Educational preschool board games are an excellent way for children to learn important foundational skills such as counting, matching, and problem-solving in a fun way.
Not only do these types of games help kids develop their social skills and cognitive abilities, but they also provide parents or teachers with the opportunity to spend quality time together while teaching.
With so many different games for preschoolers available on the market today, it can be difficult to choose which one is best suited for your little ones’ learning needs.
Keep reading to explore some of the best educational board games for young children and how they can benefit your child’s development.
Board games provide children with an interactive, fun, and engaging way to learn important foundational skills.
Whether it’s counting, matching, or problem-solving, these types of games can give kids the perfect platform to practice while also spending quality time with their parents or teachers.
With so many different options available on the market, it’s important to choose the best educational board games for your little one’s learning needs. Doing so can open up a world of possibilities.
Most of our favorite preschool board games (shared below) can be enjoyed by the entire family! Which one will you add to your next family game night?
Preschool Board Games
Fun board games are a great way to help kids learn important academic skills like counting, matching, and problem-solving.
These games are fun and interactive, so children can have fun while learning. Parents or teachers can also spend quality time together teaching their kids.
There are lots of different board games for preschoolers that can help children reach their potential.
Connect 4
Connect 4 is a classic two-player strategy game that involves dropping colored disks into a vertical grid. The objective is to be the first player to connect four disks of the same color vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. This game requires planning, tactical thinking, and problem-solving skills to outmaneuver your opponent and emerge victorious.
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Let’s Go Fishin’
Let's Go Fishin' is a classic children's game that promises hours of entertainment and excitement. The game board features a rotating pond, with fish swimming beneath it. Players take turns using miniature fishing rods to hook as many fish as possible, while the fish open and close their mouths in a seemingly random pattern. The player with the most fish at the end of the game wins, making Let's Go Fishin' a simple yet engaging game that's perfect for children of all ages.
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Operation
Operation is a popular board game where players play the role of a doctor and use tweezers to remove various ailments from Cavity Sam's body. The ailments are represented by different objects, such as a broken heart, butterflies in the stomach, and a buzzer in the nose. The game helps to improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination in a fun and engaging way.
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Cootie
Cootie is a classic children's game that has been around for decades. It involves assembling a “cutie cootie,” which is essentially a toy bug, by rolling a die and collecting the corresponding parts (legs, eyes, etc.) on each turn. The first player to complete their cutie cootie wins. This game is not only so much fun, but also teaches children about counting, matching, and following directions.
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Scrabble Junior
Scrabble Junior is an entertaining and educational game that is perfect for kids who are learning how to read and write. With pre-programmed words on one side and a blank canvas on the other, children have the option to match tiles to the board or create their own words. This game is an excellent way to improve spelling, vocabulary, and language skills while having fun with family and friends.
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Hi Ho! Cherry-O
Hi Ho! Cherry-O is a fun-filled board game that is perfect for children who are between the ages of 3 to 6 years. It involves spinning a spinner that decides the number of cherries to pick off of your tree. The goal is to fill your basket with cherries before the other players while avoiding the spillage of cherries. This game not only helps develop children's fine motor skills but also encourages turn-taking and counting skills.
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Candyland
Candyland is a board game designed for children ages 3 to 6. It is a game of chance, where players draw cards to determine how many spaces they will move on the board. The goal is to reach the end of the board, where the players encounter King Kandy and can be declared the winner. The board is bright and colorful, featuring a sweet and charming candy theme, making this game a delightful choice for young children.
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Chutes and Ladders
Chutes and Ladders is a classic board game suitable for players of all ages. The game board contains 100 different squares, each with their own corresponding number. Players move their game pieces by rolling a dice, hoping to advance to the top of the board without landing on any of the slippery slides that can send them sliding down to the bottom. The game is designed to teach children the importance of good deeds and the consequences of bad deeds.
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Don’t Break the Ice
Don't Break the Ice is a fun and exciting game that requires both skill and strategy. It consists of a plastic frame on which several blocks of ice are placed in a grid pattern. Each player takes turns tapping out individual blocks of ice using a small plastic hammer. The objective is to remove as many blocks as possible without causing the penguin figurine to fall through the ice. The game is easy to play yet challenging to master, making it a popular choice among children and adults alike.
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Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos is an iconic board game that has been enjoyed by generations of children and adults. It involves four plastic hippos that race to gobble up as many marbles as possible from the center of the board using a lever. The game is fast-paced, entertaining, and highly competitive, making it a family favorite for decades.
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Ants in The Pants
Ants in The Pants is a fun-filled game that entails players racing to be the first to flip all their ants into the dog's pants. The game involves each player getting a set of plastic ants and a plastic pair of pants that has a dog's head attached. To win, players must use their fingers to flip the ants into the pants as quickly as possible, making for a hilarious and exciting game that can be enjoyed by all ages.
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Hoot Owl Hoot
Hoot Owl Hoot is a cooperative board game that aims to instill teamwork and problem-solving skills in young kids. Players take turns to match the colored cards and help the owls reach their nest before the sun rises. The game involves strategic planning, communication, and critical thinking, making it a fun and educational activity for families and kids.
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Memory
Memory is a classic game that challenges players to remember the locations of matching tiles. With 64 tiles featuring 32 colorful images of everyday items, this game is perfect for preschoolers who are developing their focus, memory, and matching skills.Clear instructions make it easy to learn, and Ravensburger's 130 years of experience ensure high-quality playtime for the whole family.
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My First Carcassonne
My First Carcassonne is a highly engaging and exciting board game that is specifically designed for kids. It is a simplified and kid-friendly version of the classic game Carcassonne, and features vibrant and whimsical art that enchants and captivates the imagination of kids. In this game, children get to compete with each other to strategically close streets and claim territories by using their colored children pawns, all while chasing after farm animals like sheep, hens and cows, with the ultimate aim of achieving victory!
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OUTFOXED
Outfoxed is a cooperative board game that is perfect for preschoolers aged four and up. The game revolves around the players working together to determine which fox stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. With the help of clues and a fun evidence scanner, players must use their deductive reasoning skills to rule out suspects before the guilty fox escapes.
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Why Play Board Games with Preschoolers?
Preschool board games are fun and give kids a chance to learn important skills like counting, matching, and problem-solving.
Kids can play the games with their parents or teachers and have lots of fun while learning!
These interactive games provide an opportunity for kids to learn important foundational skills in a social, engaging way.
Not only are you teaching them important skills, but you’re also having quality time with your little ones!
Parents or teachers can help guide their children as they play and make sure they understand the concepts being taught.
This is a great way to create a positive learning environment and ensure your child is reaching their full potential.
What are some of your favorite board games for 3-5 year olds? Leave us a comment and let us know.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
You know I never thought about playing board games with young kids. I have a 5 and 3 year old in the house. and trying to find some thing for them to do is hard, for me at least. But I did just finish making some Bingo cards for them.
This is exactly the kind of post that I’ve been looking for as I get ready to start my 3-year old on the path to homeschooling. Thank you for giving an overview of what each game is like and what kinds of skills they build.