Board games can be a great way to encourage learning and development in young children while having fun. Not only do they provide a safe environment for toddlers to learn, but they also offer an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their kids. Board games help children learn basic game concepts like taking turns, rolling dice, and drawing cards. They also provide an educational component by reinforcing colors and shapes.
As children grow, their interests change, and they seek more intellectually stimulating toys. At three years old, kids are curious and crave entertainment. To help you choose the best board games for your little ones, we’ve compiled a list of the most entertaining and educational games for 3-year-olds. These games will help develop their motor, social, and cognitive skills while keeping them occupied and having a blast.
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HappyBabyHub’s Best Board Games For 3-Years-Olds Picks
1. Wonder Forge Richard Scarry’s Busytown
With vibrant illustrations and a six-foot-long board, this board game will keep your 3-year-old engaged and entertained for hours on end. From the lively city streets to the busy harbor full of quirky boats, there’s no shortage of adventure in this exciting game.
Keep an eye out for Goldbug, because every time someone lands on him, all players will band together and race around the board to discover hidden secrets and the elusive Picnic Island.
2. Chutes and Ladders Board Game
For over 60 years, families have enjoyed playing the timeless board game, Chutes & Ladders, with their little ones. The game board features a ladder that players can climb if they land on a good deed, but beware! Landing on the wrong spot can send their pawn sliding down a chute! Even though players can see the finish line, marked with a 100, the real challenge is in figuring out how to get there.
This classic game is perfect for young children and doesn’t require any reading. Players simply spin the spinner to determine how many spaces they will move. Will they climb up or slide down? Only the spinner knows for sure!
3. Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures
If you were a fan of the Candy Land board game as a child, you’ll love this enchanting twist on the classic. Gingerbread men serve as your movers as you journey through magical locations like Cookie Commons and the chunky Chocolate Mountain. Colorful cards and delightful graphics will captivate your child’s imagination as they make their way to the castle to claim victory. Strategy is key as players choose which cards to play, move their pawns, and let their imaginations soar!
4. HABA Unicorn Glitterluck Cloud Crystals
Board games are a fantastic way to engage with your 3-year-old and even test your skills against them! In the game Unicorns in the Clouds, players get to be magnificent unicorns and dash through the sky, collecting as many cloud crystals as possible along the way. To start the game, simply place your unicorn on the big blue rain cloud and get ready to race toward the sun cloud. The player who collects the most cloud crystals and reaches the sun cloud first will be the victor!
5. My Very First Games – First Orchard
In this game, players work together to roll the dice and gather all the fruit from the orchard before the raven swoops in and steals it all. It’s a race against time to beat that sneaky bird!
And the best part? It’s a game where everyone wins or loses together. So, whether you win or lose, you get to share the excitement and build teamwork skills with your little ones. Plus, playing games like Orchard can help develop important skills like counting and strategizing while teaching your 3-year-old about the value of working together.
6. Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game
Looking for a classic board game that’s both fun and educational for your 3-year-old? Look no further than Hi Ho! Cherry-O! With colorful fruit pieces and a spinner that adds an element of chance, this game is a great way for preschoolers to learn basic math skills like counting, addition, and subtraction.
Players take turns picking fruit from their trees and filling their baskets, but watch out for the bird and dog on the spinner – they’ll make you put some fruit back! And if you land on the spilled pail, it’s game over and you have to start again. But don’t worry, even losing can be fun in this engaging game that’s perfect for helping your kids learn while they play!
7. Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
Get ready for an exciting game with this special version of the Educational Insights board game! It includes 20 golden acorns with vibrant tips and a soft, fluffy squirrel squeezer. The goal of the game is to be the first to load your log with five acorns. With a tree-shaped board, one game spinner, and four logs included in the package, 3-year-olds will improve their sorting skills, strategic thinking, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and arithmetic abilities while having a blast playing this amazing board game.
