If you’re not sure which games you should bring home for your tiny tyke, this list of all the games and the best board games for preschoolers should do the trick. They’re each selected based on ratings from parents and teachers, the elements and qualities of the game itself, and the skills developed through their play. After all, games aren’t just for fun – especially when you’re learning how to hold things and identify colors – they can help kiddos advance quickly in their brain development, social skills, and fine motor skills.
Benefits of Board Gaming for Preschoolers
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Numerous benefits for tykes exist in using board games for preschoolers in their learning and growth. They provide tactile skills, educational tidbits, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and more, along with social skills and group play.
Board Games for Preschoolers Provide Early Learning Opportunities
Practically every game you’ll find for preschoolers is going to be designed specifically for early learning. This means pre-reading skills, reading comprehension for more articulate kids, color identification, and some animal identification play.
Playing Board Games for Preschoolers Helps All the Kids
Not only do these games help your littlest ones, but older kids playing with their younger siblings will grow in their social skills and discover how to win and lose well. It will also help healthy brain development as they play with the simple games that keep the engines whirring in their noggins, and they can explore other games for more challenges.
Preschooler Board Games Boost Pre-Reading and Language Skills
The kids playing the games probably don’t realize they’re learning, but practically every game for preschoolers includes some kind of language or pre-reading comprehension skill. This is done through letter identification, color discrimination, dialogue between them and their fellow players, and other factors as they engage in game play. Memory skills also help in these areas, as most people learn language through recollection and identification.
Games Can Help Sharper Your Child’s Focus and Lengthen Their Attention Span
Because fun board games require focus and immediate attention, playing these board games together helps your kiddo grow their attention span. The games should be played without interruption, though, so choose games that fit the amount of time you want to play, and that have the right length for their needs. Most experts recommend 2 to 3 minutes of playtime per one year of age to meet these needs.
Board Games Help Kids Get Away from Screen Time for Fun
Many parents allow their small children some screen time, which most think is fine. But when you want to keep that to a minimum, engaging activities such as board games can help them grow and learn while keeping them occupied and attentive, rather than zoning out in front of a screen.
What to Look for In Board Games for Preschoolers
When you’re grabbing some board games for preschoolers to keep at home, consider specific qualities and traits that will make the game fun, accessible, easy to learn, and beneficial for the growth of your little one’s world.
Dice, playing pieces, and other tactile elements for fine motor skills, as long as they’re past the stage of putting everything in their mouths
Colorful cards and playing pieces for color identification and visual discrimination
Quick run times that work for your kiddo’s age (shoot for 2-3 minutes per 1 year of age)
Strategy and critical thinking games to help your child’s mental acuity and reasoning skills
Group games for social skills and cooperation
Group games with cooperative or individual competition to help develop team concepts and skills of winning and losing
Games that allow for solo play for autonomy and imaginative development
Family games that are enjoyable for all ages, promoting family bonding and interaction
Classic Board Games for Young Children
Classic board games are a fantastic way to introduce young children to the world of gaming. These timeless games are simple, easy to understand, and promote social interaction and healthy competition. Here are some classic board games that are perfect for young children:
Candy Land: This beloved classic is a great first board game for preschoolers. It’s easy to understand and helps kids with color recognition and matching skills. The colorful game board and sweet theme make it a favorite among young kids.
Chutes and Ladders: A fun and engaging game that teaches numbers and basic counting skills. The excitement of climbing ladders and avoiding chutes keeps kids entertained while they learn.
Sorry!: This game promotes strategy and healthy competition. Kids learn to plan their moves and deal with the ups and downs of the game, making it a great way to develop critical thinking skills.
Trouble: Known for its iconic Pop-O-Matic die roller, Trouble is a fun game that teaches numbers and basic math skills. The simple rules and fast-paced gameplay make it a hit with younger kids.
Clue Junior: A kid-friendly version of the classic detective game, Clue Junior promotes problem-solving and critical thinking. Kids work together to solve the mystery, making it a great cooperative game for family game nights.
