family games Archives - NAPPA Awards

June 2, 2026 by NAPPA Awards Team

As we say goodbye to backpacks and homework and hello to long summer days, water fun and relaxed family time, let’s turn our backyards into the place all the kids want to be.

We know you’ll love these NAPPA Award-winning products as much as we do.

Water Fun

Swimways Monster Jam Wild Whippin’ Sprinkler
Bring the Monster Jam stadium to your backyard for epic water fun. Features 360° donut spraying power, whipping in a complete circle and soaking everything in its path. For endless ways to play, the truck is removable from the sprinkler stand with fully working wheels. $21.99, ages 4+, target.com

Swimways Rainbow Reef Shark

Introducing Finn Diesel, the newest addition to the Rainbow Reef collection that swims like a real shark! Designed with realistic swimming features and patterns, this water-activated toy allows you to turn your pool into an ocean reef. $21.99, ages 5+, amazon.com

40W Waterfall

Turn your pool into a waterfall. Carefully crafted to be corrosion-resistant and oxidation-resistant. $127.99, amazon.com

Scotts Water Squirting Lawnmower

This interactive toy lawnmower doesn’t just roll—it squirts water, adding a splash of fun to pretend yard work. With realistic dials and moving wheels, kids can feel like true gardeners as they “mow” the lawn just like grown-ups. $39.99, ages 3+, red-toolbox.com

Games & Creativity

Giant Outdoor Spirograph
Transform your backyard or sildwalk into a giant canvas for dazzling spiral creations with chalk. The jumbo wheel and gear make it easy to spin out bold designs, perfect for young artists. $24.99, ages 5+, amazon.com

Giant Color Stack Challenge

Add to your backyard fun with this oversized, fast-paced puzzle. With 50 challenge cards, players race to build color-coded towers against the clock, mixing active play with smart, STEM-style problem solving. $59.99, ages 8+, amazon.com

Cone Toss

A portable lawn game designed for easy, social play. Toss cones into the net to score points but stack a cone on an opponent’s cone and you steal their points. Everything packs into a compact carry case, making it perfect for the backyard, park or beach. $59.99, ages 8+, vangotoys.com

Giant Tower Stack

Inspired by the viral Tower Stack game. Transforms the stacking challenge into a larger-than-life outdoor experience. Players roll the die and strategically place blocks on a rocking balance board base, building a tower up to 4 feet tall without toppling it, creating suspenseful, laugh-out-loud fun for players of all ages. Easy to take on the go with a convenient carrying bag. $69.99, ages 8+, relatable.com

Get Active

Priority Start 20” Bike
Explore varied terrain this summer. Designed with parents in mind, it features a smooth, low-maintenance ride. A lightweight aluminum frame, puncture-resistant tires, and kid-specific geometry ensure durability, safety and confidence. Designed to grow with your child. $399, ages 6+, prioritybicycles.com

Koosh Bow Launcher
The lightweight bow is easy to hold and launch and the soft Koosh arrows are perfect for indoor or outdoor play. Simply loop, pull and launch to hit the included pop-out targets and rack up points. $19.99, ages 5+, target.com

Candy Scented Swirl Hoop
Each hoop is scented with bubblegum and cotton candy, adding a delicious twist to classic hoop play. Fun for kids and parents. Comes in three sizes. $5, ages 3+, kess.com

Floraxa Kids Gardening Set

Introduce the love of nature with this 8-piece kids’ gardening set. Includes metal tools with wooden handles, a watering can, gloves, a reinforced bag and a sturdy metal basket. $24.99, ages 3+, amazon.com

Candy Bouncy Scented 8″ Ball

Blow up the fan favorite 4-inch candy bouncy to a brand new 8-inch outdoor ball, with all the color and great scents that our customers already love. A burst of fruity fun in every bounce. Each ball is infused with a candy-inspired scent you’ll love. Choose from lemon, blueberry, strawberry, or grape. $5, ages 3+, kess.com

For more summer fun products, check out our Summer Fun & Travel Guide.

January 28, 2025 by NAPPA Awards Team

KOKODI Kids’ Interactive Learning Books with Reading Pen

An innovative learning device that enhances children’s language development and cognitive skills through interactive reading. With voice guidance and touch interaction, the pen encourages independent learning and improves expression and sensory development. $47.99, ages 3+, kokoditoys.com

BusyKid

Give kids hands-on experience at earning, saving, donating, spending and investing real allowance. Available on any mobile device, parents can help teach their kids how to manage money through chores and allowance. $48/annually, ages 5+, busykid.com

ByPass

Embark on a thrilling race to construct a smooth, continuous road from opposite ends of the gameboard. Brace yourself for twists and turns, stay adaptable to dodge traffic cones and strategize your path. $36, ages 8+, simplyfun.com

July 11, 2024 by

JoinAround Puzzle, Zoo

Featuring four levels of complexity, it’s perfect for the whole family. Youngsters conquer big pieces, while older kids and adults tackle the smaller ones. Work together to complete the puzzle and once done, flip the box over and enjoy four bonus games. $24.99, ages 4+, pennycake.com

