The Best Board Games for Toddlers Ages 3 and Up

Children love playing with adults. You should take advantage of this and play board games with them. There are already great and often educationally valuable games available from toddler age. Playing is very important for children because it develops their emotional, mental, and physical capabilities. When playing with others, the child learns to follow rules and that one can win, but also lose. I am a passionate board gamer and take advantage of playing with my children. Here I have listed our favorite games for children aged 2.5 to 5 years:

Beautiful board games for toddlers from 3 years old

Quips

In this game, children learn to deal with colors and quantities in a playful way.

Sequence of play

In this game, every player gets a game board. Now you roll the dice: a color is shown on the die and you are allowed to take a colorful wooden piece in exactly that color and place it on the correct color field on the game board. The first person to fill their picture with all the colorful wooden pieces wins the game.

Learning objective

• Combining
• playful learning of colors and quantities from 1 to 6

Age

• from 3 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

The game is available in toy stores or on Amazon.

Spitz pass auf (Watch out)

Fun game where you have to be very quick!

Sequence of play

The figures are placed on the round red playing field, and all players take their own string in their hand. Everyone gets a certain number of coins. The one who rolls the dice also takes the red cup in their hand. If a certain previously agreed-upon number or color is rolled, the figures must be caught with the cup. Those who were caught must pay the catcher with a coin. The winner is the one with the most coins.

Variations

There are 2 dice included in the game, one with colors for small children and one with numbers for older children.

Learning objective

• Eye-hand coordination

Age

• from 3 years

Players

• 2-6 players

Buying tip

This game is becoming harder to find. It is sometimes still available in toy stores or on Amazon. Here I also recommend browsing flea markets or online platforms for used items.

Fishing Game

The fishing game is a fun game that children can even play alone.

Sequence of play

Each player gets a fishing rod and off you go. At the push of a button, the fish rotate and you have to try to catch yours. The first person to catch their fish wins.

Variations

Our box contains 3 additional game options:

Frogs: Leaves are attached to the turntables and you have to make the frogs jump onto the leaves.

Catching balls: balls must be collected using tweezers.

Ball basket: a basket is mounted in the middle and the players have to shoot the balls into the basket with the seesaws.

Learning objective

• Eye-hand coordination

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 1-3 players

Buying tip

Our set is no longer available new, but on Amazon there are plenty of other fishing games. But try your luck at flea markets or online platforms for used items.

Lotti Karotti (Funny Bunny)

Varied game, simple rules and short game rounds, ideal for toddlers

Sequence of play

The players reveal cards to make their rabbits climb up the green hill. But be careful, holes keep opening up on the hill and it can happen that you have to start all over again.

Learning objective

• Dealing with defeat
• Social behavior

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

This game is available in toy stores and Amazon.

Bobby Car Game

Here I specifically looked for a game for my son that has to do with cars. This one is simple and a good introductory game, especially for boys.

Sequence of play

Each player receives a colored Bobby Car. You take turns rolling the dice; the color shown on the die must be driven to with the Bobby Car. The driver who reaches the finish line first wins.

Variations

The game board has 2 sides; on the 2nd side, the children can simply drive around and play by themselves.

Learning objective

• Color recognition

Age

• from 3 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

The game is available in toy stores and on Amazon.

Safari

Nice and simple game for toddlers where they can get to know animals and train their memory.

Sequence of play

Everyone gets a small game board with all the animals on it. On the large game board, the animals are placed in turns, some get the bush over them. The player whose turn it is rolls the dice and places the game piece next to an animal or a bush. Now he has to check if he still needs the animal on his small board. The first person to have all the animals on their small game board wins the game.

Variations

For smaller children, the bushes can be left out, then it is clearer.

Learning objective

• Memory
• Getting to know animals

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

Our exact game is no longer available to buy new. On Amazon there are similar games. Otherwise, browse flea markets or online platforms for used items. I also bought this game at a flea market.

Bob the Builder Rally

For very small children, this game is already very playable. Especially a nice game for boys too.

Sequence of play

The vehicles must drive back to Bob the Builder. For this, the player rolls the dice and is allowed to drive to the next symbol according to the die. The vehicles are simply plugged in, so nothing can fall over.

Learning objective

• Recognizing symbols

Age

• from 2.5 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

This game is no longer available new, but there are other Bob the Builder games on Amazon. Here I recommend visiting flea markets or online platforms for used items.

Noah's Ark

The animals must quickly get onto Noah's Ark and must be recognized.

