Best Board Games for Toddlers (That We Play Daily)
If you’re searching for the best board games for toddlers, you probably want something simple, fun, and that doesn’t take 45 minutes to explain (or to play, ha!).
We’ve built a small but mighty toddler board game collection in our house, and these are the games we reach for again and again. They’re easy for little hands, don’t require reading, and are actually fun for the whole family.
What Makes a Great Toddler Board Game?
Before jumping into our favorites, here’s what I look for in toddler board games:
- Simple rules
- Short play time
- Minimal small pieces
- A way to practice fine motor skills
Bonus:
- Encourages social skills or turn-taking
Our Favorite Toddler Board Games
Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
We love this one in our house. You take turns spinning the spinner and picking up the matching colored acorns with the squirrel tweezers. Whoever fills their tree stump first wins.
This is by far one of our favorite games right now and I would 100% buy for a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th birthday without overthinking it. I actually plan on gifting it again this year.
Why we love it:
- Strengthens fine motor skills (those tweezers!)
- Practices color recognition
- Quick rounds (great for short attention spans)
- Teaches turn-taking and friendly competition
Every time my son lands on “lose a turn,” he says, “It’s how games work!” because we apparently said that a lot when we first started playing.
It’s a great game for younger kids but still fun for older children and parents.
If you’re starting a board game collection for little kids, this is a great choice!
Richard Scarry’s Eye Found It (Seek & Find Game)
If you’ve talked with our family in the last few months, you’ve probably heard us talk about Richard Scarry! We’re big fans in our household of his books and I was so excited when I ran across this game on Marketplace before Christmas.
Our version is from 2010, and while you can’t buy that exact one anymore, newer versions are available. We play this multiple times a day and it’s genuinely enjoyed by everyone.
This is a cooperative game (at least our version), which I love for toddler and elementary-aged kids. Everyone works together to get to the ferry and then make it to the picnic basket. It’s really sweet and low-pressure.
Why it works:
- No reading required
- Encourages observation skills
- Players work together
- Helps with focus and problem-solving skills
If you have a child who struggles with losing, cooperative games like this are such a great option to keep in your rotation.
Duck-a-Roo
We got this for my son’s third birthday and it has been such a fun, simple game. You line the ducks up and flip coins to see if you get the color that matches the duck at the end of the line.
It’s quick, easy to explain, and perfect to toss in a bag for a trip or playdate. This is another one I will absolutely gift again.
Why it’s a great one to keep on hand:
- Extremely simple game
- Works well for little hands
- Fast-paced and engaging
- Grows with them (can be used as a memory game for older kids)
Bingo
Bingo is such a classic game and our version has been modified for young children which is so fun!
It’s:
- A fun way to practice letter recognition
- Great for one-to-one correspondence
- Easy to adjust for different ages (animal bingo, sight word bingo, etc..)
Our set includes animals, the alphabet, and sight words, so it grows with your child. It feels like an educational board game but is still a lot of fun.
Chutes & Ladders
It’s one of those true classic board games that is simple fun and doesn’t take much energy to play…perfect for those end-of-day “just one more game” moments (IYKYK).
This has been such a good reinforcement of:
- Counting
- Taking turns
- Handling the ups and downs (literally)
The randomness is actually part of why it’s great for this age group. Toddlers learn quickly that sometimes you zoom up a ladder and sometimes you slide all the way down and that’s just how the game works.
It’s simple enough for young kids, but still engaging for older siblings. If you want a low-prep, pull-it-out-and-play game for ages 3–5, this is one to keep in your closet. It also makes an easy, recognizable birthday gift that parents will actually use.
Candy Land
Candy Land is another true classic board game that works beautifully as a first board game. There’s no reading required, no complicated strategy, and no decision-making pressure. You simply draw a card and move to the matching color. That’s it. For toddlers, that simplicity is everything.
Why it’s worth owning:
- Great for color recognition
- Reinforces turn-taking
- No small pieces to manage
- Easy for grandparents or babysitters to jump in and play
Construction Matching Game
This is technically more of a matching or memory game, but it deserves a spot here.
We got this for Christmas and it’s been great for:
- Memory skills
- Hand-eye coordination
- Focus
- Problem-solving skills
My toddler is honestly better at it than I expected, which makes it even more fun to play together.
If you’re building a small but reliable toddler board game collection, these are the ones I would personally keep on hand. They get played, they hold up, and they make easy, no-regret gifts when the next birthday invite pops up.
You should also check out this article:
