Adding Board Games to Your Special Ed Classroom

Hey there, teacher friend! Today I’m going to be talking all about adding board games to your special ed classroom. If you’ve ever looked around your classroom and thought, “How can I make learning feel less like work and more like fun?”– I’ve got a game-changing (literally!) tip for you: board games.

Now, I know what you might be thinking,“Board games? In a special ed classroom? With my students who can’t sit still, struggle with communication, or melt down during turn-taking?” Yep. I said what I said. And trust me when I tell you. board games can be pure magic when used the right way.

So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let’s dive into why board games totally deserve a spot in your classroom, how to adapt them for all learners, and where to find them without blowing your budget.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you purchase an item through my affiliate link, I may receive a % of commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support me, my family and my blog to bring you great content for free!

More Than Just Fun: The Hidden Magic of Board Games

Sure, board games are fun. But underneath all that fun is a sneaky little treasure chest full of learning opportunities. Here’s just a few of the skills being worked on, without your students even realizing it:

Social Skills: Taking turns, sharing, teamwork, managing frustration… it’s all happening naturally through play.
Language Development: Verbal interaction, following multi-step directions, learning and using new vocabulary, it’s like a speech therapy session disguised as fun.
Executive Functioning: Planning ahead, problem-solving, attention, and even impulse control? Yes please.
Fine and Gross Motor Skills: From flicking spinners to stacking blocks, students are building coordination and control.
Academic Reinforcement: Colours, counting, reading, matching… so many academic concepts get reinforced in a low-pressure way.
Emotional Regulation: Learning to win (and lose) gracefully is a huge skill, one that takes time and practice.
Sensory Engagement: The textures, colors, and tactile movement of pieces can be super regulating for sensory-seeking students.

I’ll never forget one of my students, Jake. Turn-taking was not his thing. Group activities were a no-go because if he wasn’t first, it was meltdown city. Then one day, I introduced Chutes and Ladders, added a simple visual cue for whose turn it was, and something clicked. The structure of the game helped him build patience in a way a social story never could.

And speaking of turn-taking, if you’re looking for something to help with that, I’ve got a FREE visual turn-taking support tool in my Free Resource Library. You just pop a picture of who’s turn it is on a little card, and voilà, visual support magic! You’ll also find over 200+ other freebies in there while you’re at it.

How to Adapt Board Games for ALL Learners

Not every board game is classroom-ready straight out of the box, especially if you’re working in a special ed setting. But with just a few simple tweaks, you can turn nearly any game into something accessible and engaging for your students.

Here are my top 10 ways to adapt board games:

Simplify the Rules – Ditch the complicated bits. Focus on the core idea and keep it simple.
Use Visual Supports – Add visuals for rules, turn order, or player choices.
Modify Game Pieces – Replace tiny tokens with bigger ones (hello, Duplo blocks!) or use Velcro for better grip.
Reduce Wait Times – Shorter turns or smaller groups keep everyone more engaged.
Offer Roles & Choices – Let students choose if they want to roll dice, move pieces, or just be the “card flipper.”
Adjust Time Expectations – Use visual timers or give extra time for processing.
Make It Tactile – Use textured pieces or sensory-friendly components.
Use Cooperative Play – Ditch the competition and work toward a shared goal as a team.
Add Communication Supports – Think AAC devices, sentence starters, or symbol cards.
Modify the Game Board – Enlarge text, add color contrast, or simplify paths for visual clarity.

One of my absolute favorite adaptations? We once played Guess Who? using photos of our classmates. The kids were hooked! It was amazing for descriptive language and peer recognition. And bonus, it made everyone feel included and seen.

Finding Board Games Without Spending a Fortune

Let’s be real for a second: teachers already spend way too much of their own money. But the good news? You can build up your classroom game stash on a shoestring budget. Here’s how:

Ask Friends & Family – Just throw up a quick Facebook post. You’ll be shocked how many people are ready to declutter.
Thrift Stores & Yard Sales – These are goldmines for old games. Yes, even the ones missing pieces—don’t scroll past those!
Online Marketplaces – Check Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Freecycle, or Buy Nothing groups.
Store Clearance Sales – Keep an eye out at Target, Amazon, or your local discount stores.
Library Sales or Lending Programs – Some libraries sell or lend board games (who knew?!).
Dollar Stores – Great for simple games you can jazz up with your own visuals.
Grants or DonorsChoose – A little grant can go a long way toward building your board game library.

Quick story: I once had a parent drop off a huge stack of board games her kids had outgrown. Some were totally incomplete, but we got creative. Monopoly money turned into math centers. Scrabble tiles became spelling activities. Jenga? Hello fine motor station!

So don’t toss those half-broken games, they’re a treasure trove for classroom DIYs.

Bonus Tip: Use What You Already Have!

Even if your classroom game stash only has one or two board games right now, don’t worry, you can still get tons of use out of them with a little creativity. In fact, there are loads of ways to stretch what you already have:

Create Your Own Game Cards – Add custom question prompts, task cards, or visuals to turn a simple game into a themed learning activity. Whether it’s social skills, vocabulary, or life skills, you can tailor it to whatever your students are working on.