These classic board games are a wonderful way to introduce young children to gaming, promoting social interaction, healthy competition, and cognitive development.
Board Games for Social Development
Board games are an excellent tool for promoting social development in young children. They teach important skills such as taking turns, sharing, and cooperation. Here are some board games specifically designed to enhance social development:
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game: This cooperative game encourages teamwork and strategy. Players work together to collect acorns and help the squirrel, promoting social skills and cooperation.
Animal Upon Animal: A delightful stacking game that enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Players take turns stacking wooden animals, learning patience and turn-taking in the process.
My First Carcassonne: A simplified version of the popular tile-laying game, My First Carcassonne promotes spatial awareness and critical thinking. Kids work together to build a landscape, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
Create a Story Cards: This card game encourages creativity and storytelling. Players use the cards to create their own stories, enhancing their imagination and social interaction skills.
Gobblet Gobblers: A strategy game that promotes critical thinking and problem-solving. Players take turns placing their pieces on the board, learning to anticipate their opponent’s moves and plan their own strategy.
These board games are designed to promote social development in young children, teaching important skills such as cooperation, teamwork, and critical thinking.
The Ten Best Board Games for Preschoolers
Zingo!
Age: 4+ Players: 2-6 Time: 10-15 minutes
Deemed one of the absolute best board games for preschoolers of all time, Zingo! makes for the perfect playtime option any day of the week. The game helps to boost pre-reading skills through matching of images with text. The Oppenheim Gold and Parents’ Choice Award-winning game works best for kids in the late 3 to 4 age range (and up), allows for 2 to 6 players, and takes about 10 to 15 minutes to play. Basically, the game plays as a form of visual Bingo but with a twist designed specifically to help the littles start learning identification skills and some reading comprehension.
Pancake Pile Up
Age: 4+ Players: 2-4 Time: 10-15 minutes
Designed to give a familiar twist to balance, motor skill development, and coordination, Pancake Pile Up is a delight for the whole family. The game takes between 10 and 15 minutes to play, works for kids 4 and up, and for between 2 and 4 players. The game functions as a relay game, with players flipping over an order card to start the madness. Players must race to the first pancake shown on the card, grab the spatula, put the pancake on the plate, and then race back again with the plate and spatula. These are passed off to the next player, and the game continues in the same fashion. The team that is able to correctly complete their order properly – complete with a pat of butter on top – wins the round. Rounds continue until you decide the game is done.
Pancake Pile Up comes with 10 pancakes in 5 flavors, 2 plates, 2 spatulas, 10 order cards, a griddle game board, and 2 pats of butter for the race.
Rat-a-Tat Cat
Age: 6+ (Community 5+) Players: 2-6 Time: 10 minutes
Technically designed for 6 and up, Rat-a-Tat Cat is one of the favorite games among parents and kiddos alike as young as 5 (4 in some cases). It’s a fast-playing 10-minute memory-building game that all ages love to play together. It’s also compact and easy to set up, so makes for the perfect road trip game for your preschoolers. The goal of Rat-a-Tat Cat is to get rid of the rats! And find the cats…
Players must learn to employ some bluffing skills in this one, too, while sharpening memory skills, and identifying numbers and objects. The game starts out with 4 cards played face-down to each player, then everyone plays through the deck of 66 cards which rank from 0 to 9 in numbers, along with numbered action cards. Players take turns viewing cards, arranging them, drawing more cards, and discarding them. The goal is to ultimately have the fewest points (fewest rats!), done through the use of the action cards like ‘Spy’, ‘Exchange’, and ‘2X Look’ for timely advantages during play. You never know who will cast out the rats and find the cats in the end!
Heads Talk Tails Walk
Hilarious fun lies ahead for you and your littles with the delightfully silly and cute game of Heads Talk Tails Walk.
