Did you know that nearly 90 percent of a child’s brain development occurs before they reach kindergarten? Children’s experiences during their first five years are critical to ensuring they thrive once they begin school. However, teaching your child the skills they need to succeed can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, modeling healthy social and emotional skills can be easier than you thought! Family games are a fantastic way to make learning fun and exciting for your little one.
Our Favorite Preschool Games
- Don’t Break the Ice
- Chutes and Ladders
- Puzzles
- Candyland
Don’t Break the Ice!
Hasbro makes an incredible selection of family games for children and adults of all ages! Don’t Break the Ice is a fantastic way to teach preschoolers reasoning skills, patience, hand-eye coordination, and more. The goal of this game is to help Phillip the Penguin gather ice blocks for his new igloo without making him swim. Use the tiny hammers to knock out chunks of ice for Phillip one at a time, but don’t break the ice that holds him up!
Don’t Break the Ice is one of our favorite family games and is an excellent choice for two to four players, ages three and up. Your preschoolers will love the fun and exciting nature of this game, and you’ll love the skills they learn while they’re having fun!
Preschoolers Love Chutes and Ladders
Many preschoolers don’t yet know how to read. Chutes and Ladders is one of the classic family games that your whole family can play together without the need for perfect reading skills. Chutes and Ladders is a wonderful choice for preschoolers ages three and older that will help them develop skills in number recognition and counting. Spin the spinner and move your player around the board. Climb up the ladders, but avoid the chutes!
Add Chutes and Ladders to your collection of family games and enjoy playing it with your little ones!
Puzzles for Preschoolers
Although family games are a fantastic way to spend time together, another great way for preschoolers to develop essential skills is through puzzles. One of the best parts about incorporating puzzles into your child’s activities is that they come in a variety of sizes, styles, and difficulties. For preschoolers, select puzzles with 12 or 15 pieces. Animals are a prevalent theme for puzzles with children this age, but you can also find styles such as dinosaurs, space, fruits and vegetables, and even Disney themes. For preschoolers who are learning to read, purchase puzzles that work on basic words such as “bee” or “hat” with images included. These types of puzzles help with fine motor skills as well as early literacy!
Candyland
Who doesn’t remember playing Candyland growing up? This game is a fantastic way for older adults to connect with preschoolers by sharing the family games that they grew up with. The goal of the game is to move your gingerbread man around the board and reach the castle. Draw cards and follow along as you pass Gummy Hills, the Duke of Swirl, and Lollypop Woods! Candyland is for children ages three and up, and there is no reading required!
The staff at The Breakie Bunch dedicates themselves to ensuring your child receives the high-quality educational experiences they need to thrive. Our child care facility features developmentally appropriate learning activities, games, and more to keep your child happy and healthy.