Best Games for Toddlers and Preschoolers
We all learn best when we’re having FUN, and playing games together is a great way to make learning fun! Keep reading for more on why we recommend games for toddlers, how to play games with busy toddlers, and our top 6 game recommendations for both toddlers and preschoolers!
How Games Support Language Development
When you play games with your child there are a lot of communication development benefits! They help your toddler or preschooler practice:
Speaking
Repetitive phrases help make things easier to say. Think “My turn!” and “Go Fish!” This decreases the demand on their memory and provides a bit of a framework. The repetition makes it easier to join in and practice.
Pronouns & Spatial Concepts
Games are great for practicing using pronouns and communicating using spatial concepts. “My turn” and “your turn” are great concepts for your child to practice with an adult before they jump right into having to do that on their own with another child. You can help support them to learn these concepts. Spatial concepts are words like in, on, under, next to, behind, between, above. They might hear you say something like, “My raccoon is next to yours”. By hearing your model phrases like this, they will eventually start piecing together sentences like that themselves.
Social Skills
Games create opportunities to practice social skills like patience and turn-taking. Some additional examples of social skills for preschoolers include: sharing, listening to others, following directions, making eye contact, cooperating with others.
Vocabulary
Games help your toddler or preschooler learn new words in a fun way! Children with a strong vocabulary are more prepared when they begin school.
Answering Questions
Games provide a low-stress environment for toddlers and preschoolers to practice answering questions.
Classifying
Your child will get to practice skills like sorting, matching, and classifying objects while they play!
How To Play Games with Toddlers
Lots of you have toddlers, and many of you have particularly busy toddlers, we’re sure! So, the idea of playing a structured game might have you ferociously shaking your head and thinking we’ve lost it!
But while yes, it’s true that your toddler might not be quite ready for traditional games just yet, we wouldn’t let that hold you back from playing some version of a game you, or they, love!
It is 100% okay if your toddler isn’t perfectly following the rules in the beginning. Start small, learn gradually, and trust that in time, with your guidance, they will begin to understand and follow the rules.
6 Games we Recommend for Toddlers & Preschoolers
1. Raccoon Rumpus
This memory and matching game is our toddlers’ favorite! The idea is that raccoons have raided your closet, and now they’re having a party. Your job is to help them get dressed. Whoever has the most costumes at the end wins!
Players: 2-4
Ages: 3+
2. Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel
The squirrels are hungry, and you have to feed them! The first person to collect five acorns is the winner. Players can spin, steal, or lose acorns, which keeps things sneaky and just a little strategic!
Players: 2-4
Ages: 3+
3. Gone Fishing
This super simple game is great for taking turns and learning numbers! Play by yourself, or choose a number and take turns fishing. Play until someone picks the special fish, or add up all the numbers on your fish at the end and make the person with the highest score the winner.
Players: 1+
Ages: 2+
4. Busy Town Eye Found it
This game takes you all over Richard Scarry's busy town. You’ll work together to find as many hidden objects as you can in this nearly 6-foot game.
We love that with this game, everyone playing is working towards the same goal. It’s great to play as a family. Plus, there’s so much to see and talk about!
Players: 4-6
Ages: 4+
5. Snail’s Pace Race
This game is all about racing! Up to 6 players can pick their favourite snail as a game piece. Then, you’ll take turns rolling two colourful dice to see how far you’ll get to go on your turn! This game is great for counting, learning colours, and taking turns.
Players: 2-6
Ages: 3+
6. Honey Bee Tree
If you loved Kerplunk growing up, then you’ll love Honey Bee Tree! Instead of just pulling straws, you pull leaves and branches from the tree. And if you’re not careful, you’ll wake the sleeping bees — who all come tumbling down! Just like with Kerplunk, the player with the least amount of marbles — we mean, bees! — in their little tray wins.
Players: 2-5
Ages: 3-5
Which Games Does Your Toddler or Preschooler Love?
What games are super popular in your house right now? Which ones are you playing again and again? Let us know what we missed in the comments below!