Age: 3+ Players: 2-5 Time: 10-15 minutes
Hilarious fun lies ahead for you and your littles with the delightfully silly game of Heads Talk Tails Walk. The matching game can be played straight – looking for cards that match animal heads with the correct animal bodies, or silly – seeing who can come up with the wildest animal combinations.
When played straight, the game helps kids develop animal and color identification. When played silly, imaginations soar and giggles rise faster than a horse can jump a fence!
Heads Talk Tails Walk comes with 10 large body tiles and 10 small head tiles. Each tile combination uses the same background color to help make animal creations obvious as the 3+ kids learn and grow.
Outfoxed
Age: 5+ Players: 2-4 Time: 20 minutes
Ideal for kiddos 5 and up (some 4-year-olds will love it, too!), Outfoxed is one of the best cooperative games for the whole family to enjoy together. The game comes with an adorable fox figurine, 16 suspect cards, 16 thief cards, 12 clue markers, 4 detective hat playing pieces, 1 clue decoder, 1 gameboard, and 3 custom dice for colorful, mysterious fun.
Little ones will engage with critical thinking/strategy, tactile actions, and color associations while trying to solve the mystery of who stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. Players move around the board gathering clues and working together to rule out suspects. The game takes about 20 minutes to play, allows for 2 to 4 players to join in on the fun, and helps littles develop their attention span while problem-solving.
Colorama
Age: 3+ Players: 2-4 Time: 30 minutes
Designed for children 3 and up, Colorama is the perfect first-start game for preschoolers. This fun dexterity game uses primary colors to help teach kiddos their colors, using 40 game pieces, 1 color die, 1 shape die, and easy and comprehensive instructions for immediate play. Colorama specifically provides both shape and color comprehension and takes most groups about 30 minutes to play. The use of the game pieces also helps develop fine motor skills while teaching kids to expand their attention spans and patience (turn-based play). It’s also a great choice for little ones looking to fidget and play on their own. The board provides hours of solo-play fun or interactive family game time.
Acorn Soup: A Great First Board Game
Age: 2+ Players: 2-4 Time: 5-10 minutes
A darling and great game from Peaceable Kingdom, Acorn Soup welcomes as many as 4 players aged 2 and up, to play in the world of squirrels and their delectable treats. Players receive recipes to follow, using the fun ingredients included in the game. Everyone takes turns, plays within the rules (at least loosely), and rolls a die to move gameplay along.
Acorn Soup comes with 8 recipe cards, 1 wooden spoon, and 24 wooden ingredients for tactile play and learning. The game encourages vocabulary building, fine motor skill development, and hand-eye coordination.
Bunny Bedtime Make-a-Choice Game
Age: 2+ Players: 2+ Time: 5-10 minutes
Playing between 5 and 10 minutes, the adorable Peaceable Kingdom Bunny Bedtime Choice game is one of the favorite board games for 2-year-olds and up. The game helps kids learn basic gameplay skills – like rolling dice and following a path on a gameboard – and comfortably tucks them into the familiar context of bedtime.
Players make decisions to help Bunny with the bedtime routine, like brushing teeth, changing into pajamas, and similar tasks. It’s a great way to help kids develop their own autonomy, even at this early age, in decision-making and understanding why the things they do as routines help them out. And the artwork is absolutely lovely, with warm colors and adorable cartoon bunny friends.
The Gruffalo: Match and Memory Board Game
Age: 3+ Players: 2-4 Time: 5-10 minutes
Welcome to the world of The Gruffalo! In this match and memory board game for preschoolers, littles take an adventure through the woods to see the animals at play, making it one of the best kids games. Every animal is represented on cards that create the match and memory game. This beautifully appointed game is perfect for kids 3 and up, allows for 2 to 4 players, and the gameplay time varies depending on the child’s pace. Most games, though, last no more than about 10 minutes.
