Take a look at these 13 super fun and educational games for preschoolers that you both will love. Each game introduces a new skill to promote learning and development.
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1) Stack Up
Goal of the game: Work with another player to balance 12 blocks before the “Stack Smasher” walks across the game board.
What you should know: Stack up is a cooperative game, which means players work together not against each other to win. It also has 3 game variations that increase in difficulty.
Skills it works on: Teamwork, eye-hand coordination, grading pressure, problem-solving, following directions, and perseverance.
2) Pengoloo
Goal of the game: Collect 6 penguins by matching the colors on the dice to the eggs hiding under the penguins.
What you should know: Pengoloo will challenge visual and working memory.
Skills it works on: Counting, color recognition, matching, following directions, turn-taking, and memory.
3) Alphabet Island
Goal of the game: Race to collect the most matches by matching letters or sounds (depending on your game of choice).
What you should know: Alphabet Island is a simple board game that focuses on matching letters and sounds. It’s a lot of fun for everyone, and is especially beneficial for kid’s who need additional help learning letters.
Skills it works on: Vocabulary, letter recognition, letter sounds, matching, reaction time, following directions, and attention.
4) Zingo 1-2-3
Goal of the game: Be the first player to cover the entire game card by matching all the numbers picked to the numbers on your card.
What you should know: Number Bingo is one variation of the favorite Zingo games. Each game focuses on a different skill (sight words, three letter words, etc.). This number game comes with double-sided cards with 1:1 correspondence on one side and basic addition on the other.
Skills it works on: Number recognition, counting, reaction time, addition, fine motor skills.
5) Silly Street
Goal of the game: Complete different challenges to earn points and reach the end of Silly Street. Some challenges are silly, some are tricky, and all address different aspects of development.
You should know: The Silly Street board game is a large 8 piece interlocking puzzle that kids first have to put together to set up the game.
Skills it works on: Creativity, turn-taking, problem-solving, communication, dramatic play, and self-confidence.
6) Pancake Pile-Up!
Goal of the game: Complete a pancake order by by sequencing and stacking the pancakes as the order shows.
What you should know: Pancake Pile-Up! is a relay race game that gets kids up and moving.
Skills it works on: Balance, coordination, visual perception, sequencing, following directions, teamwork, and concentration.
7) Shelby’s Snack Shack Game
Goal of the game: Spin the spinner and collect the most doggie bones to add to your doggie bowl.
You should know: Shelby’s Snack Shack is my favorite game from the Educational Insight’s fantastic line of squeezer games. This one is focuses on early math skills. It is recommended for ages 4 and up.
Skills it works on: Number recognition, counting, turn-taking, following directions, and fine motor skills.
8) Jumping Jack
Goal of the game: Collect more carrots than your opponent or catch Jack when he jumps up to win the game.
What you should know: Jumping Jack is probably my favorite preschool game of all time (the kids seem to enjoy it as well;). The anticipation of waiting for Jack to jump keeps kids super engaged, alert, and focused, and the rules are easy to learn.
Skills it works on: Turn-taking, following directions, counting, reaction time, fine motor, and patience.
9) Feed Fuzzy
Goal of the game: Feed all the acorns to Fuzzy before your opponent.
What you should know: Feed Fuzzy is a super cute game with easy to learn rules that will keep your child engaged and learning.
Skills it works on: Color and number recognition, counting, following directions, turn-taking, fine motor skills, bilateral coordination.
10) Eye-Spy Eagle Eye
Goal of the game: Find a picture on your game board that matches a picture on card drawn, and ring the bell before your opponent.
What you should know: I Spy Eagle Eye is fun for kids of all ages and even adults. It comes with 4 double sided board games and 30 double-sided cards.
Skills it works on: Visual discrimination, attention, perception, reaction time, following directions, and perseverance.
11) Charades for Kids
Goal of the game: Act out the words on the cards that you draw. The player who guesses correctly 3 times (only 1 guess allowed per turn) wins the game.
What you should know: Charades for Kids is designed for 3 or more players (but you can modify). No reading is required for one variation of the game.
Skills it works on: Vocabulary, imagination, creativity, problem-solving, planning, self-confidence.
12) Sophie’s Seashell Scramble
Goal of the game: Collect 5 seashells to cover your snack mat game board before your opponent.
What you should know: Sophie’s Seashell Scramble focuses on visual discrimination and attention to detail as children match the patterns of seashells in the game board to the ones on their snack mat
Skills it works on: grip strength, matching, turn-taking, pattern recognition, and discrimination, following directions, and concentration.
13) Banana Blast
Goal of the game: Collect the most bananas! You earn two extra ones if you catch the monkey when it jumps. Make sure you’re ready and focused because the monkey may jump at any point.
What you need to know: Players take turns rolling the die and following the directions shown. You will either have to pull one banana, pull two bananas, share a banana with a friend or steal a banana.
What else you need to know: This game is based purely on luck so no strategy is involved. There will be lots of anticipation and excitement though. :)
Skills it works on: Reaction time, following directions, taking turns, fine motor strength, counting, and sustained attention.
Learn more or purchase Banana Blast.