Children aged 4 are usually starting to get good at playing board games and following the rules of a game. At this age, kids might start to be able to play a simple game with their friends rather than needing help from an adult. Here, we have reviewed some of the top board games for 4 year olds, so you can find something they will be able to play and are sure to love. We also answer some questions parents often have about finding the perfect learning games for 4 year olds after the reviews. Whilst many games can be enjoyed by both boys and girls, some children around this age start developing different preferences. That’s why we have included a broad selection of games in our review, including games for 4 year old girls as well as those which may be more suited to boys.
Top 10 Games for Kids 4 Years Old
In the section below, we have reviewed we believe are some of the best games for 4 year old boys and girls. There is sure to be something your child will love here! We know preschool board games are plentiful so we have helped narrow down to your search with some of the best on the market. We pick our top games based on those which offer opportunities for educational development, are fun yet easy to play, and have a natural feel to them.
1. Hoot Owl Hoot Board Game
Hoot Owl Hoot is a great cooperative game for children over the age of 4 years. Peaceable Kingdom make a range of cooperative games for kids, which are great for younger children as there is no competition so everyone can play nicely together. There is no reading required to be able to play this game, and a game lasts around 15 minutes which is just perfect for holding the attention of a child aged 4.
The Peaceable Kingdom game involves color matching – match colors to fly to a space on the board, until your owl gets back to his nest before the sun comes up. Kids can learn many important skills from this game, such as planning ahead, cooperating with others and strategic thinking. The game board is beautifully illustrated and is sure to delight parents and children alike. The cute owl tokens are a nice touch kids are sure to love too.
2. Sequence for Kids Game
The Sequence board game is popular with older kids, but too difficult for preschoolers. Thankfully, there’s a version which is designed for kids under the age of 6, which is easier to understand and doesn’t require any reading ability. Players take a card from their hand and put a token on the corresponding picture on the game board. The first to have four tokens in a row is the winner.
Sequence for Kids is an exciting game which helps develop skills such as logical thinking and interaction with others. The game pieces are durable enough to last for many years, and even grown ups will have fun playing along with the kids. The game is good for helping children learn to play with strategy, and they can gradually learn to work to stop others from winning.
3. Chutes and Ladders Classic game
Chutes and Ladders is a classic game for preschoolers and has been loved for generations. It’s perfect for children to learn how to count, as well as practice taking turns and playing along with others. The rules of the game are very simple to follow, even for young children with little experience of playing board games. This version comes with a spinner to see how many spaces to move forwards, instead of using a die.
The Shoots and Ladders game is ideal for helping children learn about virtues, as the play tokens can climb the ladders as a result of doing a good deed. They have to slide down the chutes, further away from the finish line, if they are misbehaving! The game has 100 numbered spaces, so it is ideal for children who are learning to count to higher numbers.
4. Hi Ho! Cherry-O Counting Game
Hi Ho Cherry O is a great first board game for young children. It involves picking cherries off the trees, and the winner is the first player to fill their bucket. Players take turns to use the spinner to find out how many cherries they must pick, but be careful, sometimes a bird will come and take one! The game even comes with some spare cherry pieces in case any get lost when playing.
There are many easy games for 4 year olds, but not all of them are educational. This one is both easy to learn, and will help teach children new skills. Children can start to learn about basic addition and subtraction, as well as important social skills such as taking turns and interacting with others. The game has been around for many years, and it remains just as popular today, with children and adults alike.
5. Tiny Polka Dot Game
Math for Love make some great games for 4 year olds at home, which can help them learn about numbers. This set includes 16 easy to learn games which can be adapted for children of different ages and abilities. The games aim to help children fall in love with math and numbers, by teaching in a playful and fun way. The colorful designs and patterns are great for keeping young children interested too.
The math activities last between 5 – 15 minutes in duration, so you can quickly fit in a session in between other activities. It also means young children won’t lose interest – this time is the perfect length to hold their attention. The game can be played with between 1 – 6 players, so it’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy, or a group of friends to play together with some help from mom or dad.
6. Feed the Woozle Game
This preschool board game is made by Peaceable Kingdom, a great brand which makes cooperative games to encourage teamwork between players, reducing conflict and competition. This game is a lot of fun and is great for children who don’t like to sit still, as there is lots of action involved. Players take turns to throw the die, which tells them how many pieces of food they have to put on the spoon to feed the woozle. They then have to try and get the spoon in his mouth without dropping the food, and to make it harder there is a spinner which is used to show which action they have to perform on the way to feed him, such as walking backwards or dancing!
The Peaceable Kingdom game is suitable for up to 5 players, and game play lasts around 15 minutes. Kids can learn the importance of teamwork and boost their self-esteem when playing cooperative games such as these.
7. Cauldron Quest Game
Cauldron Quest is a great preschool game for 4 year olds – although the recommended age is 6 years and above, we feel it offers a nice challenge for 4 year olds, who will love to play it with their parents and older siblings. The game has won three different awards, so you can be sure it is high quality and lots of fun. The witches cauldron game teaches the difference between even and odd numbers, as well as teaching strategy, deduction and cooperation with other players.
