Playing a board game with your preschooler can not only be fun, but it can also teach many character traits without even trying. Check out these five games below that were created with important life lessons in mind.
1. Friends and Neighbors
- Ages: Recommended for ages 3+, many two year olds could also play
- Players: 1-4
- Time Length: 10 Minutes
- The Game: This is a matching game, but not your typical matching game. In this game your job is to find what would make each friend feel better. If a child is afraid of the dark, find the night light. If a boy falls down and hurts a knee, he needs a bandaid for his match.
- Character Traits: This game focuses on empathy and compassion. The friends on the game board express different emotions, by helping your child identify the difference between sadness, frustration, anger, or fear they are gaining the knowledge needed to emphasize with others. The game then goes one step further by asking your child to act compassionately by matching their need.
2. Guess It. Get It. Gumballs.
- Ages: Ages 4+
- Players: 2-4
- Time Length: 15 Minutes
- The Game: This is a cooperative game in which everyone works together to complete a rainbow of gumballs before they find the stinkface. Children have the opportunity make faces in the mirror that reflect different emotions (silly, sad, happy etc.).
- Character Traits: Like the Friends and Neighbors game above this game helps preschoolers learn to identify different feelings which helps them to become more empathic. In addition, this game focuses on cooperation and teamwork as everyone is working together to win.
3. Animal Acts
- Ages: Ages 4+
- Players: 2 or more players (For children to play with their grown up)
- Time Length: 30 Minutes +
- The Game: Animal Acts is a charades like game. In addition to miming, it also includes acting and singing. Each player is required to act, sing and mime in order to fill their card and win.
- Character Traits: Animal Acts promotes communication skills and creativity. However, most importantly it is a game that children can play to build confidence and work on bravery. It allows each child the opportunity to get out of their comfort zone and perform, communicate and share their ideas in a fun and safe environment.
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4. Rainbow Fish Share and Sparkle
- Ages: Ages 3+
- Players: 2-4 Players
- Time Length: 15 Minutes
- The Game: Players work together to collect the sparkly scales of all the fish. Children share and work together while adding scales to each fish in order for all the fish to beat the wave. The Rainbow Fish game is based off the classic Rainbow Fish book. In the game, color recognition, counting, teamwork and patience are all included.
- Character Traits: Like Guess It. Get It. Gumballs, this is a cooperative game in which all players work together to win against the wave! Players must share and think together promoting teamwork in the process. In addition, this game encourages patience and self control as sometimes the best strategy is to wait for a piece and not take it right away. This sense of delayed gratification is not an easy concept for preschoolers.
5. Snug as a Bug
- Ages: Ages 3+
- Players: 2-4 Players
- Time Length: 15 Minutes
- The Game: Children work together to help the bugs to safety. Children will take turns and use colors, numbers, dice and a spinner in order to save the bugs as a team.
- Character Traits: This is another cooperative game, it leads to teamwork and a sense of community. This game is a Peaceable Kingdom game, this company's goal is cultivate kindness, courage and connection.
Honorable Mention:
- Silly Street
- ThinkFun Roll & Play
- Stone Soup
- My Feelings
- Sunny & Stormy Day
