My daughter developed a strong (if annoying) obsession with board games at an early age. Starting at around her second birthday, she begged to play board games almost every single day. Several days went by that seemed dominated by back-to-back rounds of Candy Land. It can be hard to find children's board games that are developmentally appropriate for toddlers under 3 or 4 years of age, but several are available. Depending on your toddler's developmental level, consider playing any of these board games with your little one.
1. Race to the candy castle in Candy Land. My daughter is gradually outgrowing her Candy Land obsession, but this game dominated her third year of life because it was so simple and easy to understand. While other games were inappropriately complicated for her age, Candy Land was surprisingly easy to "get." It requires no skill -- just the ability to recognize color -- so she had a great time playing it and it was developmentally appropriate. Your toddler may need some help with Candy Land, but she'll get the hang of it.
2. Raid the orchard in Hi-Ho Cherry-O. This fun game helps to emphasize counting skills, taking turns, and following directions. My only complaint is that the pieces get lost easily and that they do present a choking hazard (the company warns that it's only for children over 3). Supervise your toddler carefully while playing this game, and you'll both have a great time.
3. Match and memorize with Memory. This classic preschool game can be tailored to toddlers. My own daughter still doesn't like playing Memory the "real" way, but she loves scattering the cards and then creating matching pairs. This can keep your toddler entertained for hours at a time. Fortunately, Memory comes in dozens of different varieties, so you're sure to find a form of the game that suits your child individually.
4. Go on a buggy adventure with the Ladybug Game. Made by Zobmondo entertainment, this game can challenge toddlers but grow with them into the preschool years and beyond. It uses simple clues like shapes and colors to help pre-literate kids learn to navigate the game. However, the number of "go back" and "take another turn" cards can get frustrating. This game depends entirely on luck; there is no skill or competition involved.
5. Go Fish! This is the same fun card game that you remember from your own childhood. For me, this one is the most fun to play with my daughter and doesn't get old quite as quickly. Your toddler may struggle a bit with the rules of Go Fish, but she'll eventually catch on. I'd recommend it only for older toddlers and those with unusually advanced play skills.
6. Match 'em up with Zingo. This Bingo-like game is faster and easier for young kids to understand. Most 2- to 4-year-olds can master the basic rules of this game in little time, and the simple shapes are easy to match compared to the letter and number combinations in classic Bingo. It's a lot of fun and passes the time quickly.
7. Make a sequence in Sequence for Kids. My daughter and I both enjoy this game, and it's easy enough for some toddlers to play with some help. This game combines aspects of memory, strategy and logic to create sequences that allow the player to advance. Younger toddlers may have some trouble following the rules, but, if you play cooperatively, it creates a fun and educational adventure.
8. Connect Four. This is a great game for toddlers because it's easy to "let" them win by giving the kids a specific opening, then suggesting a place where they can add an additional token. Connect Four helps to reinforce counting skills, color recognition, strategy and turn-taking. What more could you want in a game?
When you've added enough fun games to your hall closet collection, you'll soon have a hard time finding a game that you and your toddler don't want to play.
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