10 Best Board Games for Toddlers! Toddlers are an ideal age to introduce kids to their first board game, but game options that actually work for toddlers are pretty limited. After some trial and error we found that our toddlers loved games that are simple to learn and quick to play, with bonus points if it was a cooperative game that we could all win/celebrate together. One more thought, all kids develop differently, if you think these games sound too simple, check out our best board games for preschoolers.
[Stephanie’s note: If the voice sounds different it’s because this post was written by Tyler, my husband, and originally published on Kidsloveboardgames.com which is now defunct!]
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Pin this round-up of toddler board games with this photo or link!
Best board games for toddlers
When you’re shopping for games, consider looking on Facebook marketplace for secondhand, buying from your local, small board game shop/toy shop, searching on Ebay, or checking Kidizen for used games. These are linked to Amazon for convenience but we’d much prefer you shop secondhand and/or small when you’re able!
Here are our ‘top 10’ board games for toddlers. This list is ordered from easiest to hardest, with games at the end requiring a little more coordination, enjoy!
One Two Hoparoo! by Haba
If you’re starting out with board games at a very young age, One, Two Hoparoo is my number one recommendation for staring board games for toddlers. This game is VERY simple and easy for little ones to pick up, and each game goes very fast. The basic premise is 2 frogs racing to a pond. Each player rolls a simplified die to see how many spaces they can advance (1-3).
- Number of players: 2
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 2+
- What we like best: Very simple, fast game play, high quality wood pieces
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to learn and understand simple rules
- Kids will learn: Basic counting (1-3), understanding dice and board games, turn taking
Seek-A-Boo by MindWare
This is an awesome first matching game, with multiple categories to keep your toddler having fun and learning play after play. Another great thing about this game is that your toddler can play against themselves with you just leading them through it (rather than competing).
- Number of players: 2+
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 18 months +
- What we like best: Fast paced game, multiple groups of cards, big cards are perfect for toddlers, kids are up and moving while they play
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to learn and understand simple rules
- Kids will learn: Vocabulary, memory, large motor skills
Teddy’s Colors and Shapes by Haba
Teddy’s Colors and Shapes is another great early board games for kids. There are four ways to play this game depending on your children’s interest that day, including cooperative and competitive versions. As a bonus, each game usually only lasts 5-10 minutes which is an ideal length of game for our toddlers.
- Number of players: 2-4
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 2+
- What we like best: Fast paced game, multiple ways to play, cooperative options
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to learn and understand simple rules
- Kids will learn: Colors, shapes, taking turns
First Orchard by Haba
Can you pick the fruit before the Raven comes down the path? First Orchard is a great first dice game for toddlers. Roll the dice and see which fruit you can pick, but watch out, if you roll a Raven it’ll continue down the path toward the orchard. This is an easy game to pick up and play right away and the game length matches up well with the toddler attention span.
- Number of players: 1-4
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 2+
- What we like best: Cooperative game, fast paced, high quality construction
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to learn and understand simple rules
- Kids will learn: First Orchard will teach basic colors, simple dice concepts, and turn taking
Roll & Play by ThinkFun
This is a perfect game when you and your toddler are feeling silly. Take turns selecting cards based on your big cube roll and acting out what is described on the card.
- Number of players: 2+
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 18 months+
- What we like best: Active game (ideal for wiggly toddlers), fast paced, game play focused on fun not competition
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
- Kids will learn: Colors, vocabulary, coordination
Monkey Around by Peaceable Kingdom
Another silly game, with lots of movement. This game has actions you can do together, actions you do by yourself, and actions with a fabric banana (fabric banana included). Fast, cooperative game play makes it another great toddler game.
- Number of players: 2+
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 2+
- What we like best: Fast game play, focused on cooperation, active game
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
- Kids will learn: Coordination, vocabulary, team work
Where’s Bear by Peaceable Kingdom
What toddler doesn’t love stacking and hide and seek? Where’s Bear by peaceable kingdom combines them both! Players take turns hiding the bear amongst stackable blocks, then the other player looks for the bear and stacks the blocks. Your toddlers will love the pieces and the gameplay, and Peaceable Kingdom does a great job guiding parents through teaching their toddler how to play the game.
- Number of players: 2
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 2+
- What we like best: Large blocks with interesting art to keep your toddler engaged
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to understand and follow simple instructions
- Kids will learn: Coordination and searching skills
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game by Educational Insights
Race against other players to see who can fill their log with colored nuts first! Take turns spinning the spinner to see what acorns your squirrel found and use the squirrel tongs to collect the acorns. This game is a perfect first spinner game for your toddler, the concept is very simple to pick up and have fun playing right away. Side note, the manufacturer’s age recommendation is for 3+, most likely due to the nuts being choking hazards, so please keep that in mind if your child has a tendency to put things in their mouth.
- Number of players: 2-4
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 3+
- What we like best: Squirrel tongs are fun and unique, pieces are well made, games are quick
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to spin a spinner and learn/understand simple rules
- Kids will learn: Using the squirrel tongs to pick up nuts is tremendous for fine motor skills, kids will also learn colors, and basic counting
Yeti in My Spaghetti by PlayMonster
Yeti in My Spaghetti is similar to Kerplunk, only simpler and quicker to be geared towards toddlers. Players take turns removing spaghetti noodles hoping the Yeti doesn’t fall into the bowl. Side note, the manufacturer age recommendation for this is 4+ (presumably due to the dexterity needed to play the game), but I included it here as the concept is pretty simple and our toddlers really enjoyed this one when they were first learning about board games.
- Number of players: 2+
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 4+
- What we like best: Creative concept, fast paced, other players turns are exciting to keep everyone engaged
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to grab a small plastic spaghetti and understand and follow simple rules
- Kids will learn: Fine motor skills, strategic decision making
Feed the Woozle by Peaceable Kingdom
A friendly looking hairy monster with a gross appetite that needs to be spoon fed, sounds like a good time to me! This is another great game to channel preschool wiggles into a focused task with lots of movement. Players take turns rolling the dice to see how many pieces of food they get to load on their spoon and try to reach the woozle’s mouth. If players can cooperatively fill up the woozle, they win. This game also comes with built in ways to make the game more or less challenging to fit your child’s coordination level.
- Number of players: 2-5
- Manufacturer age recommendation: 3+
- What we like best: Lots of movement, fun variations to keep challenging kids, cooperative game play
- Prerequisite skills: Ability to follow simple instructions
- Kids will learn: Coordination, balance, counting
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