Gamify Your Lessons – Bring in elements from your board games, like rolling a die or spinning a spinner, into your regular lessons. Not only does this boost engagement, but it also adds an element of fun without needing a full game setup.

Mix and Match – Grab game pieces from one box and combine them with rules from another. Sure, it might sound like chaos, but it’s often the kind that sparks imagination and excitement in your classroom.

And if you’re unsure what kinds of games to keep an eye out for, I’ve got you covered. For a little inspiration, check out this fab roundup from Homeschool of 1: best board games for 8-year-olds. It’s packed with brilliant options that would also work beautifully in a special ed classroom. Think of it like a ready-made shopping list, without the stress or decision fatigue.

My Favorite Board Games

To help you out I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite board games that we use in our classroom that are always popular! If you click the links you’ll be re-directed to check out the board games more in-depth.

Chutes & Ladders – A simple numeric board game that reinforces counting, sequencing, and emotional control.
Hungry Hungry Hippos – A fast-paced, action-packed game that builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and helps teach taking turns. Perfect for high-energy students who love sensory feedback.
Pop the Pig – Students feed the pig burgers until his belly pops! Great for number recognition, counting, and building anticipation while developing fine motor skills.
Don’t Break the Ice – Students take turns tapping out blocks of ice without letting the penguin fall. It’s brilliant for fine motor control, turn-taking, and cause-and-effect understanding.
Tumbling Monkeys – A tree full of monkeys, plastic sticks, and marbles, what could go wrong?! Students take turns pulling sticks and trying not to let the monkeys fall. Think Kerplunk but with adorable monkeys.
B. Duck Bounce Game – This bouncy, silly duck game is like a mini version of Whac-A-Mole, but kinder! Players launch small ducks into a moving duck pond with a catapult. Great for hand-eye coordination and quick response times.
Crocodile Dentist – A simple game where students press the crocodile’s teeth until it snaps shut. Builds turn-taking, suspense tolerance, and fine motor skills.
Pop-Up Pirate – Insert swords into the barrel until the pirate pops! Simple to play, builds suspense, motor skills, and social interaction.
Moo Moo Achoo! – Our current favorite! A super interactive, movement-heavy game perfect for classrooms! Players take turns drawing cards and petting Moo Moo’s head, until she sneezes out real bubbles (and maybe even a cheeky toot)! Students gather clover cards, build anticipation tolerance, motor skills, and turn-taking, and enjoy sensory fun, all with no reading required.
Kerplunk – A classic game where players take turns pulling out plastic sticks without letting the marbles fall. It’s great for building patience, hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and managing anticipation or suspense in a fun, low-stress way.
Connect 4 – A quick strategy game promoting pattern recognition, turn-taking, and visual-motor coordination.
Operation – Fine motor skills and impulse control as students remove pieces without triggering a buzzer.
Scrabble (Junior or Mini) – Builds spelling, vocabulary, and cooperative play.
Jenga – Great for fine motor control, balance, patience, and hand–eye coordination.
First Orchard (cooperative) – Perfect for early learners working together on counting and motor coordination.
Candy Land – A reading-free, color-matching race game ideal for ages 3+. Great for practicing turn-taking, color recognition, and managing impulses.
UNO Card Game – A classic color-and-number matching game. Builds flexible thinking, quick decision-making, and social interaction. Easy to adapt with visual cues .
Guess Who? – The classic face-flipping mystery game where students ask yes/no questions to figure out who their opponent has. It’s engaging, highly visual, and a perfect way to sneak in language and reasoning practice.

*These links are affiliate links. This means that if you purchase an item through my affiliate link, I may receive a % of commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support me, my family and my blog to bring you great content for free!

Let’s Recap (Because Lists Are Life)

Board games are seriously powerful tools in special education settings and honestly, they’re way more than just a rainy-day activity.

They support academic, social, emotional, motor, and communication skills, all at the same time. Yep, all that from something your students actually enjoy.

Even better? Adapting them for your classroom is easier than you might think. With a few simple tweaks, like adding visual supports, simplifying rules, or making things more sensory-friendly, you can turn almost any game into a perfect-fit learning tool.

And don’t worry about blowing your budget. The truth is, you don’t need a giant game cupboard. Start with what you’ve got, check out thrift stores, ask around, or repurpose bits from incomplete games.

But the absolute best part? Your students will LOVE it. You’ll see engagement, smiles, and learning happening all at once, and that’s the kind of magic we live for, right?

And if you’re feeling a little stuck on what games to actually look for, don’t worry, I’ve got your back there too. There’s a fab roundup over at Homeschool of 1 featuring the best board games for 8-year-olds, and honestly, it’s full of gems that would work beautifully in a special ed classroom too. Think of it like a curated shopping list, without the overwhelm.

Try It This Week!

Here’s my challenge to you: pick ONE board game this week, any board game, and give it a go in your classroom. Whether it’s a thrift store find, an old favorite, or a DIY version, just start. You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect setup. Just you, your students, and some good old-fashioned fun.

And if you do try it? Come tell me all about it! I love hearing your stories, and you might even inspire someone else to give board games a go, too. Tag me on Instagram @teachingautism and show me what games you’re loving in your classroom!