10 Great Games for Preschoolers

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Family game nights are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, especially as kids get older.

While toddlers and preschoolers may not be able to sit through a long game of Monopoly, there are plenty of games that are perfect for active little ones to enjoy with their family.

Below you will find our ten favorite games for preschoolers.

You may also want to check out our other games for kids. 

games for preschoolers

Whether you’re looking for a few games to add to your own collection, or maybe you’re hunting for the perfect educational gift, these preschool games are sure to be a hit.

At the top of our list are some fun games to get your preschooler moving.

There are also plenty of classic board game options for preschoolers.

10 Great Games for Preschoolers

Elefun —  This was our first real game, and I’m going to admit I really loved the cute little elephant.  Not only is it fun to watch little ones run around, trying to catch the butterflies, but it also helps them work on hand-eye coordination and timing their body’s movements.

Bowling Set — Toddlers and preschoolers love balls.  They also love knocking stuff down.  That’s what makes a plastic bowling set like this adorable Melissa & Doug one a perfect game for little ones.

Gator Golf — Games like this are great for working on motor skills.  Plus, your child will love hitting the golf ball into the gator’s mouth and watching the mouth move when the ball goes in.

Hungry Hungry Hippos —  With all the fast-paced action of this game, preschoolers won’t get bored.  It’s a fun game for them to play with older siblings because all they need to do is hit that lever as fast as they can to get their hippo to “eat.”  It is definitely a noisy game, but so much fun!

Boggle Jr.  — Boggle Jr. is the perfect preschooler word game.  They can use the word cards and match the letter up to create their words, all the while working on early readings skills and having fun.

Chutes and Ladders —  Preschoolers can work on counting skills, taking turns, and playing fairly with this classic game.  Plus, there are lots of variations of this game, like the Marvel superhero one we have.

Candy Land Game —  Every preschooler needs this class board game that teaches young children how to take turns, play fairly, and follow directions.

Don’t Break the Ice — This is another game that is perfect for preschoolers.  Using the hammer to hit the blocks of ice is fun, plus they are getting lots of  needed proprioceptive input.   (This game is also great for working on sight word skills when kids are older.  Just use post-it notes to put words on each ice block and have them read the word before hitting it.)

Hi Ho Cherry-O — In this classic board game for preschoolers kids have fun picking fruit while working on math skills.

Monkeying Around — Take the plastic monkeys and hang them in the palm tree.  How many can you hang before they all come tumbling down?

games for toddlers & preschoolers

Whether you’re looking for a fun game to play on family game night, or the perfect preschooler gift, these great games for preschoolers are sure to be a hit.

Comments

  1. We have game time at least once a week. Some of our favorites are Scribblish by Cranium (hysterical!), Apples to Apples, Scrabble and Battleship. Who doesn’t love to say, “You sunk my battleship”?! We not only laugh a lot while playing but we find the girls open up just as much as they do at dinner time. It is nice to see them so relaxed and having fun with us.

    • Oh, I love Apples to Apples! I need to buy that one when the kids get older! I think that’s why it’s so important to do things like game night or eating dinner together – that opening up and just talking….

  2. We love games at our house. Two I would reccommend are Balloon Lagoon and Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus. (It’s a book too, but the game is great for little ones.)

    • I haven’t heard of either of those – one reason I love all my bloggy friends – great tips and ideas to share! Thanks! I will have to look for those!

  3. We play several games with the grandkids. The oldest granddaughter always loved matching and a Cranium game called Cariboo. I had to look it up on the net though and apparently they have a new version called Cariboo Island. The old version is considered collectible and to get it new runs $70 to $130….boo:-(. I don’t believe in collecting toys…they are to be played with! Other games we have enjoyed are Monopoly Jr, Piranhas, Rhino Rampage, Tumbling Monkeys, Chutes and Ladders, and the aforementioned Candyland. I’m sorry you’ve never played Candyland. They used to make a rug version of it (not sure if they still make it) that was a littler simpler than the boardgame that we played when the grandkids were younger. It was extra nice for the younger ones because the pieces were larger. The ages on most of the games mentioned are three and up but they can be enjoyed by younger kids with adult supervision My favorite is Monopoly Jr which the kids started playing around four or maybe a little younger:-)

    • Out of all the ones you’ve mentioned, I’ve only heard of Chutes and Ladders. I’m going to have to check out some of the others, especially the Tumbling Monkeys and Rhino Rampage… Sound like fun ones with little kids.
      I agree, I don’t keep toys hoping they will be collector’s items. Toys SHOULD be played with. That’s why most of the time when we are done with something I try to pass it on to someone who might like it. There are a few toys I’ve kept, though, that were favorites of the kid’s. So hard to get rid of everything. And there is the chance that one day their own kids might enjoy a few of their old toys.

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