How to Choose Educational Games for Kindergarten Children

Kindergarten means "child's garden" in German. Select games that nurture the developing senses - sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch - of 4- to 6-year-olds.

Things You'll Need

• Oversized Playing Cards
• Crazy Eights Card Games
• Go Fish Card Games
• Go Fishing Games
• Good Night Moon Games
• Hands Down Games
• I Spy Memory Games
• Old Maid Card Games
• Blank And Colored Stickers
• Large-sized Dominoes

Instructions

1. Choose an age-appropriate game or one with different levels so that your child can advance.

2. Play games that involve memory. Card games such as Old Maid, Crazy Eights and Go Fish teach memory skills, counting and language skills.

3. Consider games with large pieces for easy handling by small hands. Large-sized dominoes and decks of oversized cards are good choices.

4. Make up different rules if your child needs help in a certain area. If a board game involves moving game pieces by counting, for instance, put small, colored dots on each space. Have your child name the colors for extra points. Or print letters of the alphabet on small blank stickers, attach them to the spaces and have your child name the letters.

5. Play games such as Let's Go Fishing and Hands Down to promote eye-hand coordination.

6. Choose games that are fast-moving and have lots of action. Games that involve counting, a spinning board or dice are good choices. The Itsy Bitsy Spider Matching Game and Candy Land (or Pooh Candy Land) let kids use their hands to develop fine motor skills.

7. Schedule a regular games night with your family. Fix finger foods, turn off the television and play games.

Tips & Warnings

• Adapt the games to fit your child's needs and skill level.

• Stores that carry homeschooling materials usually carry a small selection of unusual educational games. School-supply and teachers' stores also carry educational games.