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Games to Play with Grandparents and Grandchildren

Some of the best time a grandparent and a grandchild spend together is spent around a game. A game gives you something to do with your hands, something to laugh about and an easy reason to sit side by side. It works when you live far apart, too. Here are 15 games that suit both ages, whether the grandchild is six or sixteen, and whether you share a sofa or live in different states.

1. Checkers

Checkers is the classic first strategy game. Young children learn the moves in a few minutes, and older children soon start planning jumps two moves ahead. On ElderWit.com you can team up against a gentle computer and take turns choosing the move, or play each other live with Play together.

2. Four in a Row

Drop your discs and try to get four in a row across, down or on a slant. Each game is short, so it is easy to say one more. It is one of the Play together games, so a grandchild can join from home on their own phone or tablet.

3. Dots and Boxes

Take turns drawing lines. Close a box to win it and go again. It looks simple, but it rewards patience, which makes it a fair match between ages. You can play it live with Play together as well.

4. Tic Tac Toe

The quickest game to teach the youngest players. A round takes a minute or two, and each game is three rounds. It is a good warm up before a longer game.

5. Go Fish and Old Maid

These are the family card games most of us learned first. "Do you have any sevens?" is a question every child enjoys asking. Both are easy to follow on a big screen, and both give young players practice with matching and counting.

6. Crazy Eights

Match the suit or the number, and play an eight to pick the suit. Children like the moment they get to change the suit, and it moves quickly enough to hold their attention.

7. Dominoes

Match the ends of the line and try to play all your dominoes. Counting the dots is part of the fun for younger players, and older players can think about which piece to keep for later.

8. Picture Pairs

Take turns turning over two cards. Find a matching pair and you go again. Choose Easy with a young child, or Harder for a real contest with a teenager.

9. I See Something

Find every thing in the picture that fits the clue. Say the clue out loud and look together. It is a calm game for a small child on a grandparent's lap.

10. Twenty Questions

The game thinks of a thing, and you ask yes or no questions to find it. Take turns asking, and talk about which question will narrow it down fastest.

11. Would You Rather

Pick one of two nice things. There are no wrong answers, and the best part is hearing why. It is a gentle way to learn what a grandchild loves right now.

12. Spin and Share

Spin a slow wheel to get a topic, then share a story. Grandchildren often love hearing what school, games or holidays were like when their grandparents were young, and grandparents get to hear about life today.

13. Guess the Word

Pick letters to find a hidden word while a flower grows. Take turns choosing letters, and guess the word out loud together.

14. Jigsaw and Coloring

Not every game needs a winner. A jigsaw puzzle or a coloring page is a quiet thing to do together at the end of a busy day. You tap a color and then tap the picture, so there is no mess.

15. Who Is This? with your own photos

The My Photos games use your own family pictures. Add a few photos of cousins, aunts and uncles, then look at a photo and pick the name that goes with it. It is a lovely way to share family stories.

Playing when you live far apart

Play together lets you play one live game with a grandchild on another phone or tablet. You take turns and you both see the same board. You start the game and send a link or a short code. The person you invite does not need an account and plays at no cost. Starting a game is part of an ElderWit plan. The Play together games are Checkers, Four in a Row, Dots and Boxes, Tic Tac Toe and Trivia Duel. Many families pair a game with a phone or video call so they can talk while they play.

Tips for a good game together

• Let the younger player teach you a rule. Children love being the expert.
• Pick short games, and stop while everyone is still having fun.
• Make the text bigger with the A+ and A++ buttons at the top of the screen.
• Team up against the computer when you want to play on the same side.
• Use Easy for young children and move up a level when they are ready.

Games to try

Tap a name to play. Every game has three levels: Easy, Medium and Harder.

• Checkers Play checkers against a gentle computer. Jump to take pieces.
• Four in a Row Drop your discs. Get four in a row across, down or on a slant.
• Dots and Boxes Take turns drawing lines. Close a box to win it and go again.
• Go Fish Ask the computer for cards. Collect all four of a kind to make a book.
• Old Maid The family card game of pairs. Draw a card from the next hand, put your pairs down, and try not to be left holding the odd queen.
• Crazy Eights Match the suit or the number. An eight lets you pick a new suit.
• Dominoes Match the ends of the line. Play all your dominoes to win.
• Picture Pairs Turn over two cards at a time. Find the matching pictures.
• I See Something I spy with my little eye. Find every thing in the picture that fits the clue.
• Twenty Questions I am thinking of a thing. Ask yes or no questions to find it.
• Would You Rather Pick one of two nice things. There are no wrong answers.
• Spin and Share Spin a slow wheel to get a topic. Then share a story.
• Guess the Word Guess the letters of a hidden word. A flower grows as you go.
• Jigsaw Put a picture back together, one piece at a time.
• Who Is This? Look at a photo and pick the name that goes with it.

Questions people ask

More guides

• Brain Games for Seniors
• Online Games for Seniors
• Games for Seniors to Play Alone
• Large Print Games for Seniors
• Easy Games for Seniors
• Activities for Seniors at Home
• Games for Assisted Living Residents
• Gifts for Grandparents Who Have Everything

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