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Entertaining a preschooler is no easy task since they seem to have a seven-second attention span. Knowing this, some of the best educational games for kids under 5 are quick, engaging, and actually fun to play. Some of them are even designed for solo-play, so you might actually get a chance to relax while they play (no promises, though).
When it comes to educating a preschooler, it's important to stick to basics and fundamentals. Teacher (and preschool mom) Joanna Heglar tells Romper that when picking out a game for your kid, "the most important thing to consider is: Is this game developmentally appropriate?"
"Simply think about if the game is going to frustrate your child or be way too easy for your child," she continues. "Make up a game that encourages them to build on [their] skills, but is not so challenging that your child will not succeed."
"When choosing a game for your child, try to focus on their interests," Early Childhood and Montessori Teacher (and toddler mom) Meagan Messuri says. "Children learn when they are having fun and they most likely will be having fun with something they're interested in." Messuri suggests games with colors, numbers, strategy, or counting.
There are a lot of ways you can educate your child through play, whether it's a board game, an online tool, or using things you already have at home. Just remember to focus on realistic educational goals for your child (most 3-year-olds don't understand multiplication quite yet) and let them enjoy the game for what it is... a fun game!
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Sensory Bin Treasure Hunt
Heglar says sensory bins are her "favorite" thing to do with preschoolers (including her own daughter). She says you can make a sensory bin using just about anything in your home, like rice. Once you've done that, she says, "Add in some colors, shapes, numbers, or letters drawn or written on paper," then let your child "dig through to find [those objects] and tell you what they have found."
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Matching Games
One game Messuri's two-year-old loves to play is memory, and that's partially because Messuri played to her daughter's interests. She says, "She loves animals and is incredibly motivated to play the game" because the cards they use have animals on them. This is an easy game to DIY, too. Simply print pictures of something your child loves and glue them to cardstock for a custom-made game.
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Sorting Games
Little kids love to sort things and put them in containers. You can use this to your advantage by making a game out of it. Have them sort by color or size or assign a number to each container to have them work on their counting. Just remember to keep it fun!
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Highlights Kids
Did you ever read Highlights Magazine when you were a kid? Well, they're still around and they have a great library of educational tools and games for kids. Your child can do puzzles and play games that encourage counting. In 'Hidden Picture', kids can search for objects hidden within a fun cartoon picture.
When choosing games to play with your preschooler, remember to keep things fun because that's what will get the engaged the most. It's amazing how much kids can develop when they are learning through play.
Experts:
Joanna Heglar, B.S.W., Graduate Certificate in Special Education, and Certified Special Education and General Education Teacher
Meagan Messuri, B.S., AMS Certified Lower Elementary Guide
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