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Kids Games for Ages 13 & Above

Teenagers are at a point in their lives where they are exploring who they are, what they like, and what does and doesn't work for them. Games for teens should give them a chance to use their creativity and ingenuity and to step outside the boundaries of childhood to try new things. Different things will challenge different kids, so encourage your teen to try a variety of games to see what she likes.

Scavenger Hunt
- A scavenger hunt keeps a group of kids entertained and busy for a long time. To play, divide the kids up into teams of two or three people each. Give each team a list of items to find within a set amount of time. Establish rules about how and where the teams can search for the items, such as no entering private homes and teams must stay together. Teams can gather items in one of two ways. They can either collect the actual items or they can use camera phones to get pictures of the items on the list. Lists can include such things as a blue flower, a safety pin, a piece of yellow rope, etc. When time is up, compare what the teams have found. The winning team is the one who has found the most items on the list. Be prepared to award duplicate prizes in case of a tie.
Giuthi
- Giuthi is one of a group of mancala games that is played with a mancala board and 60 seeds. This game is fairly involved and usually takes about an hour to play. Giuthi is played by "sowing" six seeds into each pot on the board. The first player moves six seeds from one pot and sows them into the next six pots immediately left or right of the starting point. The direction reverses with every play and the game continues until the last empty pot has seeds sown into it. Playing giuthi requires attention to detail and the use of strategy. Teens who like detailed games will enjoy playing this form of mancala and trying to outwit an opponent.
Dungeons and Dragons
- D&D online is an updated version of the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game which was popular in the 1970s. In the original version, players got together to create elaborate game scenarios controlled by the game master. The game master set the rules for the session, and players brought props and costumes to aid them in playing their roles. Part of the popularity of D&D, past and present, is that you are free to do almost anything you can imagine. For the online version, players can create a free account, which, although it has some limits, does allow truly free game play and does not require a credit card to set up. Parents need to be aware that teens can interact with other players and unmonitored conversations can occur during the course of this game. Dungeons and Dragons has different online versions, so when you sign up, be sure to choose the free game, not a free trial, which may have a time limit of from seven to 30 days.

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