Many games can teach kids many lessons. They can teach them how to analyze situations, do math, distinguish between colors, strategize, etc.… Below are fantastic games to help kids understand how to organize. These games would also be great for gifts.
Amazing Games that Show Organizing Skills
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The Pickup Sticks game
It shows fine motor skills. This game helps kids look at things more closely and, therefore, determine different ways to do tasks by determining similarities and differences.
Benefits for organizing: This game helps kids examine the tasks more closely and figure out how to move them without interrupting the others. It allows them to see the cause and effect of their actions.
Where can I buy it? Here are four types of pick-up stick games from Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate):
Buy Now → (Affiliate Link)
Hedbanz game
It shows how to think analytically and approach topics. Having to describe the card above, the person's head will help them find similarities in different objects. They can define an object by saying, "This object is in a kitchen to help you make dinner."
Benefits for organizing: When they look at the image and describe it to the other kids, they have to group items in their minds. What do the pieces in this item look like? What items do the same thing as this one? Without saying what the object is, this step helps them figure out other similarities this object has with different things without telling the other objects' names.
Where can I buy it? Here are Hedbaz game options from Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate):
Kids Game: HedBanz Game 2nd Edition
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Mousetrap game
It helps kids develop fine motor skills while promoting imagination in the process.
Benefits for organizing: This game shows how different items can go in a sequence and have different outcomes. Putting pieces in one order doesn't necessarily mean using a different order will result in the same outcome.
Where can I buy it? Below are game options you can purchase from Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate).
Kids Game: Hasbro Gaming Mouse Trap Kids Board Game
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Tetris game
Pick a board game or a video game. You put the different-shaped blocks in a row without any holes. You get points for every row you complete.
Benefits for organizing: Helps kids fit shapes together without overlapping them. It helps them realize wasted space and ways to fit items together to decrease wasted space.
Where can I buy it? Below are the various versions of Tetris from Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate).
Kid Game: 3 otters Puzzle, 2 Sets of Wooden Puzzle Tangram
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Sort It Out game
This game sorts objects into categories by specific parameters.
Benefits for organizing: It helps with sorting objects by similarities. Knowing how to sort is crucial when it comes to organizing. This game allows your child to practice sorting items into groups.
Where can I buy it? Below are options for Sort It Out games from Amazon (Affiliate Link) (affiliate).
Kids Game: UNIVERSITY GAMES BOX-Sort It Out Board Game
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Kanoodle 3-D Brain Teaser Puzzle Game
This game helps sharpen spatial reasoning and critical thinking skills.
Benefits for organizing: It helps develop the ability to see a two—or three-dimensional object and then mentally manipulate it, which will help children organize a space visually by looking at the components.
Where can I buy it? Below are game options you can purchase from Amazon (affiliate).
Kids Game: Educational Insights Kanoodle Genius 3-D Puzzle Game
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Pop It Fidget Toys
These games will help kids control their energy. It allows them to manage their energy and may even help with anxiety.
Benefits for organizing: People tend to get nervous when organizing a space, so allowing them to relax by using a Pop It may help them see their space not as a challenge but as a game.
Where can I buy it? Below are game options you can purchase from Amazon (affiliate).
Buy Now → (Affiliate Link)
The Game of Life Board Game
The Game of Life was one of my favorite games. While it may not be as popular these days, it teaches kids about different events in life and what can happen.
Benefits for organizing: This board game helps the child learn about planning and making decisions. It helps them understand things and options of what they can do when they grow up.
Where can I buy it? There are various versions available; below are just a few I found on Amazon (affiliate).
Buy Now → (Affiliate Link)
Uzzle Board Game
UPDATE 2023: I learned about the Uzzle board game last year when scrolling through Facebook. There was an ad, and I thought, what a wonderful way to learn pattern blocks to help you learn how to create patterns from existing cards as fast as possible. My whole family loved it!
Benefits for organizing: It helps you group items together as shown on a card. It helps with problem-solving and cognitive skills. You will improve your sharp eyes, quick thinking ability, strong observation power, and fast hand speed.
Where can I buy it? I found it on Amazon, but you can also buy it on The Uzzle website. Below are the ones I found on Amazon (affiliate).
Buy Now → (Affiliate Link)
The Uzzle Stack Royale Board Game
UPDATE 2023: The next game is by the same The Uzzle Company. But this would have bricks that stack. It reminds me of Jenga. However, each person will make their own design depending on the card drawn from the deck. Whoever finishes the design first is the winner. This is the next board game I will be buying. It is an easy game to learn, too.
