Hobbies And Interests
Homemade Games
Board games for four to six year olds do not have to be commercially made. You can make your own Bingo set or Memory game for your child using familiar items, such as their name and the names of family members or pets. Four year olds may do better with a Bingo or Memory setting that includes letters and pictures, while five and six year olds can play with sets including only the words. You can vary your Bingo or Memory squares to make games for each season or major holiday or design a custom set for your child's birthday featuring all of his or her favorite things. You can also create your own board game for road trips with pictures of items seen on the road, such as a gas station or semi truck. Children can play and win by spotting each item before reaching your destination.
Counting Games
Four to six year olds learn mathematical concepts through games that require them to count. Games such as Chutes and Ladders introduce them to counting as they roll a die and count their way up or down, and has been shown to be a helpful tool to improve children's proficiency with numbers. Candy Land also requires counting and is suitable for four year olds to solidify their counting skills and knowledge of colors. Connect Four is another classic counting game for this age, requiring children to count their own checkers to get to four in a row while also counting their opponent's checkers to prevent them from getting four in a row.
Matching and Memory Games
Beginning to match like to like is an important skill for four to six year olds, and as they learn to read they can play classic or more sophisticated versions of the game Memory. For four year olds, you will want a memory game (either commercial or homemade) that requires them to flip over and match two cards with the same pictures. Five and six year olds can play more sophisticated versions, either with more cards or that require them to match a picture to a card printed with the name of the item pictured.
Character-Themed Games
Children ages four to six will appreciate any game that features their favorite characters from books and television. Game makers such as Mattel and Hasbro, among others, have board games featuring favorite childhood characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine, the Cat in the Hat and Richard Scarry's Busytown in addition to Sesame Street, Disney and other beloved production houses. Character board games are available as special versions of traditional games, such as the Sesame Street Chutes and Ladders, or as standalone games, such as the Thomas and Friends Birthday Surprise Game.