8. Disney Classic Characters Matching Game
Join Mickey, Minnie, and all your favorite Classic Disney characters in this thrilling matching game! With vibrant and entertaining images, preschoolers can practice their memory, concentration, and matching skills while having fun with the family.
From Dumbo and The Incredibles to Timon and Pumba, this game has all the beloved characters your child will adore. Plus, parents can join in on the fun and make it a family affair. It only takes 15 minutes to play and 5 minutes to teach, so it’s a perfect option for both solo and group playtime.
9. Briarpatch Pete The Cat The Missing Cupcakes Game
Come along with Pete the Cat and his pals as they team up to recover the stolen cupcakes from Grumpy Toad. In this entertaining board game, players gather vibrant cupcakes while singing songs, acting out physical activities, and identifying beloved animals, cuisines, and words. Every time it is played, the game is a different combination of chance, memory, and teamwork. Your 3-year-old will want to play over and over.
10. Ravensburger Colorama
Colorama, a game that doesn’t require reading, is designed to teach children the fundamental rules of board games. This includes turn-taking, patience, rolling dice, moving pieces, and identifying colors and shapes.
The game has four distinct play options that let kids of all ages and skill levels learn about various shapes, including circles, squares, triangles, hexagons, and trapezoids, as well as fundamental colors. Preschoolers who are still very young can learn matching abilities, hand-eye coordination, inductive reasoning, and identification.
11. SEQUENCE for Kids
This game is all about strategy and skill as players aim to get four chips in a row by placing their chips on the corresponding animal on the board after playing an animal card from their hand. But watch out, the game gets even more thrilling with wild cards that allow you to set your chip anywhere you want or take away an opponent’s chip with the help of a powerful dragon card!
To play, select an animal card from your hand and reveal it face up on a discard pile. Then, place a chip on the matching animal on the board. Be careful though, as each card on the game board is depicted twice, so choose your location wisely! With a blend of strategy and luck, who will be the first to get four chips in a row and claim victory?
12. Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens
Join Mama Hen in her quest to bring her chicks back to the nest with the cooperative board game, “Count Your Chickens!” Spin the spinner and move your chicken piece to gather the chicks scattered around the board. Work together with your fellow players to gather all the chicks before Mama Hen reaches the last space.
With no competition to worry about, your little ones can focus on building their counting skills and learning how to collaborate with others. This game encourages positive self-esteem, group decision-making, creative problem-solving, and community building.
13. Peaceable Kingdom Press Feed The Woozle Play Set
With three different levels, this game can grow and evolve with your child. Designed for children aged three and up, this game is perfect for collaborative play without any reading required, so even the littlest ones can join in!
As children work together to feed the woozle, they develop their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and counting abilities. Plus, playing this game helps children learn important social skills, like sharing and communication, all while having a blast!
14. Daniel Tiger’s Welcome to Mainstreet
Players may go around the Neighborhood of Make-Believe with Daniel Tiger and his companions in the Welcome to Main Street game. Players visit businesses on Main Street to purchase supplies for their backpacks while always remembering to express gratitude. This game strengthens elementary counting and coordination while promoting interactive gaming and social skills.
15. Zobmondo!! The Ladybug Game
Kids lead their ladybug home to the rose garden while dodging praying mantises and gathering aphids to feed the lazy ants. It’s a great game because of the cute graphics, captivating story, and simple gameplay. Early readers benefit from well-crafted playing cards that use colors, numerals, and symbols as counters. Children pick things up fast, and they can play alone in no time!
16. Hasbro Elefun and Friends
Get ready for a fluttering adventure with Elefun the elephant! With a trumpet call and lively music from the motorized elephant, kids will embark on a thrilling butterfly chase around the room using their nets.
The winner is the one who catches the most butterflies! Setting up this exciting game is easy and quick. Simply turn on the Elefun unit, place it on the floor, and watch as the colorful butterflies fly around while the elephant raises its impressive three-foot trunk.
17. Animal Upon Animal Junior
Let your little ones unleash their imagination with Animal Upon Animal Junior! With these adorable animal figures, they can role-play and create their own stories, or stack them up to build towers during free play.
