Bilingual Family Game Night

It can sometimes be a challenge to find board games and family activities that help you promote bilingualism in your household. Here are 10 perfect games for a night in with family, whether you're speaking Spanish, English or both. Even abuelita will have a great time!

Many bilingual families know this game of strategy as Damas Chinas. One of Abuelita’s favorites! Fun facts about this game: It doesn’t originate from China and it’s not like checkers at all! Designed for two to six players, the object of the game is to get all your marbles to the opposite side before your opponents. New versions of the board offer pegs instead of marbles, making it easier for younger kids to hold and play.

To buy: Amazon, $25

A favorite of the older gentlemen in our family, the tactic game for two or more players, brings my hermano and I great childhood memories of watching tíos play on warm summer nights in Mexico. Today, all the women join too and there are even special designs for kids who are old enough to start matching pictures, numbers or objects and it’s great for practicing numbers in both languages. Mexican train dominoes are also a fun variation of this traditional game.

To buy: Amazon, $14

One of the newer games in town has Latino families hooked! My tía is even enjoying it with her grandkids! Perfect for bilingual families who want to include all ages, the simple game of “Who am I?” has everyone guessing in any language. All you need is two to six players and a fun evening awaits.

To buy: Amazon, $12

The preferred bingo game of almost every Mexican household, lotería can be played with three players or 10! Some families even buy a second set, rearrange the tablas and have more people join. Now that’s a family game night!

To buy: Direct from Mexico, $9

It’s exciting when you can turn a game around and play it in Spanish as well as English! One Up is similar to Scrabble, except you can steal your opponents’ words by adding a letter to create a new word—and it is easier for families with younger kids. It can be played anywhere, too. This game is perfect for new spellers and vacationing with the whole extended family!

To buy: Uppityshirts, $15

A game known around the world, pick-up sticks can be played in any language and remains as popular as ever. We love it because it reminds us of playing as children and that surely starts conversations in our casita every single time.

To buy: Amazon, $9

Another newer game that will definitely will stand the test of time is Spot It! This visual perception game, for two to eight people, has five different challenge levels. Our local toy store owner recommends it every time as they (and their four grandchildren) love to spot the one symbol in common between two or more cards. This game is easy to carry around as well, which makes it perfect when visiting toda la familia, and can be an excellent way for the kids to build vocabulary in both languages.

To buy: Amazon, $11

Table Topics is an awesome game for casual or impromptu game nights, and a great conversation starter for the whole familia. Just pick up a card and listen to what everyone has to say about life’s thought provoking questions. The red cards are the “original” questions and the green ones are all about family. It’s great to hear older generations tell remarkable stories!

To buy: Uncommon Goods, $15

A must have for every bilingual family, Zingo’s tiles are in Spanish on one side and English on the other. My kids love it because they practice their Spanish and their Tita Che practices her English! This bingo-like game is for two to six players, ages 4 and up.

To buy: Thinkfun, $20

Every family should have a Scrabble board in the game closet. Whether you have younger kids just learning to spell, or older kids who can play with the regular board in one language or the other, there’s a Scrabble board for everyone. If your niños are just learning Spanish, you can make teams so the adults can help out.

To buy: Amazon, $15, Scrabble Spanish-language edition</a>; $16, Tile Lock Scrabble, English edition</a>; $11, Scrabble Jr.