Board Games For
Preschoolers
By Heidi Hoff
Many of us have tattered boxes of board games from our
childhoods in the attic waiting for the day when our children are old
enough to play. I have a vintage Trouble game from the 70's that I
play with my four-year-old daughter, even though the bubble is coated on
the inside with twenty years worth of dust, making it hard to tell if
she's just popped a 5 or a 6.
This past Christmas Santa brought Emily a few board games and she plays
them with enjoyment. Our family is now addicted, and before heading out to
the toy store to add to her collection I did a bit of research to find out
some of the best board games for preschoolers:
1. Goodnight
Moon Game by Briarpatch: If the book is in your child's
library then the board game will be popular too. It is a memory and
matching game that doesn't require the players to recognize letters or
numbers. In this game, everybody wins so if your Suzy isn't a very
gracious loser then the Goodnight Moon Game will suffice until she learns
how to accept defeat. For ages 3-6 years.
2. Maisy's
Counting Game by Briarpatch: Focuses on learning how to
count by matching puzzle pieces. This game can be adjusted according
to age and skill level and can be played three different ways. It
won the Parents Magazine award in 1997. For ages 3-6 years.
3. Franklin
Goes to School - The Game by Pressman: This game has a wide
age range making it possible for siblings to play together. The
questions are divided into age appropriate categories and also touch on
basic social values. Various skills such as spelling, observation
and counting are focused on. For ages 3-8 years.
4. I
Spy Preschool Game by Briarpatch: Good value for your money
as this game can be played five different ways. It is a visual
matching game that requires the players to find clues through rhyming and
visual discrimination. It won the Parents Magazine Award in 1998 and
Parents' Choice Approved 1998. For ages 3-6 years.
5. Colorforms
Silly Faces Preschool Game by University Games: A fun, goofy
game with no pressure of cards or dice to play. Spin and add the
feature that you land on to your blank face and watch the silliness
appear! The first person to complete a face wins. A great game
for children to play on their own while the siblings are in school.
For ages 3-7 years.
6. Mouse
Trap by Milton Bradley: When your preschooler reaches the
age when they're too old for some games and too young for others, Mouse
Trap seems to work as a good transitional game. My daughter doesn't
exactly stick to the rules and instead rushes through the building process
because she finds the end result so fascinating. I just view
it as a great introduction to the world of physics!
Ages 6+ years.
7. Memory Games: I've always loved the "match the picture"
type of memory games and there are several on the market to choose from.
Here are some of the more popular ones:
Original
Memory Game by Milton Bradley
Pooh
Memory Game by Hasbro
Barney
Memory Game by Milton Bradley
Mickey
and Friends Memory Game by Hasbro
I
Spy Memory Game by Briarpatch
Arthur
Memory Game by Milton Bradley
Busy Train Memory Game by Living and Learning
Maisy's Memory Game by Briarpatch
Pokemon
Memory Game by Hasbro
Your may already have a collection of games
that your family likes to gather around the table to play. Perhaps
you also have a few classics lurking in the back of your closet. The
best thing about games is the way they bring families together. Why
not start a tradition and have a game night once a week, starting tonight!
Heidi Hoff is publisher of Preschool
Planet, an e-zine for parents and caregivers of preschool aged children.
Articles discuss issues that concern youngsters between the ages of 3-5
years. There are also articles on health and safety, crafts and fun
things, book reviews and links and a section just for parents.
www.preschoolplanet.com
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