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Free Games for Young Kids

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is normal for young children to have a short attention span. Preschool-aged children may not sit still for long stories nor be able to focus on games for any length of time. As they get older, children's ability to concentrate improves, but it is still helpful to provide choices to keep a young child busy and interested.

Counting Cows
- The car game "Counting Cows" has very simple rules. The children try to count any cows seen on either side of the road. Any child old enough to recognize cows and speak can play, even if the child is unable to count. If there are no cows around, players can count emergency vehicles, schools, horses, red cars or other common items.
  
  In addition to making travel time pass more quickly, games like this can help kids learn to count and recognize objects. According to Medline Plus, even children of the same age may have significantly different attention spans. "Counting Cows" can be played as long as players are interested. If a child seems to lose interest, it is time to switch to another activity.
Pass the Stone
- This simple guessing game was originally developed and played by Native Americans hundreds of years ago. Have a group of players sit in a circle on the floor. The first player holds two different colored stones, and passes one to the person next to him, without allowing the color to be seen. The player now holding the stone must guess the color. If she guesses right, it is her turn to pass a stone to the next person. If she guesses wrong, she must leave the circle. This continues until only one player is left.
Wild Habitat
- "Wild Habitat" is a free, online game designed for young children. It is available on the Fisher Price website, and can be played by children who don't yet know how to read. Children first choose a habitat, such as the arctic, savannah or rainforest. The child then views a scene from that area of the world that includes its plants and animals. When the child clicks on one of the items she will hear some information about it.
Sorting
- The "Sorting" game can be played by one or more young children. Each child is given a container full of mixed plastic toys. He then sorts them into different piles by type, such as all of the toy frogs in one pile and all of the red LEGOS in another. The simple sorting helps the child develop manual dexterity as well as cognitive abilities.

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