Board games have long been recognized as valuable learning and entertainment tools, which holds true even for our youngest players – toddlers.
Engaging toddlers in board games provides them with hours of fun and stimulates their cognitive, social, and emotional development.
From enhancing problem-solving skills to fostering family bonding, the right board games can offer a multitude of benefits for these young learners.
In this article, we will explore some of the best board games specifically designed for toddlers, carefully selected to promote their growth while keeping them entertained.
Here is our list of the top 7 board games for toddlers.
Monkey Around
Award-winning Monkey Around is an interactive game designed for toddlers ages two and up.
You and your toddler will have a blast completing simple tasks that will have you both wiggling and giggling. Included bean bag banana that is used for some of the tasks adds to the fun.
Some of the tasks include high fives, making surprised faces, balancing, hopping, tossing, and marching.
Moneky Around helps your toddler develop gross motor skills, coordination, recognizing body parts, listening, and building vocabulary. It also helps develop social and emotional skills.
Included in the Box
- Game board
- Cards
- Bean Bag Banana
Elefun
This energetic game by Hasbro will keep your toddler busy. It’s a fun interactive game that gets kids up and running as they try to catch the butterflies flying out of Elefun the Elephant’s trunk.
The game begins with Elefun the Elephant letting out a trumpet call. Then the music begins to play as butterflies fly out of the elephant’s 3-foot trunk.
Children quickly try to catch the butterflies with the nets included in the game. Whoever catches the most butterflies wins! Want to play again? Toddlers can easily play again by putting the butterflies back into Elefun’s trunk.
Elefun is a great game for toddlers it promotes social play, has simple rules, and is easy to play. Children can play alone or with up to three people.
Included in the Box
- 20 colorful butterflies
- 3 butterfly nets
- Elefun the elephant
- Requires 4 C batteries, not included.
This game is recommended for children ages 3 and up but can be good for a 2-year-old (make sure they don’t put the butterflies into their mouth)
Belefun comes with a blue elephant, and Elefun comes with a pink elephant
Let’s Go Fishin’
Let’s Go Fishin’ is a classic game by Pressman that is loads of fun for toddlers, older kids, and parents too.
The object of the game is to pull the colorful fish out of the water using the included fishing rods. As you try to pull the fish out, the board spins round and round while the fish mouths open and close.
Using the fishing rods to pull the fish out of the water helps toddlers improve their hand-eye coordination.
This game can also be educational. You can help your toddler count as they pull the fish out of the water. You also help your toddler learn colors by asking them to pull out different colored fish.
This game comes with 21 colorful fish “red, blue, green, orange, and yellow” and 4 fishing poles.
It is for 1-4 players.
Recommended for children ages 4 and up, but it’s great for younger children just as long as you watch them so they don’t put the fish in their mouths.
Included in the Box
- Gameboard
- 21 colorful fish
- 4 fishing rods
- 1 C battery required and not included.
Yeti in my Spaghetti
Yeti, in My Spaghetti, is an easy game with simple rules, which makes it a great game choice for toddlers.
The setup is easy. Just lay the plastic spaghetti noodles over the red bowl and place the yeti on top.
On your turn, carefully remove one piece of spaghetti, but don’t let the Yeti fall.
It the Yeti drops, you’re out!
Yeti in My Spaghetti teaches toddlers about taking turns and encourages focus.
Yeti in My Spaghetti is the 2017 Toy of the Year winner!
This game is fun for toddlers and the entire family.
Included in the Box
- Plastic spaghetti noodles
- Red bowl
- Yeti
Hungry, Hungry Hippos
Hungry, Hungry Hippos is another classic from Habro that most of us had played when we were kids. It’s just as fun to play now as it was when we were kids.
The classic version is a little bit better than the newer version, but if you can’t find the classic one, it’s still worth buying the new version.
The object of the game is to have your hippo eat as much food (marbles) as they can. The hippo who eats the most food wins.
Your hippos eat food by pressing on its tail. The fast you press the tail, the more marbles your hippos eat!
The game comes with four hippos and 20 marbles.
Due to choking hazards (marbles), it is recommended for children ages four and up.