Sequence of play

The player whose turn it is presses the red button on the Ark, where an animal sound is heard. If he didn't hear it correctly, he can press the green button to repeat it. Now he has to reveal the matching animal card. If it is the right one, then he may move forward one step with the matching animal. The winner is the one who has all the animals on the Ark first.

Variations

Smaller children can play without the cards.

Learning objective

• Memory
• Getting to know animals

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

This game is no longer available new, but on Amazon there are similar ones. Anyone who wants this exact one should visit flea markets or online platforms for used items. I found this game at the flea market.

Ice Age 3 – The Scrat Game

Who doesn't like Scrat from Ice Age, he is just cute how he always chases after the nuts. In this game, Scrat loses the ice cubes. But watch out. It is really a very loud game.

Sequence of play

Scrat is positioned on the ice with the ice cubes. Then it starts, you turn Scrat on and he starts to shake, now everyone has to collect their own ice cubes. The winner is the one who can collect all their ice cubes first.

Learning objective

• Color recognition

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

The game is hardly available new anymore, but on Amazon there are still used versions, as well as perhaps at flea markets and online platforms for used items.

Domino

A classic among children's games and a must for children.

Sequence of play

Everyone gets a certain number of cards, the rest are placed face down in the middle of the table. One card is placed on the table as the starting card. The first player must try to build onto this card. If he does not succeed, he must draw a card. The person who can build all their cards first wins.

Learning objective

• Combining

Age

• 3-6 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

For domino games, there is a very wide selection, browse in toy stores or on Amazon.

Memory

Another classic among children's games. Ideal for children to train their memory.

Sequence of play

All cards are placed face down on the table. Now every player has to find the pairs by only revealing 2 cards at a time. The one who can find the most pairs wins.

Variations

For smaller children, do not use all the cards, but only a small part.

Learning objective

• Combining
• Memory

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-6 players

Buying tip

Memory games are available in many variations, just browse on Amazon or in toy stores.

Old Maid (Schwarzer Peter)

Another classic among children's games. Old Maid has been around for a long time and is very popular with young and old.

Sequence of play

Everyone gets a certain number of cards so that all cards are used up. These are held in the hand. Now one person must always draw a card from another player and collect pairs. The winner is the one who has the most pairs; the loser is the one who has the Old Maid at the end.

Learning objective

• Combining

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

Old Maid is available in many variations, just browse in the toy store or on Amazon or browse.

Looping Louie

Protect your chickens from Louie – very funny and action-packed game.

Sequence of play

In the middle, the plane with Louie must be activated and then you have to try to fend him off with a seesaw. Whoever has no chickens left has lost.

Variations

There are two skill levels.

Learning objective

• Reaction game
• Concentration
• Fine motor skills

Age

from 4 years

Players

2-4 players

Buying tip

This game can be bought on Amazon or in toy stores.

The Mole and his favorite game

This game is 'Ludo' for toddlers. It is very lovingly illustrated and equipped with a die with symbols.

Sequence of play

The goal is to get your 4 figures to the finish line. Using the symbol die, you take turns rolling and find the matching symbol on the game board. The winner is the one who has safely brought all 4 of their figures to the finish line.

Learning objective

• careful looking
• Concentration
• first understanding of rules

Age

• from 3 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

This game is available on Amazon or in toy stores.

Kugelblitz (Ball Lightning)

A fast-paced action game with a learning character for the little ones. Here, colors must be collected and numbers assigned. First arithmetic is also learned.

Sequence of play

The children draw a card and have to complete the instructions on the card, which means they have to collect the balls in the correct order. The player who collects everything first wins.

Learning objective

• Skill
• Action
• Speed, reaction
• Memory

Age

• from 4 years

Players

• 2-4 players

Buying tip

This game can be bought in toy stores or on Amazon .

Extra buying tip:

If some games are no longer available to buy new, I recommend looking out for them at flea markets or online on platforms for used items (e.g., willhaben.at or ebay.at). On Amazon, there are also always used versions.

I was very often at flea markets and always found it great when parents or even the children themselves sold their games and gave many tips and information about them. That's how I got some really great games that we really play or have played often.

A good idea is also to visit game fairs. In Gänserndorf, for example, a game festival is regularly organized, here you can try out many games.

We have played and tested all these listed games and I can highly recommend them.

If you also have games that should be mentioned here, I look forward to an email or a comment!

Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at

Read also: Board games for children aged 5 and up