There is no better gift for a young child than a board game. Board games offer so many learning and developmental opportunities. Plus, they are just plain fun and make for great family time!  What are good games for 4 year olds? We have a great list below that includes some non-traditional board game ideas that are sure to please everyone! Make sure to also check out all our favorite preschool activities!
BEST PRESCHOOL BOARD GAMES
WHY ARE BOARD GAMES GOOD FOR PRESCHOOLERS?
Here you will find our list of what we think are the best board games for 3 year olds and 4 year olds. We own each of these games and have played them dozens of times together. They are tried, tested and true!
These board games are also great for playing with friends. Many of these are cooperative games where everyone works together and everyone wins.
Board games have so much to teach young kids. Simple skills like turn-taking, good sportsmanship, problem-solving, and more take place when kids engage in board games with either adults or other kids. Help by being a good role model and play lots of these preschool board games together!
Most feature different levels of play, making them good toddler board games and providing challenge for the older child. Each game doesn’t take all that long and encourages a re-play! Sometimes we even play several of these board games in a row!
Make sure to grab your free dinosaur activity pack!
10 BEST BOARD GAMES FOR 4 YEAR OLDS
Interested in games for older kids? Check out our list of games for 5 year olds!
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1. Snug As A Bug
Don’t let the stink bugs win! Cooperative game using numbers, shapes, colors and size to eliminate bugs on the board before the stink bugs take over. This is one of our go-to favorite preschool board games!
2. Count Your Chickens
This game is a recent favorite as a gift from a friend. Another cooperative game where everyone works together to get the chicks to their nest. No reading necessary, just match the animals to the spinner and count the spaces. Awesome preschool board game!
3. Elephant Trunk
We bought this on vacation in summer and play it all the time! Help the elephant pack his clothes. Get all your items packed before everyone else but watch out for the mouse who will make you unpack your suitcase and start over.
4. Discovery Beach
This fun game is a twist on the I Spy theme. However, this is a three dimensional game with a bit of memory thrown in too. Different puzzle pieces hide different sections of the beach. Spin and see what’s inside. Remember what you saw to look again. Careful, sometimes you have to shake the box and mix it up all again!
5. The Busytown Math Card Game
This game is affordable fun and another birthday present this year for us, that has been played many times so far. Great game for learning about what number is bigger when each player picks a card. This game also adds in beginning addition if you choose. The player with the biggest number keeps the cards and whoever has the most cards in the end wins.
6. Picture Dominos
A simple version of dominoes for kindergarten and preschoolers. My son loves matching the animals. Fun game to play with toddlers too! The wooden dominos are sturdy and long lasting. Great for matching, counting and problem solving!
7. Snails Pace Race
This is a cooperative preschool board game to help all the snails get to their leaves and have a snack. Simple roll the colored dice and move the snails. Cheer on the other snails!
8. Pop Up Pirate
This game was recommended by my son’s Occupational Therapist for developing fine motor skills. Simply push swords into the barrel in which a pirate sits. You never know which sword will do it and the pirate pops up! Surprise! This was great work for my son’s fingers but easy enough that it wasn’t frustrating.
9. I Never Forget A Face
This is a sweet game for learning about children from around the world! It is a little bit more difficult of a matching game but fun to see all the children from around the world!
10. Hoot Owl Hoot
Help the owls find their way to the nest before the sun comes up! A collaborative game perfect for families and also encourages a bit of strategizing!
BONUS BOARD GAME – Stack Up
A first preschool board game encouraging building and STEM skills.
Looking for easy hands on problem solving activities for preschoolers? Â
Click here to grab your FREE STEM ACTIVITIES!
MORE FUN PRESCHOOL IDEAS
- Preschool STEM Activities
- Earth Day Preschool Activities
- Plant Activities
- Preschool Books & Book Activities
- Weather Activities
FUN PRESCHOOL BOARD GAMES
Click on the photo below to check out tons of preschool science activities.
Emma
Thanks for this list – I’ve never seen these games before! The 1st three especially look like ones my daughter would like. 🙂
Samantha @ Stir the Wonder
wow! I love learning about new games! I’ve only heard of 1 of the games on your list & it was also on my list! hehe! Great list!
littlebins
Thanks! We are always looking around for unique games. Often going into a specialty toy store has interesting ones.
littlebins
Great! I am always glad to share what we like. Games are one thing that go over very very well here!
Theres Just One Mommy
Oh, we may need to find the snails one! Mine is really into Turbo right now!
gamerdad
I’d love to know the title of game #5.
Danielle
What is the name of game #5 ? I’m only seeing a game description?
littlebins
Discovery Garden, my numbering went a bit crazy!
Educational Insights
Dominoes is my all time favourite and it will be. It is a fun game for adults as well.
Brett Scottsdale
Great list! My husband and I really started to get into board games last year and are now always on the hunt for great games for the little ones. Pop up pirate is a classic and we also have Snails Pace Race but I haven’t heard of the others. Thanks!
Charles Tatman
Thanks for sharing the list. I have never heard the names of over half of these games. I am sure my daughter would love some of the games you have mentioned.
Brett
Great list! I’m literally just looking into all kinds of games for our preschooler so this is perfect! I really like the look of Busy Busy Airport – I’ve not heard of that one before.
Linda
Awesome list. Thank you
Todd
I like A Day at the Beach on standardgames.com for my 5 yr old