The Best Games for Preschoolers (That Actually Teach)
Games can be powerful learning tools for preschoolers. Our favorite games inspire learning without pressure. They’re fun to play, and actually teach valuable early learning skills too.
If you’ve ever watched your preschooler melt down over another color-by-number worksheet, but beg to play one more round of a card game, you’ve figured it out. Games are a secret homeschool hack!
There’s something about sitting down at the table, rolling dice, shuffling cards, and taking turns that gets everyone engaged and makes resistance disappear. Suddenly, kids aren’t thinkinga bout practicing counting, they’re thinking about winning the game.
The secret is that they’re quietly building skills that will stick with them for years during your family game night. That’s why games are one of our favorite homeschool preschool tools. They aren’t a reward for finishing school work; they are the work!
Why Games Work for Preschool Learning
Games work so well for preschool learning because their brains are built to learn through movement, repetition, play, and connection. Playing games together checks all those boxes.
When kids play the same games over and over, they’re not getting bored with drilling facts and flashcards. Instead, repetition happens naturally through play. At this age, when skill-building happens through play, it really sticks.
Playing games with preschoolers creates a low-pressure environment where kids don’t have to be afraid to get the answer wrong. They can always just try again on their next turn. It’s a way to encourage them to keep trying without fear, which is effective for kids.
Plus, you’re building lifelong skills like waiting patiently, taking turns, learning to lose, and teamwork in a way that’s natural. The best games for preschoolers are a win-win!
Counting & Early Math Games
Sometimes math can feel like the most stressful subject in your homeschool, even with preschoolers. When you introduce numbers through games, that pressure just disappears. With these games, it feels less like “doing math” and more like play.
- Acorn Soup
- Candyland
- Chutes and Ladders
- Clumsy Thief Junior
- First Orchard
- Go Go Little Penguin
- Hi Ho Cherry-O
- Jump 1
- Noodle Knockout
- Red Light Green Light 1-2-3
- Shelby’s Snack Shack Game
- Skip-Bo Junior
- Sophie’s Seashell Scramble
- Sum Swamp
- The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
- Tiny Polka Dot
- UNO Junior
- Zingo! 1-2-3 Number Bingo
When you’re looking for math games to play with your preschoolers, keep an eye out for games like these that involve counting spaces, sorting shapes and colors, or matching amounts to numbers. Games like these don’t have to be complicated; simple is often best.
The goal at this age isn’t adding and subtracting; it’s about helping kids get comfortable with numbers. There are lots of games you’d probably never label as “educational” that are perfect for this category.
Letter Recognition & Early Reading
Learning the alphabet before kindergarten is a goal lots of homeschool moms have. Games can be the most effective way to do that. Check out some of our favorite games for teaching letter recognition and building early reading skills below.
- Alphabet Bungo
- Alphabet Go Fish
- Alphabet Island
- Alphabet Soup
- Alphabet Splat!
- Boggle Jr.
- Frieda’s Fruit Fiesta Game
- Kangaroo Cravings
- POP for Letters
- POP for Sight Words
- Sequence Letters
- Story Cubes
- Super Genius Alphabet
- Very Hungry Caterpillar Spin & Seek
Letter games like these create opportunities for kids to become familiar with letters. Learning letters while playing a game like Alphabet Go Fish is way more fun than memorizing alphabet flashcards. It’s exactly the kind of low-pressure repetition preschoolers need.
The best thing about games in this category is that they don’t introduce all the letters at once. Kids can focus on just a few and get better at them before adding more letters and sounds.
Memory, Matching & Thinking Skills
Memory and matching games might be the most underestimated category on the list. On the surface, these games feel too simple, but what’s happening underneath is what’s really special. Discover some of the best games in this category below.
- Cootie
- Enchanted Forest Game
- Disney Eye Found It
- Guess in 10 Junior
- HABA Here, Fishy, Fishy!
- Labyrinth Junior
- Outfoxed!
- Pengaloo
- Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcake Game
- Raccoon Rumpus
- Seek-a-Boo!
- Sequence for Kids
- Spot It! Animals
- Zingo! Bingo with a Zing
These games help preschoolers get really good at noticing the difference between similar items. It’s a skill that’s really important for learning to read. It can help kids discriminate between letters like “b” and “d” later. Games like these quietly do the prep work for literacy through play.
Memory games also help kids develop skills like focus and concentration. Remembering where items are while you wait for your turn takes a lot of effort! Games make it easy to practice these skills while having fun together.
Cooperative & Social Skill Games
Cooperative games where everyone works together to win are really different than games where you’re competing against eachother. They’re wonderful for preschoolers because they take the sting out of losing and help kids build communication skills as they work together.
The best cooperative and social skill games help preschoolers learn while you all have fun together. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Bunny Brunch
- Count Your Chickens
- Dizzy Duckies
- eeBoo Fairytale Spinner Game
- eeBoo Gathering a Garden
- eeBoo Tea Party Game
- Feed the Woozle
- Friends and Neighbors
- HABA Building Site Game
- Hoot Owl Hoot
- Snail Express
- Snug as a Bug in a Rug
- Wildcraft
My favorite thing about playing cooperative games together is the connection. When you’re playing together, you get to laugh and learn together too.
Just Plain Fun
Not every game needs a clear academic objective. Some of the most valuable games in our home are the ones that make us laugh. Silly games can still teach. They build vocabulary and communication skills because they get us talking. These are the games we remember.
- Ants in the Pants
- Crocodile Dentist
- Don’t Break the Ice
- Don’t Step in It!
- Don’t Spill the Beans
- HABA Animal Upon Animal
- Honey Bee Tree Game
- Hungry Hungry Hippo
- Kids On Stage
- Let’s Go Fishin’ Game
- Pancake Pile-Up
- The Floor is Lava Game
- Yeti in My Spaghetti
A preschooler who associates homeschool and learning with fun and connection is building a strong foundation you can build on for years to come. This is how we build lifelong learners. Games that get our kids begging to play are totally worth it.
How to Use Games in Your Homeschool
Using games in your homeschool is all about intentionally incorporating games into your daily rhythm and family time. Creating a game rotation is one way we have made it easier to play more games together while we homeschool.
A game rotation can help you make sure you’re getting enough variety and keep games new and exciting. A basket or shelf with three or four games at a time is a great way to get started. Keep the games at eye level so your preschooler can see them and choose independently.
Another way to encourage game play for preschoolers is to make games part of your morning routine. A quick play game before you settle in for more challenging lessons is a great way to get kids thinking and ready to learn. Plus, it’s a fun way to signal the start of the school day. Check out our list of 50+ Quick Play Games for Busy Homeschool Days to get the scoop on more fun games you can add to your preschool play time.
More Homeschool Preschool Resources
If you’re loving the idea of using games to teach your preschooler, but you’re also thinking… okay, but how do I actually make this work every day?… you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why we created the Playful & Purposeful Preschool Bundle. It’s a simple, done-for-you way to bring more play-based learning into your homeschool without overthinking it. Inside, you’ll find a full 26-week plan along with printables, hands-on activities, games, and pretend play ideas that make it easy to turn everyday moments into meaningful learning.
And if you want even more inspiration for your homeschool preschool, check out these next:
- Homeschool Preschool: What I’d Do Differently (If I Could Start Over)
- How To Create A Homeschool Preschool That Really Works
- Homeschooling Preschool? This Is What I Wish I’d Known
I’d love to read more about what your preschoolers are into right now. Drop a comment to tell us about your favorite games to play and the homeschool preschool resources you absolutely love. Then, share this list with other preschool moms you know.
