The Best 2 Player Games for Homeschooling an Only Child
We love games here at The Waldock Way. Over the years, I’ve discovered that some games work better in our homeschool than others. When you’re homeschooling an only child, some games and activities don’t work as well as they would with a bigger group of kids.
That’s why I’m so excited to share this list of the very best two-player games for homeschooling an only child with you. These games don’t require you to wait until both parents are home to play. In fact, there are lots of awesome single-player games you can adapt for two players too.
Ready to get the scoop on our favorite two-player games? Keep reading to discover the very best games if you’re homeschooling an only child. Then, grab your favorites for holiday gifts!
Homeschooling an Only Child
Homeschooling an only child has lots of benefits and some challenges too. When you’re homeschooling an only child, you get lots of great one-on-one time to spend together forging a deeper connection and focusing on helping your child meet her individual goals. But all that one-on-one time together can become overwhelming at times too.
If you’re homeschooling an only child, you often have to be everything for your child. I often find that I’m wearing lots of hats: mom, teacher, friend, etc. at the same time. Since it’s often just the two of you, it might mean waiting until another parent, friend, or family member is over in order to play games and do other activities.
Having fun learning activities and opportunities we can take advantage of even if it’s just the two of us is really important. That’s why we get a lot of two-player games we can play together without extra people. Fortunately, there are lots of amazing resources for homeschooling an only child.
Using Games for Learning in Your Homeschool
One of our favorite ways to practice new concepts is through gameplay. Gameschooling is a fantastic way to learn new material and review concepts Emily has already mastered. We all love playing games together, but we can’t always sit down together as a family to play.
As much as we love our family game nights, there are times when we need games that work with just two players. Sometimes games can be played with only two players, but they aren’t as much fun. That’s why I’m so excited to share this list of the best two-player games with you.
The Best Two-Player Games for Homeschooling an Only Child
These two-player games have all been tested by our family and we’re big fans! I can’t wait to share our favorite two-player games for homeschooling an only child with you. These games make great gifts for birthdays or the holidays too.
Battleship
Battleship is a classic two-player game that’s lots of fun to play. It helps kids understand the relationship between columns and rows.
It’s the perfect game to play if you’re studying coordinate planes in math this year. This two-player game will also help your homeschoolers understand the relationship between objects and a sequence of events or objects and graphs.
Kanoodle
This game is excellent for helping kids build problem-solving skills and develop critical thinking. There’s lots of strategy involved in this portable logic puzzle with more than 200 puzzles in a variety of difficulty levels. Kanoodle can be played with just one player or as a two-player game which is often helpful when you’re homeschooling an only child.
Patchwork Express
This is a faster version of the original Patchwork board game that’s just as much fun to play. Kids will have fun trying to fit all the pieces onto their board and get a high score. It’s also good for a variety of ages that only takes about fifteen minutes to play from start to finish.
Blokus Duo
If you love playing Blokus as a family, you’ll love Blokus Duo. It’s designed for just two players and takes less than a minute to learn how to play. However, your homeschooler will spend hours mastering the strategy and critical thinking skills needed to win this game. It’s a really fun and challenging game!
Aqualin
I’m a big fan of games like Blokus that are easy to understand and challenging to master. Aqualin is definitely one of those games too. This two-player game is perfect for homeschooling an only child because it will take a while to master the game and acquire the bonus points in this fast-paced tile placement game.
Hive
It’s easy to see why Hive is one of the best two-player games for homeschooling an only child. Hive isn’t exactly a board game, because there’s no board. Instead, players create their own board by adding pieces to the playing field in an attempt to capture the queen.
Word on the Street
Lots of two-player games are great for teaching critical thinking skills and helping kids practice math concepts. Word on the Street is different because it’s a spelling game. If your homeschooler hates spelling, try playing this game together to make the whole process more fun for both of you!
Bananagrams Duel
Bananagrams Duel is a spin on the classic Bananagrams game that’s perfect for homeschooling an only child since it’s for just two players. Players race to form words in their own crossword-style game. It’s a good way to build vocabulary and practice spelling with your homeschooler this year.
Mancala
Mancala is an old game that’s still tons of fun! You can use this game to practice counting skills with your elementary-age children and develop critical thinking skills with kids of all ages.