Shopping List
Age: 3+ (Community 3-5) Players: 2-4 Time: 15 minutes
Winner of the “Best Toy” Petit Filous and Right Start Awards, Shopping List has become an instant classic for preschooler board games. Players are given a list at the beginning of the game and the goal is to be the first to fill their shopping cart. Each player must work to remember which tiles were rejected by previous players (i.e., memory game) and attempt to collect the needed items for their own list.
Cards start out spread on the table, face-down. Players must turn over the cards on their turn – and others aim to remember what they turn over but don’t collect. Then, if the card is something on their list, they claim the card to fill their cart. Otherwise, they turn the card back over and the next player takes their turn. The gameplay continues until one player has completed their shopping list.
Tips for Playing Board Games with Preschoolers
Playing board games with preschoolers can be a fun and rewarding experience for both children and adults. Here are some tips to make the most of your game time:
Start with simple games: Preschoolers have short attention spans, so start with simple games that are easy to understand. This helps keep them engaged and prevents frustration.
Use large, sturdy game pieces: Since preschoolers are still developing their fine motor skills, use large, sturdy game pieces that are easy to handle. This makes the game more accessible and enjoyable for them.
Take turns: Teach preschoolers the importance of taking turns and waiting for their turn. This helps them develop patience and understand the concept of fairness.
Encourage social interaction: Board games are a great way to promote social interaction and healthy competition. Encourage your child to interact with other players, share, and cooperate.
Be patient: Preschoolers may not understand the rules of the game at first, so be patient and take the time to explain the rules. Use simple language and demonstrate how to play.
Make it fun: Most importantly, make the experience fun and enjoyable for both children and adults. Use positive reinforcement, celebrate small victories, and keep the atmosphere light and playful.
By following these tips, you can create a positive and enjoyable experience for both children and adults when playing board games with preschoolers.
Also Read: Create Fun for All with These Kids’ Card Games
Conclusion
Board games for preschoolers are a sound investment for any parent, teacher, or daycare group. These fun moments will not only teach kids fine motor skills and color discrimination, but they’ll teach social skills, encourage harmony in competition, and much more. Ideally, games should last between 2-3 minutes per year of the child’s age, playing to keep their attention and focus and offer fun interactions with each other or work as solo play.
For kids 2 and up, choose Acorn Soup and Bunny Bedtime Make-a-Choice Game. For 3 and up, go for Heads Talk Tails Walk, Colorama, The Gruffalo: Match and Memory Game, or Shopping List. 4-year-olds will do well with Zingo! and Pancake Pile Up, while 5-year-olds will enjoy playing Rat-a-Tat Cat and Outfoxed.
FAQ: Board Games for Preschoolers
1. What are some benefits of board games for preschoolers?
Board games for preschoolers offer numerous benefits, including the development of fine motor skills, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and social skills. They also promote group play, enhance memory skills, and help in early learning such as color and animal identification.
2. How do board games help with a child’s focus and attention span?
Board games require focus and immediate attention, which can help lengthen a child’s attention span. It’s recommended to choose games that match the child’s age, with most experts suggesting 2 to 3 minutes of playtime per year of age.
3. What should I look for when choosing board games for preschoolers?
When selecting board games for preschoolers, consider games with tactile elements like dice and playing pieces, colorful cards for visual discrimination, quick run times suitable for their age, and games that encourage strategy, critical thinking, and social skills.
4. Can board games be a good alternative to screen time for kids?
Yes, board games are an excellent alternative to screen time. They engage children in learning and growth activities, keeping them occupied and attentive without the passive engagement of screens.
5. What are some recommended board games for different preschool ages?
For kids aged 2 and up, Acorn Soup and Bunny Bedtime Make-a-Choice Game are great options. For 3-year-olds, consider Heads Talk Tails Walk, Colorama, The Gruffalo: Match and Memory Game, or Shopping List. For 4-year-olds, Zingo! and Pancake Pile Up are suitable, while 5-year-olds will enjoy Rat-a-Tat Cat and Outfoxed.