Games are a great way for 4 year olds to learn new skills while having fun. Games help teach preschoolers about social interactions, taking turns, and following rules. They also help with emotional development by teaching anger management, frustration tolerance, and how to cope with winning and losing. In this blog post, we will discuss 35 of the best games for 4 year olds!
Why play games with preschoolers?
Playing games is a great way for preschoolers to learn new skills while having fun. Games help teach them about social interactions, taking turns, and following rules. They also help with emotional development by teaching anger management, frustration tolerance, and how to cope with winning and losing. In addition, playing games can improve cognitive skills such as memory, problem solving, and critical thinking.
What makes a game work for a 4 year old?
Not all games are appropriate for a four year old. In order for a game to be beneficial, it should be developmentally appropriate and engaging. Games that are too easy or too hard can quickly lead to boredom. The games included in this list have been selected because they are enjoyable and challenging for four year olds. When choosing a game for a 4 year old, focus on games that are:
- Exciting–You want the game to keep your child’s attention.
- Teaches skills–Playing a game is the perfect chance to teach your child counting, colors, reading, cooperation, and more!
- Short time frame–Games should not last too long or the child may lose interest.
35 of the best games for 4 year olds
Choosing games with your 4 year old can be tricky. Some games are much too complicated for a preschooler, while others involve large amounts of reading. But the best games for 4 year olds will provide lots of fun without overwhelming your child. Some of our favorite games for preschoolers are found below.
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Help the owls get home to their nest! This game is a great way to teach kids about colors, working together, and taking turns. Players take turns moving owls around the board. This is a great cooperative game. It’s a nice chance for younger players to be part of a team to solve a problem!
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This game is a great way to teach kids about being careful. Players take turns trying to remove spaghetti from the bowl without making the yeti fall.
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This game is a great way to teach kids about strategy and working together. Players are challenged to help their foxes catch the farmer’s chickens before they are all caught.
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This game is a great way to teach kids about following rules and being careful. Players take turns acting out the story of Little Red Riding Hood with puzzles.
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This game is a great way to teach kids about problem solving. Work together to help the dinosaurs get to the island before the valley fills up with lava! This game is for kids age 4-8, and requires no reading!
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Bingo with a Zing! Zingo is a great game for teaching kids phonics and vocabulary. Players match pictures on their cards with the corresponding words on the board.
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This game is a great way to teach kids about balance and coordination. Players take turns stacking blocks as high as they can. Don’t knock down the stack!
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Uno is a great game for teaching kids how to follow rules. This is one of the first games we have taught our young kids. It’s a great way to reinforce number and color learning. Players draw cards and play them one at a time, trying to get rid of all their cards before the other players. This game can be played with two to ten players.
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This game is a great way to teach kids about numbers and counting. Players draw cards and try to slap the Jack card before their opponents can. My kids love trying to win the hand. This is a great movement friendly game for wiggly kids!
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This game is a great way to teach kids about making choices and being funny. Players take turns acting out situations from the card deck. The other players then try to make them laugh.
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Get the whole family up and moving! Players help the pirates find their treasure by following clues. Grown ups can lay out a treasure trail and then wait for the kids to solve it.
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You’ve always wanted to play this with your kids…and maybe you have. Players try to avoid the lava. The game comes with tiles and cards for game play, making it easier to say yes when the kids want to play. No tearing apart your house or furniture necessary!
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This game is a great way to teach kids about balance and coordination. See how much you can stack on the orangutang before he snaps! This game can be played with two or more players.
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Remember this classic game? Introduce your kids to the magic of your childhood with this sweet game. Candyland is a great game for teaching kids about colors and following rules. Players draw cards and move their pieces along the board.
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Chutes and Ladders is a great game for teaching kids about counting and taking turns. Players move their pieces up the ladders and down the chutes. This game can be played with two to four players.
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Sequence for Kids is a great game for teaching kids about colors and patterns. Players place tiles in a row, trying to create a sequence.
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Hi Ho Cherry O is a great game for teaching kids about colors and counting. Players take turns picking pretend fruit to fill their baskets. First to fill their basket wins!
Daniel Tiger Welcome to Main Street
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Daniel Tiger Welcome to Main Street is a great game for teaching kids about social skills. Players help Daniel and his friends with tasks around the neighborhood. Perfect for learning counting!
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Do you have a Paw Patrol lover? This Paw Patrol Pop Up Game is a great game for teaching kids about following rules. Players take turns popping the pups out of their pup houses. First player home wins!
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Matching Game is a great game for teaching kids about colors and matching. Players take turns flipping over two cards, trying to match the pictures. This is a great game for younger kids who haven’t learned to read yet, but still works for older kids too!
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Super Why ABC Game is a great game for teaching kids about letters and words. Players take turns flying Super Why to help characters solve problems. This game introduces kids to phonics and rhyming.
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Fishing Game is a great game for teaching kids about counting and taking turns. Players take turns fishing for the different fish. This is one of the earliest games our kids played. Even kids as young as 2 can play!
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Sneaky Snacky Squirrel is a great game for teaching kids about colors, matching skills, and strategic thinking. Players take turns flipping over cards, trying to find the matching acorns with the logs.
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Alphabet BINGO is a great game for teaching kids about letters and words. Players take turns calling out letters, trying to find them on their BINGO cards.
Noah’s Animal Rescue Board Game
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Noah’s Animal Rescue Board Game is a great game for teaching kids about animals and following rules. Players help Noah rescue the animals from the flood.
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Take turns feeding funny snacks to the Woozle! This game helps kids develop cooperation and fine motor skills! No reading required so even the smallest kids can play!
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Snug as a Bug in a Rug is a great game for teaching kids about colors, shapes, colors, and matching. Help all the colorful bugs find a safe place before the stinkbugs stink up the place!
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Don’t Break the Ice is a great game for teaching kids about taking turns. Players take turns tapping on the ice, trying to stop the penguin from falling in.
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Shark Bite is a great game for teaching kids about counting and taking turns. Fish for colorful fish, but be careful. You never know when a shark will bite!
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Spot it Jr. is a great game for teaching kids about colors and matching. Players take turns flipping over cards, trying to find the matching symbols.
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Feed the Hungry Caterpillar is a great game for teaching kids about counting, matching, colors, and puzzle building. Players take turns feeding the caterpillar different fruits.
Pete the Cat the Missing Cupcakes
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Pete the Cat the missing cupcakes is a great game for teaching cooperation. Players help Pete find his missing cupcakes from Grumpy Toad.
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Soggy Doggy is a great game for teaching kids about taking turns. Players take turns washing the dog, trying not to get him wet.
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Hungry Hungry Hippos is a great game for teaching kids about counting and taking turns. Players take turns feeding the hippos different pieces of fruit.
Need more game ideas? Read: Games to Play During Winter Break
Games are a great way to teach preschoolers social, emotional, and learning skills. Games for 4 year olds are also a fun way to bond as a family.