No Stress Chess
If you want to learn to play chess or teach your kids how to play chess, No Stress Chess is right for your family. This two-player game for homeschooling an only child will make chess fun for everyone.
Word a Round
Another fun word game to play with your homeschooler is Word a Round. In this game, kids can build literacy skills while guessing words. It’s easy enough for a kindergartener and still lots of fun for adults to play too.
Spot It
Spot It is a great game to keep in your purse. This two-player game will help occupy kids and incorporate learning fun no matter where you are when you play. It’s good for teaching spatial skills, observation, and attention to detail.
Fraction War
Need a way to make fractions more exciting? Try this two-player game for homeschooling an only child. Fraction War is a fast-paced math game that will help your homeschooler master comparing fractions in a way that’s fun!
A Little Wordy
One of our favorite two-player games for practicing language arts skills is A Little Wordy. This card game from the masterminds behind Exploding Kittens is filled with wit and sarcasm. It’s easy to learn and oh so much fun to discover your opponent’s secret word!
Mastermind
The game of Mastermind is all about code-breaking. In a world where computers play an ever-increasing role in our daily life and problem-solving is essential, Mastermind is the best two-player game to add to your homeschool. Mastermind creates opportunities for kids to practice scientific reasoning and interpret their results as they test 2,000 possible combinations.
Fox in the Forest
Fox in the Forest is a card game that easily fits into your purse and can be played in just 30 minutes. It’s a good game to play with your homeschooler while studying fairytales and features beautiful illustrations you’ll love. Kids will have fun making choices to help them win more tricks than you in this adorable card game.
7 Wonders Duel
If you’re studying Ancient civilizations this year, 7 Wonders Duel is a fantastic board game to add to your collection! In this board game, your homeschooler will strategize as they attempt to build the greatest civilization possible and win the game.
Jaipur
Jaipur is easy enough for kids and still lots of fun for adults. We love games that are engaging for Emily and still lots of fun for us to play too. In Jaipur, players will collect, exchange, and sell goods at the market to earn a reward.
Guess Who
Guess Who is a good way to practice observation skills, learn about asking yes or no questions, and practice sorting. There are also lots of fun variations of Guess Who that you can play after you’ve mastered the original version. It’s easy enough for very young homeschoolers and still fun for older kids too.
Codenames Duet
Codenames is a really fun game, but it’s important to have a two-player option if you’re homeschooling an only child. Codenames Duet is just as much fun as the original but meant for just two players to enjoy. Unlike the original, in this version, you’ll work together as a team to find your agents with one-word clues.
Single-Player Games You Can Adapt for Two Players
Sometimes you need a great single-player game. I love using single-player games for strewing, carschooling, and those times when I need a break. They’re perfect for entertaining your only child without a screen while encouraging learning opportunities at the same time.
Many single-player games make great two-player games for homeschooling an only child too. Here are some of our favorite single-player games that can easily be used as two-player games with a little bit of creativity. We take turns playing these games to try to beat our time or work together on challenging games.
5 Minute Mystery
Your homeschooler can practice their detective skills as they work to solve this real-time cooperative game. Can you find the hidden symbols, solve the clues, and arrest the culprit in just 5 minutes? This game is easy to play, quick, and tons of fun!
Brainwaves
I love logic games! Brainwave games are memory-based card games that are easy for kids of all ages. This is a game that you’ll definitely get lots of use out of, even as your homeschooler gets older and masters more challenging concepts. Here are a few to try:
- The Wise Whale
- The Astute Goose
- The Brilliant Boar
Genius Games
Genius games are critical-thinking puzzle games that require kids to think outside the box and use logic, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Genius Star is a star-shaped board where you can score extra for creating a gold star. Genius Square includes two grids for kids to master with more than 60,000 possible outcomes.
Kanoodle Gravity
This is an easy single-player game that kids can play in the car. Your homeschooler will use the pieces to complete a puzzle in the single-player version. If you’re adapting to a two-player game, take turns to see if you can complete the puzzle without a mistake.
Quick Pucks
Quick Pucks is a sliding puzzle game that’s ideal for competitive kids. For a two-player game, challenge your opponent to solve the pattern before you. In the single-player version, kids can work to beat the clock.
I hope you enjoy these two-player games for homeschoolers as much as we do. What are your favorite two-player games for homeschooling an only child? Share your favorites in the comments, so we can try playing them too!