The Best Games for Preschool Children

Preschoolers have way more energy that most parents do.  It's just a natural fact.  When bad weather comes along and you can't take your younger children to the park to play as often, you may want to find games to play indoors. Not only will it mean some great memories and time together they can learn while they are at it.

If you’re like most people, you remember playing board games with your brothers and sisters, maybe even your parents.  This was before nights where families played games together became known as “Family Fun Night” or “Family Game Night”.  You may remember hours spent playing Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, or Sorry.  Maybe your family had Operation for when you got older, then you most likely graduated to games like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit.

Those games are still around if you want to share them with your children, but you may also want to find newer games to play with them.  These are some of the best games for preschoolers that are recommended by experts and parents alike:

* Goodnight Moon Game – This is a game based on the popular preschool book by the same name.  Made by Briarpatch, it is recommended for children 3 to 6 years old.  The game encourages the use of matching and remembering where things are.  Children playing do not have to be able to recognize letters or numbers, so it’s good for very young children.  Everyone wins in this game so you don’t have to worry about one of the children being a poor loser.

* I Spy Preschool Game, also developed by Briarpatch, is based upon the book series “I Spy”.  It’s a matching game, but there are five ways that it can be played.  It can also be played with rhymes.  It was designed for 3 to 6 year olds and is an award-winning game.

* Chutes and Ladders – This board game has been around for years.  Children move their game pieces up and down a board of 100 spaces that has chutes (slides) and ladders that the pieces land on.  The game teaches beginning counting, taking turns, and the concept of losing.

Spongebob Bingo & Dominoes - A lively and fun game based upon the loveable Nickelodeon character Spongebob Squarepants. The bingo game comes with 4 bingo cards with the most popular characters...Spongebob, Sandy Cheeks, Patrick Star, Gary, and Mr. Crabs on varying colored circles. Use the spinner to find out where you lay the game chips. The dominoes also star the characters inlcuding Plankton.

Magical Gems Fishing Game Disney Princess - A fun game for little girls and their young brothers. With the Disney Princess Magical Gems Fishing Game by Cardinal Games, use the magic wand to catch the moving Gems. Boards rotates as magic gems open and close. Includes - Motorized game Board, 21 gems and 4 Fishing Wands.

Of course, there are other types of games to play with your preschooler.  Children love to play games that allow them to move.  Duck, Duck, Goose is one game that children enjoy.  It teaches children to take turns and how to listen carefully.  Another game you can play with your preschool child is Simon Says.  Remember that game?  You listen to what “Simon” says and do it.  If “Simon” didn’t say to do something and you still do it, you’re out.  This is a great game to teach taking turns and listening, and is a game you can play with your child.

Many experts recommend not allowing your young children to play computer games because it doesn’t develop a young child’s imagination.  However, there are other aspects to a child’s mind that needs to be developed as well.  Of course, you don’t want to plop your infant in front of a television or computer screen for long periods of time every day.  However, there are many good quality computer games your child can play that will encourage their thinking, introduce them to learning concepts, and teach them skills they’ll need in the future. 

The best games for preschoolers come in a variety of formats – board games, active games, and computer games.  Your task as a parent is to find the best games for your child and to help them enjoy them.

More: Games for Kids

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