The Best Elective Games That Enrich Your Homeschool
Art, Music, STEM & Mindfulness—Learning Beyond the Core Subjects
One of the best parts of homeschooling is the freedom to explore learning that goes beyond just reading, writing, and math. It gives us the flexibility to nurture the whole child—their creativity, curiosity, emotional growth, and sense of wonder.
For us, games have been one of the easiest and most effective ways to support that.
Now, I didn’t always see games as “school.” They were fun—great for bonding—but I didn’t think of them as real learning. That changed when Emily struggled to learn her math facts, and we took a break over the holidays. During that time, we played a lot of games—especially her dad’s favorite, Yahtzee. When we picked school back up in January, she suddenly knew her math facts—fluently.
That’s when it all clicked: Games aren’t just fun—they’re powerful learning tools.
Since then, we’ve brought games into every part of our homeschool, including subjects we often call electives—like STEM, art, music, and mindfulness. These areas are just as important for raising creative, capable, and emotionally intelligent kids. And yes, there are amazing games for all of them.
Why Use Games for Electives in Your Homeschool?
Electives are where your child’s passions and personality can really shine. But they’re often the first things to fall off the schedule when things get busy. That’s where games come in.
Games offer:
- Creative expression without messy supplies or rigid expectations
- Critical thinking & problem-solving through STEM puzzles and logic
- Emotional development and social awareness through mindfulness play
- Rhythm, language, and memory building through music-based games
- Low-prep ways to explore enrichment subjects in a hands-on format
Best of all? Most of these elective games are so engaging, kids don’t even realize how much they’re learning.
Art & Music Games
These games make creative expression fun and accessible—even for kids who don’t think they’re “artsy.” From trivia and drawing to singing and storytelling, they help build confidence and imagination through playful exploration.
The Grand Museum of Art BoardMythical Creatures Drawing Game & AnimalBob Ross the Art of ChillBrainBox for Kids – Art CardJunk Art Plastic Board GamesGo Fish for Modern Artists CardEndless Games Encore Board Game –Spontuneous – The Song Game –Doodle Dice Game by BrybellyMy Big Art Show: A CardUSAOPOLY Telestrations Original 6 Player |Professor Noggin’s History of Art Trivia
STEM Games
Science, technology, engineering, and math games help kids build real-world problem-solving skills while having fun. These games promote logic, design thinking, physics, and coding—all without needing a lab coat.
Melissa & Doug Suspend Family GameThinkFun Laser Chess Two Player StrategyThinkFun Code Master Programming Logic GameThinkFun Robot Turtles STEM Toy andHasbro A2120E24 – Jenga Classic –Peaceable Kingdom Engineering AntsThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run BrainRavensburger Make ‘N’ Break for Ages
Mindfulness & Emotional Intelligence Games
These games support social-emotional learning, mindfulness, self-regulation, and empathy. They’re especially helpful for downtime, emotional resets, or building life skills in a gentle, playful way.
Mindfulness Therapy Games: Social Skills GameDon’t Go Bananas – A CBTPlay Therapy Supply Mindfulness Matters: TheSocial Emotional Games NoWaries S.T.O.R.M. |Mad Dragon: An Anger Control CardThe Yoga Garden GameEQtainment Q’s Race to The TopThinkFun Yoga Dice Game for Boys
Want to keep exploring? You can shop our favorite elective games here, including options for art, music, mindfulness, and STEM—organized by age and skill level for easy planning.
Adding electives to your homeschool doesn’t have to mean crafting a full art curriculum or squeezing in another workbook. Sometimes, it’s as simple as pulling a game off the shelf.
Whether your child loves drawing, dreams of inventing things, or just needs help navigating big emotions—there’s a game for that. And those little moments of play? They just might become the most meaningful parts of your homeschool day.
What elective-themed game has been a favorite in your homeschool? Let me know in the comments—I’m always looking for new ones to try!