Parent guide · Ages 3 and 4
Games for nursery children: 10 card games for 3 and 4 year olds
The short answer
The best nursery games are short, hands-on and played together. A few minutes is plenty at this age.
These 10 games use a pack of cards and things you already have at home, and each one practises something children learn at nursery.
At home
Nursery games and activities to try first
Each game takes a few minutes and one pack of cards.
Numbers
Number games for nursery
Counting games help children link a number to an amount, which is a big part of maths at nursery.
Number thief
Lay out a line of number cards, then let a toy steal one while your child looks away. Which one is missing? How to play number thief.
Flipping numbers
Lay the cards face down and turn them over one at a time, counting up as you go. How to play flipping numbers.
Count onto the dots
Put a toy or counter on each dot of a card and count as you go. Then find the number that matches.
Number snap
Make one pile of number cards and one of dot cards. Turn one from each, and shout "Snap!" when they match.
Sounds and words
Sound and word games for nursery
Before reading comes listening. These games help children hear the sounds in words.
Sound hunt
Pick a letter sound and hunt around the house for things that start with it. How to play sound hunt.
What's that sound?
Hold up an animal card and make its noise together. Then take turns to make a noise for the other person to guess.
Make a rainbow
Lay the colour cards out in rainbow order and say each colour as you put it down.
Matching
Matching and memory games for nursery
Matching games build memory, focus and turn-taking. Start with a few pairs face up.
Where's the baby?
Lay the baby animals face down. Show a grown-up animal and find its baby.
Memory match
Turn two cards over at a time and look for pairs. Saying each name out loud helps them remember where it was.
Shape hunt
Pick a shape card and look for something the same shape around the room: a round plate, a square window.
For more by age, see our guide to the best educational games for children.
Little and often
How long should nursery games last?
Five minutes is plenty for a 3 or 4 year old. Stop while they're still enjoying it, and they'll ask to play again.
Our cards
Cards for nursery games
The packs these games are played with.
Questions
Games for nursery children: your questions
What games are good for nursery children?
Short, hands-on games played together: counting, matching, listening for sounds and naming things. A few minutes at a time works best.
What do nursery games teach?
Counting, early sounds, colours and shapes, plus taking turns and remembering. They also build the focus children need for school.
Can nursery staff use these games?
Yes. Every game works with a small group, and the cards are made to be handled and passed round.
How much is delivery?
UK delivery is free on orders over £50.