With the alarming rise of screen time amongst kids, it's time to rethink strategies to engage kids during their vacation or free time as exams are nearing an end. Digital devices offer educational benefits, but excessive screen time can lead to reduced attention span, decreased physical activity, and sleep disturbances. How do we get them to explore, get involved, and engage in healthier alternatives? The answer is to gift them an eco-friendly board game for kids.
Whether traditional or modern, kids' board games help strike a balance between screen time and real-world experiences. With sustainability becoming more important than ever, it is better to shun the ones made with plastic, excessive packaging, and materials that are harmful to your kids and the environment. Eco-friendly board games for kids are just as educational, engaging, and fun.
This blog explores the benefits of the best eco-friendly board games for kids.
1) How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Board Game
When looking for sustainable board games for kids, you should keep these factors in mind:
1.1) Materials
Always look for board games made from recycled paper, wood, or bamboo rather than plastic.
1.2) Non-Toxic Inks & Dyes
Always check that the game is made with plant-based or water-based inks.
1.3) Eco-Friendly Packaging
Choose brands that minimise packaging waste and avoid plastic wrappers.
2) Best Eco-Friendly Board Games for Kids
2.1) Strategy Ludo Board Game

The Strategy Ludo Board Game is a timeless classic game that brings families and friends together for endless entertainment. This featured product is handcrafted from reclaimed wood and hand-painted by local artisans using chemical-free colours. This eco-friendly board game for kids is an eco-conscious alternative to plastic-heavy versions. Along with the board, you get 16 wooden pegs and a single dice neatly packed in a reusable cotton string pouch, thus promoting zero-waste gaming.
2.2) Snakes & Ladders Board Game

The Snakes & Ladders Board Game, originally known as "Moksha Patam," is an ancient Indian dice game with deep symbolic meaning. This eco-friendly board game is crafted from sustainable wood and includes four tokens, a dice, and an informative booklet. The game represents life's journey, where ladders symbolise "virtues" that help players ascend, while snakes represent "vices" that bring setbacks. It is best suited for promoting moral education; this board game fosters togetherness, nostalgia, and valuable life lessons for children and families alike.
2.3) Chess Board Game

This featured Chess Board Game is an eco-friendly take on the classic strategy game. It features a solid wood (reclaimed) board, chess pieces and fabric packaging that doubles as a reusable table cover! Chess enhances cognitive skills and strategic thinking, and this board game for kids also serves as a great way to unplug from technology (screen time) and enjoy quality time with family, ensuring an eco-friendly gaming experience.
2.4) Tic Tac Toe Board Game

This featured board game reimagines the Tic Tac Toe game with an innovative, eco-friendly twist. You need no paper and pen/pencil to play, as you get a board made with recycled wood and handmade paper. You also get wood tokens shaped like seed and plant and you can choose one and start playing by keeping the tokens on a beautifully crafted grid. The board's theme symbolises the life cycle on a striking sea-blue background. This board game is compact and portable, delivering an impactful message about growth and sustainability to kids.
2.5) Ludo Board Game (Jungle Theme)

Are you bored of the old Ludo theme? Then, this Jungle-Themed Ludo board crafted from wood, fabric, soya wax, and paper adds a refreshing visual appeal. It features a nature-inspired design featuring a vibrant representation of fauna and flora. The jungle theme enhances the pleasing appeal, providing a fun and engaging way for children to learn about nature while enjoying the beloved and classic Ludo board game.
3) Benefits of Eco-Friendly Board Games for Kids
3.1) Encourages Environmental Awareness Among Kids
Eco-friendly board games help children develop an early awareness of environmental issues. Since eco-friendly products like these board games are designed with sustainability in mind, they help spark meaningful discussions among kids and their parents about conservation, recycling, eco-conscious living, and protecting the planet.
3.2) Made from Sustainable Materials
Traditional board games contain plastic parts and synthetic dyes. In contrast, eco-friendly board game alternatives are made from recycled or biodegradable materials such as bamboo, wood, and cardboard. These sustainable materials help reduce waste and environmental impact.
3.3) Non-Toxic and Child-Safe
Since traditional/conventional board games include plastic components coated in chemicals, they can harm young children. On the other hand, eco-friendly board games use natural materials, non-toxic paints, and inks, thus ensuring a safe play environment.
3.4) Encourages Mindful Consumption
Introducing kids to eco-friendly toys and games at a tender age teaches them the value of making thoughtful and eco-conscious choices. When children start to understand the impact of their purchases, they tend to become more mindful consumers as they grow.
3.5) Eco-Friendly Products are Durable and Long-Lasting
Eco-friendly products like board games for kids are crafted from natural, high-quality materials that last longer than their mass-produced plastic counterparts. This durability aspect, in turn, reduces waste and ensures that the game can be played for a long time rather than ending up in landfills.
Conclusion
Opting for eco-friendly board games for kids from Upcycleluxe is a small but meaningful way to reduce your family's environmental impact, especially your kids. These products enable quality playtime together and also promote mindful consumption and valuable lessons about sustainability, and engage them. Families can encourage environmental responsibility, support ethical craftsmanship, and create meaningful educational experiences through play by choosing eco-friendly alternatives.
Upgrade family game days/nights with eco-friendly, plastic-free board games that blend fun, strategy, and environmental consciousness. Make a positive impact and go green with your choices, one board game at a time.