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Learning Games For Kids Up to 6 Years

Learning games are a great way to teach children under the age of six the basics of colors, shapes, sounds, numbers, and the alphabet. Keeping the process fun and interesting makes the child want to learn. Following are some categories of games that children will enjoy playing, and parents will love knowing that their child can be taught many basic subjects at a very early age.

Memory Games
- Many toy companies manufacture matching games and they are readily available in various themes illustrated with well-known characters. They can also be easily made by either a parent, teacher, or older child to assist small children in learning how to recognize figures and react quickly to match them to their counterpart. This is a game played with other children and teaches mental dexterity, memory and retention, and sportsmanship.
Alphabet and Counting Games
- Alphabet and counting games teach children letter and number recognition. Alphabet games will also teach the basics of phonics and pre-reading skills. Matching games are particularly effective when objects are matched to the correct beginning letter. These games can be used for both upper and lower case letters.
  
  Games using flashcards are also popular among groups of children who compete in teams to see who can name the beginning letter of objects shown on a card. The winning team gets a special treat or activity to engage in.
Puzzles
- Puzzles teach small children shape recognition and hand/eye coordination. There are also many puzzles that feature letters and numbers to help the child recognize these while putting the pieces together. Be sure to choose puzzles made for the specific age and ability of the child as puzzles can be very frustrating and detrimental to the child's learning if they are too advanced.
  
  Coloring page puzzles are very mobile and include mazes, color-by-number pictures, and object searches. They teach observation skills, finger dexterity, and problem solving.
Online Games
- Many children's websites offer free learning games for your child. Some can be printed out and played at the child's leisure while others, such as featured games on Nick Jr.'s site, can be played on the computer. These games not only teach children alphabet, observation, and counting skills, they will also teach the basics of operating a computer or laptop, including how to navigate a mouse and select different learning programs. Operating a keyboard will help teach a child letter recognition skills.

Kids Games