Feelin’ Cute by Hootenanny Games is a hilarious, heartwarming game that sparks laughter and thoughtful discussion. Players rate and debate how “cute” different animals are on the cuteness meter. Players take turns guessing how others ranked each animal, which naturally leads to rich conversation, persuasion, and plenty of laughs.
Feelin’ Cute offers powerful language and social learning opportunities. As players compare and contrast animals (“A baby sloth versus a hedgehog?”), they use descriptive language, adjectives, and comparative structures to express opinions and explain reasoning. The negotiation process—defending one’s choices or predicting others’ preferences—encourages perspective-taking and theory of mind, essential skills for understanding others’ thoughts and feelings.
The game also naturally builds knowledge of animal categories and features. As players encounter a range of creatures—domestic pets, wild animals, and exotic species—they learn to describe physical traits, habitats, and behaviors. Discussing why a certain animal might be “cuter” than another promotes vocabulary growth and reinforces conceptual knowledge about the animal world, helping children connect language with real-world understanding.
The game’s playful format builds social communication, critical thinking, and reasoning skills, making it both engaging and developmentally meaningful. Feelin’ Cute isn’t just about which animal wins—it’s about conversation, connection, and learning how to see things from someone else’s point of view.
Available at Hootenanny Games
