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Classic Games We Actually Play with Our 4-Year-Old (and Still Love)
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items These are the actual board and card games we’ve played (and replayed) with our 4-year-old. Most are classics you might remember from your own childhood, with a few surprises thrown in. We love screen-free games that are simple enough for preschoolers...
Sections
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Classic Board Games We Grew Up With
Card Games That Actually Hold Their Attention
Games That Feel Like
"Big Kid" Games
Classic Board Games We Grew Up With
These are the old-school staples: easy to teach, fast to play, and still fun today.
Simple, colorful, and no reading required. Perfect for younger 4s just learning to take turns and follow basic rules.
Candy Land
A good “next step” game when your kiddo can start understanding movement strategy and numbers. Bonus: teaches sportsmanship 😅
Sorry!
That Pop-O-Matic dice bubble? Instant joy. It’s great for number recognition and movement counting. We also love how it helps with those motor skills
Trouble Game
We honestly play this more for the setup than the gameplay… and our kid LOVES it. Total sensory fun and great for coordination.
Mouse Trap
Card Games That Actually Hold Their Attention
Compact, fast, and surprisingly fun - for both kids and grown-ups.
Forever a fave. Our 4yo picked it up shockingly fast. Great for color and number recognition and learning to “take turns.”
Uno
Easy to learn and play anywhere. We use a cute animal deck that makes it even more engaging for younger players.
Old Maid Card Game
Like UNO’s cooler, retro cousin. Still super fun and builds early strategic thinking.
Crazy Eights
Simple, social, and great for memory skills. Also easy to adapt based on your kid’s number or picture knowledge. Once they're comfortable with their numbers and game-play, you can even introduce regular playing cards.
Go Fish Card Game
Games That Feel Like "Big Kid" Games
Great for stretching attention span, learning strategy, and playing as a family.
Teaches counting, patterns, and basic addition, and shaking the dice is just plain fun. We help with score-keeping, and they still love it.
Yahtzee Game
Great for comparing numbers and building focus… super simple and easy to play anywhere. We have a special deck instead of regular playing cards to keep it engaging and easier to recognize numbers
War Card Game
I was shocked how much our kid loved this one. It feels so grown-up, but the tactile movement and counting really work for preschoolers. As they get more comfortable, you can introduce strategies.
Mancala For Kids
This game is wildly fun and super easy for little ones to pick up. Roll the dice, pass your chips, and try to be the last one with any left. Our 4-year-old got the hang of it fast and now it’s one of our go-to games for quick family fun (with zero se...
LCR Left Center Right Dice Game
On the blog… why we love these!
Our Favorite Screen-Free Board Games Right Now (4-year-old approved)