Benefits of organizing: It is also a great board game for learning problem-solving skills. It helps kids with thinking skills, sharpened eye observation, quick thinking ability, strong observation power, and fast hand speed.
Where can I buy it? You can buy the game on their website or Amazon (affiliate). See the links below.
Kids Game: The Uzzle Stack Royale Board Game
Buy Now →(Affiliate Link)
Orbito Board Game
UPDATE 2024: The Orbito Board Game (Affiliate Link) is perfect for kids who need to learn adaptability. It is a strategy game for Kids and Adults, intended for kids 7+ or older. It is a two-player game that is easy to plan.
Benefits for organizing: It develops puzzle skills and helps determine new circumstances and ways to change one's thinking.
Where can I buy it? In the U.S., it is only available on Amazon.
Buy Now → (Affiliate Link)
If you are looking for a particular skill you want to teach, search online by using the skill name and adding the word "Games" or "Board Games." There are lots of sites that review games. Here are a few review sites I found.
Using games to introduce your children to organizing will get them into the right mindset. Then, you can teach them in an actual hands-on organization. Start with a small pile so as not to create anxiety about organizing. Help them sort the collection into colors.
Check out my "Find a Pink Button" Experiment to show your child if items are sorted; it will save you time. Please share this with your friends and family too.
Now it is your turn! What games do you like to share with your kids to show them organizing skills? Please leave a message below.
Were you looking for some more information? Visit our large selection of kids' archived posts for tips.
Visit some of our other teaching children to be responsible posts.
DAILY CLEANING CHECKLIST FOR ANY BUSY PARENT - This post shares chores each age group can help teach them the responsibility of cleaning their home.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO DO HOUSEHOLD CHORES - This post shows you how kids can benefit from helping around the house.
SEVEN ORGANIZING GIFT IDEAS FOR TWEENS AND TEENS
Visit these other posts on what I learned about organizing.
6 ORGANIZING LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY DOGS
12 ORGANIZING TIPS I LEARNED AS A KID
Visit our other popular parenting posts on our blog!
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Janet Schiesl says
We both focused on teaching kids to organize this week!
I love all your analogies with the games. I always say that an organizing project is like a game of Tetris to me.
Julie Bestry says
Fascinating. Of the games that existed when I was younger (Pickup Sticks, Life), I'm not sure I appreciated (at the time) how much wisdom they imparted. I'm afraid I've never been great at Tetris (which I've recently learned can help sufferers of anxiety and PTSD); I think my spatial orientation skills suffer when I'm against the clock. But I love how all of these can introduce kids to organizing themes and concepts in a way that's inviting and fun!
Seana Turner says
What a clever thought that playing certain games can help us be better and organizing. Makes sense, as they exercise parts of our brain that are used for executive functioning, sorting, planning, and more.
I played a LOT of Tetris back in the day. I loved it. Now I see that it was right up my alley. So much fun!
Laura says
Children learn best through play! Love these ideas, we have so many of them at home already. 🙂 We actually just broke out pick up sticks the other day for the first time in years (summer boredom) and my kids enjoyed it. 🙂
Julie Stobbe says
Learning through play is one of the best ways to teach children any new skill. Thanks for showing me how to apply it to organizing.
Sabrina Quairoli says
It was my pleasure! This post is consistently updated when I come across new games. =)
Linda Samuels says
I love your list of games to help kids develop organizing skills while having fun. You identified so many of the key skills needed when organizing. I remember when the kids were young, they had sorting box tools. A box had open-shaped windows. They had to find the right-shaped piece to fit into that window. It was also an exercise in sorting and hand-eye coordination.
My friend and colleague, Lynne Poulton developed an awesome game called DeclutterGo. It's great for adults and kids. It takes the organizing game idea into hyperdrive. If you'd like to learn more, here is s link to the game site: https://decluttergo.com
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thanks for commenting and sharing DeclutterGo. I will check it out. =)
Lisa Gessert says
Great concept!! when I taught a class for kids from 9-12 years old I used a sock game using a 3 bin car organizer...asking the kids the sort different types of socks (colored, striped, solid, etc) into the 3 bins, it was interesting to watch them sort in different ways, they learned that they may sort differently but it's all correct when you are keeping like with like....love when they really grasp the concept of organizing and why it is so important! Great blog!
Sabrina Quairoli says
Great idea, Lisa. I found the simpler the game, the easier they can grasp the concepts and apply them to their lives.