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Games for a 7 Year Old

By the age of seven, a child has entered school and achieved many developmental milestones that broaden the range of games appropriate for him. He generally enjoys a large variety of activities, has a basic understanding of math and counting, can follow multi-step directions, and has acquired some basic reading skills. In general, children this age also enjoy playing with others and sharing.

Board Games
- Classic games that have entertained children for years still find favor with today's children. Since children this age just started mastering basic math and reading skills, they enjoy games that involve these skills. Classic board games for this age include Connect Four, Candyland, Bingo, Memory and Trouble.
  
  Some games for older players now have junior editions that make them suitable for 7-year-old children. Monopoly, Jr. and Scrabble, Jr. are two such games. Use a reputable source such as the Parent's Choice Awards organization to help you find new games that have met with the approval of other parents and children (see Resources). Secrets of the Sea and Monster Math, two games suitable for 7-year-olds, earned Spring 2009 Parent's Choice Awards.
Active Games
- Children this age enjoy the challenge of a scavenger hunt. Label a list with words and pictures of the items they need to find. Send them out in pairs around the room, yard or house to find them.
  
  Charades provides another active choice for 7-year-olds. Have the words or pictures of the items on small pieces of paper. Be ready to whisper the charade word or object in the child's ear if she does not understand.
  
  Hopscotch boards can provide hours of fun. Allow the children to create the boards with sidewalk chalk after you model how to draw one.
  
  Active sports-oriented games are appropriate. Consider relay races,which might include a wet sponge relay. Children run with a wet sponge to a bucket, squeeze it out in the bucket and run back to place the sponge back in water, ready for the next person. The team with the most water in the bucket at the game's end wins. Many sports games can be played using inexpensive household items. Create bowling games from empty plastic soda bottles and a rubber ball. Play volleyball with a balloon over an imaginary net or piece of string tied between two trees.
Technology Games
- Many video games remain too difficult for 7-year-olds. but they can play several games created specifically for young children. The Wii system offers Wii Sports. This game provides both an active and video game component suitable for this age child. Other games created for the computer and suitable for 7-year-olds include Ultimate I Spy and Hasbro Family Game Night.
  
  Several websites offer online games suitable for this age group. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) offers an extensive index of games for young school-aged children (see Resources). Children find many popular PBS characters in the games. Another online site for children this age includes Fun Brain (see Resources), where quality graphics and sound make learning seem like play.

Kids Games