Games for Children Ages 2 to 5

Memory Games

• Test the memory of the children by playing a Memory Match game. Print two pictures each of several random objects, such as an apple, a key, a birthday hat, a dog and a plant. Place the pictures face down on the table and select one child to go first. She must flip over two squares. If she finds a match, she keeps it and goes again. If she does not find a match, the play moves to the next player. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.

  For another memory game, bring out a tray of items like an orange, a bar of soap, a doll, a ball and a small plastic toy dog. Tell the children to look at the items. Take the tray away and ask the children to call out the items that were on the tray. Award a small prize to each child who can remember one of the items on the tray.

Command Games

• To play a game called Jack Sprat, select one player to be "it" and have all the other children select a partner. "It" must call out an action like back-to-back or side-to-side and players must do as "it" says with their partners. If "it" says, "Jack Sprat," all players must scramble to find a new partner, including "it." The player who does not have a partner is the new "it" and calls the commands.

  Select one child to be "it." Play music and have the "it" child do "special dance moves." He can do things like jump on one foot and pat his head or rub his tummy and sing aloud. Each player must copy the "it" player. Switch "it" players so every child has a chance to be "it." Award small prizes to all players.

Animal Sounds

• Record several animal sounds on a CD. Some online and retail stores have animal sounds recorded on a CD for educational use. Have the children guess what animal goes with what animal sound. Play a sound and have the children raise their hand to guess the correct animal. Give each player a chance to answer and award a prize for each correct answer.

  Another idea is to write down all the animal names on a board. After the child guesses the animal sound, see if he can find the correct animal name on the board.

Circle Games

• For Sad Kitty, have all the children sit in a circle and select one child to be the cat. The cat must walk around the inside of the circle. She must stop in front of a player and meow sadly trying to make the child laugh. If she cannot make her laugh after three meows, that player gets to be the new cat. If the cat makes a player laugh, she moves to another player. If the cat makes it all the way around the circle and everyone laughs, she can select another player to be the cat. Keep playing until each child has a turn to be the cat.

  For another circle game, inflate a balloon and give it to one child. Have the children pass the balloon around the circle by hitting it to one another. Tell the children the object is to not let the balloon touch the ground. Award a small prize to all game participants.