Math Path Monster

Teamwork and math skills equal victory in this new cooperative game. Deep in the mountains, players stumble upon the Math Monster’s lair and must beat them in an epic race to the cave entrance. $19.99, ages 6+, amazon.com

Rush Hour World Tour Magnetic Travel Puzzle

Visit 10 incredible landmarks across the globe as you embark on an adventure of logic and strategy. Packed in a compact travel edition to enjoy anywhere. $19.99, ages 8+, amazon.com

That’s Not a Hat

The ultimate bluffing card game. Receive and regift items in this deceptively simple card game of having the world’s best memory…or convincing everyone you do. $10.99, ages 8+, amazon.com

Kids on the Go Card Set

A fun set of card games that introduces young players to taking turns, recognizing colors, shapes, numbers and letters. Includes a convenient tote bag perfect for out and about. $49, ages 4+, simplyfun.com

May 2, 2024 by NAPPA Awards Team

Run Beaver Run

Full of excitement and anticipation with each roll. For 2 to 4 players. Includes 4 beaver playing pieces, 1 fold-up gameboard case for easy, on-the-go play, 2 dice, 1 log, 1 log release lever and instructions. $29.99, ages 5+, lukilab.com

Mycelia

An enchanting introduction to deck-building games, players assemble a team of wondrous mushroom folk to help you on your mission to collect the magical dewdrops from your forest to the Shrine of Life. Play solo or with up to four players. $39.99, ages 9+, amazon.com

Sudoku 5×5

Elevate your puzzle-solving experience with this colorful and shapely sudoku magnetic travel game. Arrange the colors, numbers, and shapes to solve each puzzle. With 40 challenges with progressive difficulty, the game is perfect for new gamers or seasoned Sudoku players. $14.99, ages 8+, thinkfun.com

Marvel WordARound

A fast-paced card game that challenges players to see who can read the word-wheel the quickest. From Spider-Man to Captain Marvel to the mighty Thanos, you’ll have to use your Marvel trivia knowledge to recognize the words and call them out first. $14.99, ages 10+, amazon.com

Trio

A clever card game that’s full of surprises. Can you find three of a kind? Reveal two cards – either from the middle, or by asking any player for their lowest or highest card. If you find a pair, keep playing. Get three of a kind and collect the trio. $14.99, ages 8+, happycamper.games

February 6, 2024 by NAPPA Awards Team

Games can enhance connection, build social skills, support critical reasoning skills and simply add more fun to our daily family activities.

Congratulations to these recent NAPPA Award winners:

Smart Sudoku

A hand-held game featuring 2500 paperless puzzles across 5 difficulty levels. The interactive grid provides instant answer checking, auto-timing and connective battle functions to enhance the puzzle-solving experience. $56, ages 4-adults, giiker.com

Waffle Time

Draft combinations of fruit toppings and whipped cream to load up your waffle. Create patterns to spread syrup for scoring points. What you draft not only affects your score, but also your turn order and how much syrup you can use. $39.99, ages 10+, alderac.com

Prickly Path

Join the coyote for a stroll through the desert to admire the beautiful groups of wild cacti in bloom. A fun family strategy and decision-making game that can be played in 20 minutes. $36, ages 8+, simplyfun.com

My Mine

Eureka, you have struck gold! Try to mine as many nuggets as you can in this board game, but beware—the other miners will also be trying to stake their claim and may even try to take some of yours. $30, ages 6+, simplyfun.com

Nanodoodle Doodle Board

Make up your own games with this portable LCD writing tablet that can be attached anywhere—clip to school bags or suitcases and take creativity on the road. Parents can also use it as a memo note for shopping lists. $19.99, ages 5+, mytekfun.com

For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com.

February 14, 2023 by

Who said you always need technology to have? Check out these NAPPA Award Winners for loads of entertaining activities that don’t require a screen.

DISO Podcast

Share magical stories with your kids in the spirit of the golden days of radio. Available in English, Spanish and French. Narrated by professional actors. $3.99, ages 3+, podcasts.apple.com

Go Fish US History

Takes everyone’s favorite childhood card game and combines it with US History. No longer do you ask, “Any 4’s?” Now you ask, “any presidents?” Not do you have any kings but rather, “Do you have any Scientists, Authors, Sports Legends, Women in History? 11.99. ages 7+, KosoGames.com

Make-A-Fort Explorer Kit

You can make 5 of our Creations including forts, mazes, houses, and more. Let your imagination run wild and design your own. $94.99, ages 4+, makeafort.fun

Story Time Chess

Teaches chess to young children using silly stories, vibrant illustrations, custom chess pieces and a unique chessboard. No chess experience is required for parents or children. Makes learning to play simple and fun. $39.99, ages 3+, storytimechess.com

Dino Super Dome

Transform your little one’s playroom into a prehistoric playground. Dinosaurs roam all four walls of this play tent and they come to life with the lifelike roar button. Also includes 6 dino toys and LED lights with remote control. $44.99, ages 4-7, amazon.com

