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Why You Should Play the Zingo Game
Zingo is our fourth game in the Games for Kids series. After playing it for two days in a row, using all the leveled game play options, we believe Zingo, a Think Fun game, is a must-have board game for the classroom and family game night.
Zingo Game Instructions:
- Shuffle and replace the word chips into the Zingo zinger.
- Choose a Zingo card. The red side is more competitive, while the green side is less competitive.
- Slide the zinger to reveal 2 chips. Whomever has the same picture on their card, calls out the word, and places the chip on their card. If two people call out the same word, whomever called it first gets the card. If the players call the word at the same time, it’s a tie and the chip goes back into the zinger.
- The first player to fill their card calls “Zingo”, and is the winner.

Zingo is a fun, educational, game for emergent readers.
Making the Zingo Board Game Video
My daughter and her friends are having a blast making YouTube videos for my Games for Kids series.
The purpose of trying out new board games is to find fun games for kids that can be used in the classroom, during family game night, or in other learning environments.
Just like a teacher would do, I go over the directions and rules, then model how to play the game, before allowing the girls to play independently. In the Zingo game review video, you will see my daughter and her friend ramble off the directions and rules.
Independent Game Play
If the games I select can be used as an independent game center, or fun activity for kids, I want to assure the kids are able to understand and follow directions on their own.
By allowing my daughter and her friends to give directions in the kids game videos, it gives myself and other teachers a transparent projection of how it will be played by kids when left on their own.
From a teachers perspective, it is important to find games that promote independent game play.
While meeting with students in small focus groups, such as guided reading, it is important to have as little interruptions as possible.
Games and resources, such as Zingo and Write the Room, are great examples of activities for kids that require little assistance.

The Zingo game would make a great board game for the classroom.
Fun Learning Game for Kids
If you’ve been to the game aisle lately, you’ll find most games are about bodily functions, and aren’t quite as educational as they used to be. Zingo, the game like bingo, meets many learning standards.
From the moment we opened the box, I knew this was going to be a fun learning game for kids.
Zingo was voted TD Monthly Magazine Top-10 Most Wanted Games Nominated TOTY 2009 Best Toy of the Year
- Vocabulary – matching pictures and word tiles such as bunny, clock, ghost, sun, cat, house, star, train, and ball.
- Early reading skills
- Matching
- Concentration
- Compare & contrast
- Listening
- Visual discrimination
- Turn Taking
I highly suggest adding this to your must-have resources for teachers. And, as a mom of 2, I am always searching for games for kids indoors, for rainy day activities and fun family game nights. Zingo is a must-have!

As a teacher and parent, I highly recommend Zingo for kids!
A Kid’s Toy Review
When I asked my daughter to give own toy review, she said, “I like it a lot because it’s really simply and it’s not too hard – even for preschoolers. I like playing it with my friends and trying to yell Zingooooo”.
There ya have it – an honest review from the one who matters the most. After all, my mission is to find board games for KIDS that keep the learning fun!
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for learning games for kids at home or in the classroom, zingo is a must-have!
Before you go, here are more blog posts you may enjoy:
100 Things to Do at Home With Kids
10 Best Learning Toys for Kids
Top 5 Picks for Family Game Night