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Preschool Games That Involve Turn Taking

Teaching children does not always occur during classroom lessons. For preschool aged children, games that involve taking turns teach them how to play with others fairly. These games offer more than just fun, they provide the youngest of children with valuable life long lessons in sharing.

Card and Board Games
- Preschoolers must take turns to play card games like Old Maid or Go Fish.
  
  Any simple card game such as Go Fish or Old Maid or a board game such as Snakes and Ladders (or Chutes and Ladders) will teach a child to play with others. Each child must wait until everyone else has their turn before taking his own. Avoid board games which require reading, but instead use pictures to direct a child in his actions.
Group Artwork
- Each child takes a turn adding his own touch to a group picture.
  
  Have children sit in a circle and give each child a marker. Place a piece of paper in front of one child and instruct him to draw for 30 seconds. Use a kitchen timer or stop watch to determine when the time ends. The artist then passes the paper to the child on his left who has 30 seconds to add her own creations. The picture moves around the circle, with each child taking a turn until every child has gotten a chance to draw. Display the group drawing in the room as an example of the children's creativity.
Outdoor Games
- A simple game of catch allows even very young preschoolers to play without learning complex rules.
  
  Play a game of catch by tossing a softball or rolling a rubber kickball. A simple game of catch requires a child to wait for his turn as he cannot throw or kick the ball until the other player sends it his way. Catch and ball rolling do not have as many rules to learn which could frustrate the youngest of preschoolers who might forget them while playing. The only rules for catch: toss the ball to the other player, and catch it when it comes to you.

Kids Games