Not only will they have fun, but they’ll also learn valuable skills. The dice games teach them to follow rules and count, while the cooperative game fosters a sense of community and encourages sharing experiences.
As they play, they’ll also develop fine motor skills, keen observation, and hand-eye coordination. And who knows, maybe they’ll even gain a preliminary understanding of physics as they stack the animals up high!
18. Snug as a Bug in a Rug
In this exciting matching and cooperation game, kids will need to work together to help all the colorful bugs find their cozy and secure homes before the stinkbugs arrive. With three different play levels, this game will grow with your child and provide endless hours of fun and learning.
Your child will develop important skills such as size differentiation, color recognition, number sense, shape recognition, counting, and matching. And that’s not all, they will also practice taking turns, spinning a spinner, and rolling a die, which will help them develop their social and cognitive abilities.
19. Think Fun Heads Talk Tails Walk
Are you looking for a new and exciting toddler toy? Look no further than ThinkFun’s Heads Talk Tails Walk! This game is perfect for both boys and girls and is sure to provide hours of entertainment. The best part? It’s super easy to get started! Just open up the box and follow the simple instructions.
But Heads Talk Tails Walk isn’t just fun – it’s also designed to help your child develop important critical thinking skills. With engaging gameplay and visually stimulating components, this game is perfect for helping 3-year-olds improve their cognitive abilities and perception.
20. Bluey – Shadowlands Board Game
Bluey, the beloved cartoon character, brings you an exciting and enjoyable game that will keep your little ones engaged for hours! In this game, the shady green sections represent land, while the light bits are the sea. Your goal is to reach the picnic first by hiding out in the shadows and collecting cupcakes.
Inspired by a Bluey episode featuring Bingo, Coco, and Snickers, this game is filled with surprises! What makes it even more exciting is the rotating palm tree in the middle of the board, which changes the dark areas as you play. Kids aged 3 and up will adore this game!
How To Choose The Best Board Games For 3-Year-Olds?
- Simple: The game should be simple and easy to understand. Look for games with clear instructions and bright, easy-to-recognize images. 3-year-olds are still in the early stages of cognitive development, so they may not be able to understand complicated rules or strategies.
- Short: 3-year-olds have short attention spans, so a game that drags on for too long will likely lose their interest.
- Social: Games that encourage cooperation and communication are great for helping young children develop social skills.
- Difficulty: You don’t want to choose something that’s too difficult for your child, as they’ll likely get frustrated and give up. However, you also don’t want to choose something that’s too easy, as they’ll likely get bored. Try to find something that strikes a balance.
- Theme: When choosing a theme, take into account anything your child is curious about or is familiar with via TV or books they have read. The most popular themes are those involving dinosaurs, cartoons, and robotics.
Can 3-Year-Olds Play Board Games?
Yes, 3-year-olds can play board games. Board games can help three-year-olds develop important skills, such as counting, matching, and Turn-taking. Playing board games with three-year-olds can be a fun and educational experience for both them and you.
Why Are Board Games Good For 3-Year-Olds?
- They can help promote motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and problem-solving skills
- They can also help 3-year-olds develop social skills, such as taking turns, following rules, and interacting with other people (1)
- They can be a fun and educational way for 3-year-olds to spend time with family and friends
- They are also a great way for kids to learn about winning and losing in a safe setting
- They can take time to reflect on their failures and adjust their game plans. This teaches toddlers how to control their emotions and manage frustration
- They can also help develop communication skills and language skills (2)
When Can A Child Begin To Play Board Games?
Most board games require children to be able to read and understand basic rules. While there is no hard and fast rule, typically children are able to begin playing simple board games around 3 or 4.
You can also look for board games for 2-year-olds if you want them to play earlier. These games will usually have simpler rules that are easy for kids to understand. If you are unsure whether your child is ready to play a particular game, try teaching them the basics and see how they do.