Included in the Box
- Hungry Hippo board
- Four colorful hippos
- One gold marble
- 20 marbles
- Batteries are not required.
Red Light Green Light
Red Light Green Light by Move2Play is a fun interactive game design to get your toddler up and moving! This action-packed game has 30 sounds and sayings with 5 lights and a sensor that they detect up to 30 ft. It has three games that require movement built into one.
Red Light, Green Light: Children race on green and stop on red. If the built-in sensor catches you moving, you will have to go back to the start line and begin again. The first child to push the button on the game wins.
Sneaky Steps: Children must move slowly and take tiny steps to reach the game button. Be careful not to set off the sensor. The first child to push the button wins.
Stoplight Boogie: This game is like freeze dance. Listen to the music and dance when the light is green. Be sure to freeze when the light turns red.
Play Red Light, Green Light at your toddler’s next birthday party to keep kids busy and active for hours.
This game is recommended for children ages 2 – 8
Best played inside.
Included in the Box
1 game board with interactive sounds, lights, and a built-in sensor.
3 AA batteries are required but not included.
Lucky Ducks
Lucky Ducks is a wacky, quacky color and shape-matching game.
Each duck in Lucky Ducks has a shape with a color and shape on the bottom.
Toddlers must find the matches in the fun memory game.
When you’re ready to play, turn the board game in. Once it’s on, the ducks will go round and round.
Players take turns picking up the ducks to find a match. Didn’t find a match? Don’t worry, simply put the ducks back and try again on your next turn.
The first player to find three matches wins.
Requires 2 AA batteries not included.
Lucky Ducks help toddlers learn shapes and colors.
Recommended ages are 3 and up.
Included in the Box
- 10 ducks
- 1 game board
How do Boardgames Benefit Toddlers?
Board makes benefit toddlers in several ways. They can help with cognitive development. Board games promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Toddlers learn to strategize, plan their moves, and anticipate consequences. They also enhance their attention span and concentration while engaging with the game.
Board games can help a toddler with social skills. They encourage interaction and cooperation among peers. Toddlers learn how to take turns, follow the rules, and play with others. Board games provide an opportunity for socialization, sharing, and practicing good sportsmanship.
Board games help toddlers with their emotional development. They provide opportunities for toddlers to experience and manage various feelings such as excitement, anticipation, disappointment, and resilience. They learn to cope with winning and how to lose gracefully.
Board games also promote family bonding. Playing board games together strengthens parent-child bonds and promotes positive family interactions.
How are Board Games Educational?
Games can be educational in many ways. Every time your child plays a game with another person, they will have to take turns. Learning to take turns is a valuable lesson.
While waiting to take turns, children learn about how to be patient. They also learn to share. Kids can also improve their social skills, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and more.
Board games help with language development. Board games often involve verbal communication; toddlers engage in conversations, express their thoughts, and listen to others. They can learn new vocabulary, practice descriptive language, and develop their communication skills.
Board games help toddlers with fine motor skills. Many board games involve manipulating small game pieces, cards, or dice, which helps toddlers refine their fine motor skills. They learn to pick up, move, and place objects, improving hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Board games also help with learning numbers and literacy skills. Some board games incorporate counting, number recognition, and basic math concepts. Others involve letters, words, or spelling, helping toddlers develop early numeracy and literacy skills in a fun and engaging way.
Why Buy My Toddler a Board Game? Aren’t They Too Young?
Playing a board game is a great way for a parent to interact with their toddler. It’s also a good way for siblings to play together.
Toddlers aren’t too young to play games. Many of the games listed above can be played by 2 a year-old (never leave young children alone with small game pieces, as they may choke).
Just make sure that the game you buy is the right fit for your child. Red Light, Green Light, or Elefunt would be great if your child is always running and on the go. If your child has a good amount of patience, you may choose Let’s Go Fishin’.
Toddler Board Games
In conclusion, board games are a fantastic way to provide fun, learning, and family bonding for toddlers. The world of board games offers a treasure trove of opportunities for toddlers to learn, grow, and have a blast.
Parents can help their little ones develop important cognitive, social, emotional, and fine motor skills while enjoying quality time together by choosing the right games.
Let the fun-filled board game adventures begin!