Do you need some alternatives to Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders? Sure, there's nothing wrong with those classic games for preschoolers, but sometimes you want a change, am I right? A few games to make family game night a bit more interesting? Here are some of the best games for ages 3-6, including logic games, cooperative board games, even games that get everyone moving.
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Some of these games come with a manufacturer's recommended age as 5 and up, but I've only selected games which I feel are also suitable for kids as young as 3, albeit with some alterations.
Table of contents
Games that Burn Energy
Here are a couple of fun games that even the most squirmy of kids will enjoy!
Monkey Around
Find it: Monkey Around
Preschoolers need to move and Monkey Around is the game for them. Simple actions like drawing a card, performing an action and placing the card on an oversized tree game board give kids an easy introduction to the concept of game play. Plus they will love the included beanbag banana. Tossing and catching it will help them develop coordination and gross motor skills.
Yoga Dice
Find it: Amazon
Taking turns, players role yoga dice. They attempt to perform the yoga position depicted on the dice. Yoga stretches bodies, improves gross motor skills and coordination. The fact that so many of the positions twist up the body like a pretzel makes kids laugh as they try and complete them. So it not only gets the muscles moving, it gets the smiles coming and we all know happy children as contented children. The manufacturer recommends Yoga Dice for ages 6 and up, but younger kids can play, too.
MORE: Games that get kids moving and thinking
Cooperative Games
Cooperative games are becoming increasingly popular. I like these choices for preschoolers because competition can be stressful for young kids and teaching cooperative skills is always a good thing!
Outfoxed
Find it: Amazon
Players band together to solve the mystery of Mrs. Plumpert's missing pot pie. While the deductive logic necessary to connect the dots to identify the right suspect may seem simplistic to grown-ups, preschoolers will find joy in catching the fox before he gets away with his crime.
Lion In My Way
Buy it: Amazon
This is such a unique game and will definitely encourage a lot of creative thinking and group problem solving! Players draw cards with random objects. Then, path cards are set out and using their object cards, players brainstorm how they would use those object to get through the obstacles on the path!
Hoot Owl Hoot
Find it: Amazon
Hoot Owl Hoot is one of our absolute favorite cooperative games and a terrific game for preschoolers. Players draw colored squares to help their baby owls get back to the nest before the sun rises. Unlike a game like Candy Land, which depends solely on the luck of the draw, Hoot Owl Hoot requires strategic thinking and basic logic, making it fun even for the grown-ups who play with their kids!
MORE: Best award winning games for every age
Rivers, Roads and Rails
Find it: Amazon
What preschoolers doesn't love all things transportation? This game requires kids to use their visual perception skills to match cards together and create pathways of an ever changing network of rivers, roads and rails. It's like a puzzle and board game in one! The game can be played competitively, but for preschoolers, it is best as a cooperative game.
Richard Scarry Busy Town
Find it: Amazon
What I like best about this game is that siblings and friends work cooperatively to find objects on the board and solve the puzzles. The addition of magnifying lenses is a fun touch. The board is huge, six feet long, so you can play on the floor; it's perfect for kids who have a hard time sitting still in chairs at the table.
Logic Games
These logic games for preschoolers designed as single player games, but the younger the child, the more help they will need to complete the puzzles. They offer ample opportunity for grown-ups to help guide kids ages 3-6 towards developing problem solving skills and developing a growth mindset
My First Rush Hour
Find it: Amazon
When people ask me for a gift suggestion, this is my #1 game recommendation. Rush Hour appeals to kids who like cars and trucks (you may know one of those) and parents who want a game that helps build logical thinking and strategic spatial awareness. The player arranges the vehicles in a grid lock according to the challenge games in a deck of puzzle cards. Then player must move each vehicle one by one until he is able to drive the red car free of the traffic jam. It is primarily a solitary game (a trait appreciated by harried parents) but as the child tries to solve the higher level puzzles, parents can provide valuable assistance.
Little Red Riding Hood
Find it: Amazon
This fun game merges storytelling and a logic game! The game includes a story book, plus 48 puzzles. Kids strive to get Little Red to grandma's house before the wolf gets there! Also available in Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty and The Three Piggies versions.
Preschool Versions of Popular Games
Some of popular games are preschool versions of classics, others are games that have continued to stand the test of time to become favorites!
Spot It, Jr.
Find it: Amazon
This very popular game of visual perception is great to have on hand when you are on the go. There are several variations so players don't get bored and children of all ages can participate. Players race to be the first person to spot which cards have the same object. It sounds simple, but it's not as easy as it looks! As this game has increased in popularity, the creator put out new themed versions so there is something for everyone.
Boogle Jr
Find it: Amazon
This is the classic word hunt game and should be a staple in everyone's game closet! I loved playing this as a kid and still enjoy it as a parent. You might think Boggle, with its reading requirement is too advanced for 3-6 year olds. However, this a simpler version for preschoolers that helps them with letter recognition and pre-reading skills.
MORE: 15 Word games for kids
Bingo
Find it: Eebook Bingo Games at Amazon
Bingo has the unusual good fortune of being a game that young children can play with their older siblings. Originally I thought I'd be bored playing this game with the kids, but it was surprisingly fun, which I suppose is why these classic-type games stand the test of time to become, well… classics! I LOVE these eeBoo versions because of their lovely graphics, often done by well known children's book illustrators like Keven Hawkes and Melissa Sweet.
Pengoloo
Find it: Amazon
Pengoloo is a super cute matching color game with wooden penguins. Each penguin sits atop and hides a colored egg. Players must use their memory to recall which color is under each penguin. The first player to find the requisite number of matching pairs, wins.
I Never Forget a Face Memory Game
Buy it: Amazon
Memory is a classic game that is perfect for honing a 3 year old's patience, memory and visual perception skills! Classic games stick around because they offer a universally enjoyable and satisfying experience. I adore this version of Memory by eeBoo. The sturdy cards feature faces from all around the world, and kids will love to talk about what they see, building global awareness.
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game
Find it: Amazon
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel has become a modern classic game for preschoolers and is an excellent choice should you wish for a break from Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders! Players race to collect acorns using a variety of skills. It teaches color recognition, works fine motor skills and develops early strategic thinking.
Sequence for Kids
Find it: Amazon
I love the original version of Sequence and am delighted there is a version even kids as young as 3 can play. Players attempt to get four in a row by matching animal cards to the pictures on the board. A three-year-old may not have much of a strategy at first, but as they keep playing, they'll catch on and learn valuable planning skills.
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