Toddler board games provide a great bonding experience, while also being important for improving their developmental skills and social skills. Preschool board games for kids are educational. 3 year olds learn to take turns, how to play cooperatively, how to win, how to lose, vocabulary words and more. They also learn math skills like counting and number recognition. These are the best preschool board games too.
Toddler Board Games
What do toddlers learn when playing board games? Many of today’s board games have educational aspects to the games. They can be learning colors, strategy, counting, number recognition and many other math skills. They also learn social skills like sharing, taking turns and learning to be able to win and lose sometimes. Check out this list for our favorite toddler board games.
Something important to consider when playing with your young child is that you should not always allow them to win. Yes, sometimes it is fun.. especially when you notice that they may be getting frustrated. But it is crucial that they also learn how to gracefully lose a game and not have a meltdown. This can only come with time and experience. You can demonstrate to your child how you react when you lose, in hopes that they try to model the same behavior.
Also, as with many game for toddlers, small pieces are often included so parental supervision is always required.
Please note that affiliate links may be used in this post. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
How to play: You can see my children play the game here to learn more about it:
How to play: To play, children spin the spinner and follow the instructions. The instructions are often to help you gain a few pieces to put on your tree or to lose a few pieces from your colors tree.
How to play: Spin the spinner and let your child use the squirrel tongs to pick up the acorn that matches the color they got on the spinner. The winner fills up all their game board with acorns first.
4. Zingo – Zingo is truly one of my most favorite games EVER for toddlers and preschoolers. The game play is a lot of fun, not too hard and not too easy. It is similar to your classic bingo game but with strong cards and pieces for your children to use. This game teaches children to pay attention while they play so that they don’t miss out on a piece. This game is a favorite for me to give to friends as a birthday gift for 2 year olds. Zingo is one of my favorite preschool board games because my children learn new vocabulary words and this is a soft and gentle way to win or lose. The games go by pretty quickly so that you can play over and over again.
How to play: Each child gets a game board and then you use the zingo ‘machine’ to release 2 cards. If you have that item on your board you have to grab it first to place it on your board. The first to have all the pieces on their game board wins.
5. Snug as a bug in a rug – This is a nice cooperative game for little kids. The goal is to get all the bugs under the rug before the stink bugs are released. This game is great for kids who cannot yet handle losing.
6. The ladybug game – Kids use the colors, words, numbers and symbols to move their piece. The winner is the first person to get their ladybug back home.
7. Candyland – The Candyland toddler board game is definitely one of the best board games for toddlers and young children ages 2+. Children can quickly recognize colors on cards and move their game piece according to that color. I remember playing this game so much as a child and enjoying every minute of it. Yes, Candyland can be boring for an adult because a child is more challenged than the adult. I do, however, think it is a great game for children. Color recognition is usually one of the earliest math skills a child learns. Candyland is a lot easier than playing games with dice and counting. That is why this is one of the best board games for young children.
How to play: Children pick a card. The card contains a color. Children move their game piece according to the closest place that is the same color on their card.
How to play: You roll the dice and follow the instructions. If it says, “make a happy face.” Then you make a happy face.
9. Hoot Hoot Owl – This is one of our favorite board games for 3 year olds that can be easier or harder based on the level that you play.
What are your favorite preschool board games or board games for toddlers?
Tracy
3 more games that my kids loved are Willie Go Boom, Pizza Party & Splat. They’d be worth checking out if you haven’t.