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Preschool Games & First Board Games

Preschool Games & First Board Games

Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos and more first games for ages 3 and up — no reading needed, just taking turns.

Age group
Players
Price
Rating

30 items

No box on this shelf matches all of that.

About Preschool Games

First games, no reading required

A first board game should take a minute to explain. Candy Land has done that since 1949: draw a card, move to the next space of that color, and keep going until someone reaches the castle. Chutes and Ladders adds counting to 100 with a spinner instead of dice. Hi Ho! Cherry-O practices counting with tiny fruit. All three are made for ages 3 and up, and none of them asks a child to read.

Games that get little hands moving

Preschoolers like games where something happens. Hungry Hungry Hippos is a marble-chomping frenzy for up to four, Don't Break the Ice has kids tapping out blocks one at a time, and Don't Spill the Beans is a balancing act that always ends the same way. Ants in the Pants, Bed Bugs and Pop! Pop! Piñata work on aim and timing, and Twister Junior brings the mat down to their size.

Favorite characters on the board

Familiar faces can make a new game feel safe. On this shelf you will find Candy Land with Bluey, Disney Princess and The Elf on the Shelf; Chutes and Ladders with CoComelon, Disney Princess and The Cat in the Hat; and Yahtzee Jr. with Spidey and Disney Princess. The play stays simple while the theme does the inviting. Most of these games contain small parts and are not for children under 3.

Asked about Preschool Games

What is a good first board game for a 3-year-old?

Candy Land is the usual starting point, since it needs no reading or counting. Chutes and Ladders and Hi Ho! Cherry-O are good next steps.

Are these games safe for toddlers?

Most are rated for ages 3 and up because they include small parts, which are a choking hazard for children under 3. Always follow the age grade printed on the box.

How long do preschool games take?

Most rounds last 10 to 20 minutes, which is about as long as a young player wants to sit still.