Scenties

Colorful accessories with a fun twist. The hair ties, headbands, scrunchies and face mask ear loops and mask bands are fragranced with playful scents like Cotton Candy and Vanilla Cupcake. Stretch ’em, sniff ’em, wear ’em, and share ’em. $8, ages 4-12, scenties.com

Freshwater Tank

Have you ever dreamed of making your freshwater aquarium? Now you can with this fun and educational board game. With 155 different freshwater fish and 100 incidents, see for yourself what fish you would want to have and how to take care of them. The goal of the game is to become the first person to create a compatible fish tank with 10 fish. $39.99, ages 6+, amazon.com

Bedtime Defenderz

Vigilant and fierce plush heroes that battle villains hiding in the dark. Help kids overcome bedtime fears. Comes with a comic book, a power band slap bracelet, and a glow-in-the-dark belt buckle to help kiddos feel safe and secure at night. $29.99, ages 3-7, bedtimedefenderz.com

April 28, 2022 by Elena Epstein

Building A Family Culture of Play

Watching a child build a fort with blocks or a whole imaginary world with sand buckets at the beach is a study in concentration and learning. Play is how kids learn – about the world, about their connection to other people and about themselves.

Giving kids the free time to play is critical for their development, and having different opportunities to play is also important. Outdoor adventures, pretend play, solo and group play all help cultivate different skills, including fine and gross motor development, cognitive and social-emotional learning skills.

We encourage parents to seek out opportunities to play with their kids. This shared time of doing something together just for fun builds lasting bonds and allows a safe space for open communication to grow.

At the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA Awards) we have a front row view of how important play is. We often hear from our parent toy and game evaluators how connected they felt to their children when playing a certain game and how happy they are to have discovered this new (and fun) way to interact with their child.

Kids Grow Through Play

Parents also often tell us that they can see their child’s growth in a variety of ways through play. They see empathy come through when their child gently cares for their cuddly stuffed animals, and they see enhanced concentration and social connection when playing a board game together as a family.

Our lives as parents are hectic. There is so much to do in the day – work, meal prep, school and other activities and just keeping our house together. Taking the time to come together as a family and play a game is one of the best ways to connect and for everyone to destress.

Play as a Family

Start a family tradition of game nights (or weekend mornings if that works better) for your family. Start it when your kids are toddlers and continue it through the teen years and adulthood. Seek out games and activities that you enjoy together as a family and make the time for it at least once a week. When you’re on vacation, take some games with you for in-between activities and after dinner. The goal is to create a consistent culture of fun.

While your kids are enhancing their strategic and critical thinking skills through these games, you’re building connections as a family and showing your kids that you genuinely enjoy their company – that’s a feeling they will carry with them always.

Elena Epstein is a mom of two and the director of the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA Awards), which has been celebrating the best in games and toys for more than 32 years.

December 16, 2020 by

One of our favorite childhood memories is looking through toy catalogs and circling the ones we loved and hoped would arrive wrapped with a big bow. Flipping through the pages and dreaming about each item was a big part of the whole holiday experience – the anticipation of something wonderful. We want to give you that feeling again with our Jingle Holiday Gift Guide. We have been busy all year testing and evaluating to bring you this wonderful collection featuring more than 250 award-winning toys, games, books, family music and other unique finds. NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 30 years. This year’s selection includes products with positive messages of kindness, inclusion and community – products that celebrate diversity and uniqueness. This year, watching those smiles on our kids’ faces when they rip open their holiday gifts will be even more special. Happy Gifting!

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Gifts with a Positive Message
Unique finds, including items perfect for those who love cozy and warm
Toys to spark imagination
Products that are all about creativity
Outdoor Fun
Book, music and games

July 1, 2020 by

Ready for some family fun! Check out these new NAPPA Award winners!

The Rank Game by Storyastic

A super-fun game about YOU and your people–and your likes and dislikes. How well do you know each other? Can your teammate guess your RANK? $30.00, ages 8+, storyastic.com

StickTogether Mosaic Puzzle

Like paint-by-numbers, but with stickers! A great activity for the whole family, maker spaces, community-building events, reading challenges, and more! $36.00, ages 5+, letsticktogether.com

Ice Tumble

The first player to successfully place all of their ice blocks and their fox pawn on the sculpture wins the game. The blocks are slippery so be careful or the sculpture may come tumbling down. $36.00, ages 7+, simplyfun.com

Crystal Cup Rally

A fun three-dimensional game that will have players practicing their planning skills and adapting to new conditions. Race around the track, planning which paths to take in order to get ahead. $38.00, ages 7+, simplyfun.com

The Game Plan Game

Addresses every day teachable moments that aim to normalize conversations around safety and flexible thinking through the medium of a board game. $19.99, ages 4+, gameplangame.com

For more award-winning products, visit NAPPAAwards.com

June 15, 2020 by

This summer will be different, but as parents we need to do all we can to create fun and a sense of calm for our kids. So this summer, turn your backyard into the FUN ZONE! Our NAPPA Awards Guide to Summer Fun is here to help you bring that carefree vibe home. We have toys, family games, music, recipes and much more. Happy Summer!