Cauldron Quest is a great game for kids who love witches and magic, and is great for letting kids use their imagination. The game pieces are high quality and will last for many years, and the board looks great – kids will love it! The game plays quickly, and it’s great for kids of different ages as players work together, meaning everyone wins or loses together.
8. Dinosaur Escape Game of Logic
The Dinosaur Escape game is perfect for young children who love playing with toy dinosaurs. Players must work together to help the dinosaurs escape from the volcano which is about to erupt. The game involves matching and memory, so it is great for helping develop these skills. It comes with three different dinosaur figures, which preschoolers can use to play imaginatively after playing the game.
The Peaceable Kingdom game is great for helping children learn to work together with their teammates. Therefore, it is ideal for promoting social development, with a non-stressful play environment. Kids can play for fun rather than to win, as everyone shares the responsibility or winning or losing together.
9. Wooden Blocks Stacking Board Game
The Top Bright tower game has cute and colorful images which are sure to delight and engage preschoolers. The game is very similar to Jenga, although it is aimed at younger children. The game can teach children colors, animals and matching. There are two different ways to play the game. The first involves rolling the die to determine which block should be removed from the tower. In the other version, players take turns to draw a card before removing a corresponding block from the tower.
The tumbling tower blocks can also be used to build models, or stacked up and knocked over like dominoes. So, the game will provide excellent value for money as it can be used in different ways and is sure to be enjoyed for many years.
10. Jumping Jack Game
There are some great interactive games for 4 year olds and we believe this is one of the best! It is fun and exciting, perfect for children who don’t like sitting still to play a game. Players take turns to spin the spinner, to see how many carrots they should pull out from the bunny hill. One carrot will make Jack jump, but the exciting part is that no one knows when this will happen! Players then have to try and catch him as he jumps out, to be the winner! The game is great for helping kids improve their hand-eye coordination skills and reflexes, and is also a lot of fun!
Things to Consider Before Buying Board Games for 4 Year Olds
The first and most important thing you should consider when buying a preschool board game is the suggested age range on the box. This will give you a good idea as to whether or not the game is appropriate for your 4 year old and if they will be able to follow the rules or not. However, this is just a guide and there are no set rules, as long as your child enjoys the game then go for it!
Educational games are great for preschoolers, as they will help them learn important skills for when they start school. Many board games offer educational benefits whilst still being lots of fun at the same time! We have included some here, but there are many more on offer if none of the above take your fancy.
Cooperative games are ideal for four year olds, as they can still have a bit of a tough time dealing with losing a game. We have included many games in this review in which players must work together to achieve the goal. Children this age will also love games which encourage them to move around, sing or dance, as they can still sometimes struggle to sit still for long periods. Again, we have selected a few here which are ideal for little wrigglers!
How Will 4 Year Old Games Benefit My Child?
All of the toys and games reviewed above will benefit your child in some way or another. Skills develop through play and recent studies have shown the importance of play for kids development. Encouraging play is also part of the role of a parent and the more you teach them how to sit and focus on building a toy or playing a board game the more they learn how to do things for themselves, which will benefit them as they grow older.
What are the Best Games for 4 Year Old Boys?
Games for 4 yr old boys are plentiful! Finding ones that increase their development is important. Boys naturally move toward more tactile games with a little rough play, but its essential to have them both running around playing as well as sitting quietly trying to solve puzzles. Lego games and block building games help them learn to be patient and develop focus. I find board games are generally a gender neutral place where boys and girls can play together harmoniously.
What are the Best Educational Board Games for 4 Year Old Girls?
There are many ways kids can learn from playing with games. As an example, math games can increase kids cognitive development, and there are also many games which help develop manual dexterity and physical skills. Each game has something that they can benefit from and it is really important to be able to identify which is important for your child and their current developmental milestones.
Can I Buy Replacement Board Pieces?
There are many different stores that can replace board game pieces. Amazon for example have a large selection under “game pieces” and with an increased narrow search in this section you can find most game pieces. Alternatively you can always make DIY game pieces from scratch. This is always a fun way to get the kids learning and being creative. Some manufacturers such as Peaceable Kingdom will happily replace any missing or lost game pieces, so it’s a good idea to try contacting the manufacturer directly.
Overall Best Board Games for Four Year Olds
The best game for your child really depends on their skills and interests, and what you are hoping they will learn next. However, Chutes and Ladders is a classic game which every child should own at some point during their childhood! The game has remained popular with both parents and children alike for many generations, thanks to its simple to follow rules. It can also help teach children to count to higher numbers, and is ideal for helping develop manual skills. Chutes and Ladders is a timeless classic that your 4 year old is sure to love.
Our Sources
- Learning about 4 year old development stages.
- Kids aged four milestones in their development.
- Games and activities kids aged 4 can play.
- Essential about kids motor skills at stage 4.