Children's Games for Ages 4-8

Board Games

• Most board games are classified by age level. "Chutes and Ladders," for example, is ideal for ages 3 to 6 years because it requires simple counting skills and the rules are easy to learn. Children 6 to 8 years can play games that involve more rules and strategy. "Trouble" players press down on a bubble that makes a die bounce around. The number the die lands on dictates how many spaces a player can move her game piece on the board. The goal is to be the first player to get all game pieces around the board and back home again. Other educational and entertaining board games for young children include "Cranium," "Pictionary" and "Guess Who."

Dice Games

• Dice games are easy to take almost anywhere. Most require little more than a piece of paper, a pencil and two to five dice. "Beat That!" can be played by most ages, but children younger than 5 may need help. The first player rolls the dice and puts them in order to make the highest number possible. The next player tries to beat that number. Children in this age group should be able to play "Yahtzee," or you can teach them to play "Pig." "Pig" players roll a die to earn points while trying to avoid rolling a one. Players can keep the points or pass the die to the next player. If a one is rolled before passing the die on, all points are lost for that turn.

Card Games

• Card games teach children to take turns and follow rules. "Memory" starts with a set of cards turned face down. Children have to pick up one at a time and try to remember where the pairs are. It is ideal for children 4 to 6. "Go Fish" can be played by any age level as long as the child can identify numbers. Children ask players if they have a certain card. The other players pass the card if they do, and say "Go Fish" if they don't. The object is to have the most pairs of cards at the end of the game. "Crazy Eights" is ideal for older children in this age group as the rules are a bit more complex.

Outdoor Games

• Outdoor games like kickball and dodgeball encourage physical activity and can be used to teach teambuilding skills. Children this age also play tag-based games like Spider and Flies. One child starts out as the spider, and the rest are flies. The spider chases the flies, attempting to tag someone. When a player is tagged by the spider, he becomes part of the spider's web and must hold hands with the spider to catch the remaining flies. Each tagged player holds hands with the last, creating a chain to catch more flies. The last player caught is the new spider.