Let's Jet!
2-5 players • 30 min • 8 & up
For kids who love maps, travel, or fun facts, Let’s Jet! is a world-traveling adventure packed with geography and discovery. Players explore neighboring countries, rack up points, and discover amazing world facts. Children will love to become a geography wiz while traveling the globe and learning about exciting destinations.
Visit exotic locations from around the world, and earn a point for each destination you stop at. Visit the right combination of locations to receive helpful bonuses. The most well-traveled player wins! This game is perfect for:
- Ages 8 and up
- Encouraging curiosity about different cultures, places, and global geography
- Inspiring questions like What’s it like in Tokyo? or Why is this landmark famous?
It is easy for children to ignore the factual aspects of the game, so parents and educators play an important role in ensuring that the facts are read and enjoyed. Let children explore the board before playing to discuss where they have been or may want to go because they have heard about it. Educators can introduce children to geography concepts of continents, countries, states, cities and capitals.
Eagle Chase
2-5 players • 30 min • 10 & up
For older kids or those intrigued by the story of this country, Eagle Chase combines geography, history, and strategy into an exciting journey across the United States. Players discover fascinating geography and history as they visit iconic and hidden spots. Roll the dice, play cards, and chase the Eagle for extra points. Be the player to rack up the most points as you visit all the famous sites and win!
Children will love learning about fascinating facts about geography and culture, and have them read aloud and talk about what they’ve learned.
This game turns questions like:
- Where is that state located?
- What important event happened there?
into springboards for more curiosity. After a round, families can look up historical figures, read books, or watch age-appropriate documentaries which helps continue the conversation sparked by play.
How Play Fuels Curiosity Across Ages
Not all curiosity looks the same at every age. Our offerings provide some entry points and challenges tailored to different stages of development.
For Younger Kids (Ages 5–8)
At this stage, curiosity shows up as Why? questions and wonder about animals, plants, and everyday phenomena. Simple games, puzzles, and nature walks can nurture that spark. Asking open-ended questions during play like What do you see? or What do you think will happen next? helps extend their thinking.
Games like simplified map puzzles and animal trivia can introduce basic concepts while keeping play joyful and social.
For Middle-Grade Learners (Ages 8–12)
This group thrives on strategy, challenge, and exploration. Games like SavannaScapes and Let’s Jet! invite critical thinking and world knowledge. At this age, kids enjoy building systems, planning ahead, and exploring “big ideas” so providing them the opportunity to play games that put them in the driver’s seat of those processes are especially powerful.
Curiosity here becomes sort of like research in motion. Kids play, learn a fact they don’t fully understand, and then want to know more, which is exactly the learning loop we love to see.
For Teens (Ages 13+)
Older kids often want deeper context and implications. History and geography games like Eagle Chase give them both fun gameplay and opportunities to research further. Teens can connect gaming experiences to real world events, cultures, and even future travel dreams.
Encouraging this kind of curiosity builds not just knowledge it builds understanding and life goals for future learning and memory-making.
Tips for Parents: Turn Playtime Into Exploration
Board games can be powerful tools and you can amplify the learning even more with a few intentional habits:
Rather than answering every question your child asks, turn it back to them:
- “What do you think happens next?”
- “Why do you think that animal needs that habitat?”
This kind of dialogue strengthens thinking skills and invites curiosity to unfold.
If a game introduces a fun fact or place, follow it up:
- Look up videos or books about the Serengeti after SavannaScapes.
- Find travel clips for a city visited in Let’s Jet!
- Read a U.S. history book or take a look at a U.S. map after playing Eagle Chase.
Curious kids will sometimes ask big questions without clear answers. That’s okay! The goal isn’t to get every answer right, it’s to enjoy the process of exploration and to encourage kids to keep asking questions.
At its best, play connects joy with discovery. It helps kids ask powerful questions, explore meaningful topics, and build a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.
Games that inspire curiosity don’t just make for fun nights in or rainy game day activities, they’re actually gateways into new worlds, new thoughts, and new curiosity.
Whether your child is inspired by animals, history, geography, strategy, or all of the above, the right game can turn wonder into learning and play into growth.
Shop: Social Sciences & Studies Games
Read: The Lasting Benefits of Play in Childhood Growth
