Preschool Games

From LoveToKnow Kids

Characteristics of Good Preschool Games

Preschool games help young children to learn and develop new skills. These include coordination, fine and gross motor skills, communication, identifying patterns, pre-reading and early phonics skills, basic mathematics, and much more. Here are a few tips for finding good preschool games to keep your child learning and having fun.

Short and Sweet

With their short attention spans, preschoolers tend to be distracted easily. Look for games don't require long periods of concentration. Also look for games that don't require too many rules or need to be explained at length -- your little one's mind is likely to wander, which may end up leaving you both frustrated.

Age Appropriateness

Look for games that are age appropriate. Most board games and many video games give general age spans. Game objectives can usually allow a parent or caregiver to gauge if the game will work for a preschooler.

Color and Theme

Most preschoolers love bright colors. They are also attracted to familiar themes and objects. Look for games with themes your preschooler is interested in. To try games with new concepts or themes, connect them to something else the child is already familiar with. A game that is bright and inviting will help hold a child's interest.

Challenge and Imagination

While you want to get games that are age appropriate and easy for your child to understand, you also want to encourage mental stimulation with preschool games that challenge his skill level. Using imagination also helps develop new skill sets.

Interaction

Look for games with lots of interaction with other players. The preschool age is the perfect time to work on communicating and interacting with others. Having to take turns and talk to one another helps children to understand more of the social learning process.

Other things you may want to look for in games for preschoolers include durability and easy clean up.

Board Games

There are dozens of different board games on the market for preschool age children. Great classic games include:

Candy Land
Memory
Chutes and Ladders
Ants in the Pants
Hungry Hungry Hippos

Cranium's line of games includes several popular preschool selections, like Cariboo and Hullabaloo, that combine fun, learning, and imagination.

For more learning games, check online or at educational stores like Holcomb's.

Online Games for Preschoolers

The Internet can be a wonderful resource for preschool games. For safety, either play the online games with your child or monitor usage with filters or parental Internet controls to make sure unwanted content is kept away from little eyes. If you don't have parental controls, Blue Coat offers a great filtering program called K-9 Web Protection that is absolutely free, with no catches or spam.

Good online game sites include:

Outdoor and Active Games

Outdoor and active preschool games don't need to be complicated. Kids this age enjoy simple games like tag or running races. Another all time favorite is hide and seek.

Make a simple obstacle course for a creative game. This also reinforces the concept of sequences and directions. Have a nature scavenger hunt to find different types of flowers, rocks, and leaves. Sports games like kickball and catch are good starters, and preschoolers usually catch on quickly to the dynamics of a sport.

Preschool Party Games

For a preschooler's party, it's best to limit the games to two to three. Choose games that complement the party theme and your child's interests. Children are bound to be energetic and excited, so avoid overcomplicated games or those that require lengthy explanation The old standbys of musical chairs, balloon races, and pin the tail on the donkey -- or other animal or theme object -- are still popular. A treasure hunt game or simple relay race is sure to be a hit. A bean bag or penny toss is also a fun game for preschoolers. Crafts games are also an all time favorite, and the finished product can double as a party favor as well.

Non-competitive and Creative Games

Preschools games don't always need to have a clear winner or loser. Kids are often very disappointed in not being the winner of a game, whether it's a backyard family game or a birthday party game. Some of the best activities are those in which everyone is just having fun, and everyone is a winner.

Some ideas for non-competitive and creative games are: