Parents of 5 year olds know that this age is a critical time in their child’s development, and finding the right way to help them learn can be challenging. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun learning games for 5 year olds that can make the process enjoyable for both parents and children.
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Whether you’re looking for ways to teach your child the alphabet or basic math concepts, there are plenty of options. So, let’s get the ball rolling with our list of the best games for 5 year olds!
Looking for more online Math games and ELA games to educate and engage your kids? Here are more games to check out!
List of the Best Educational Games for 5 Year Olds!
With so many different games on the market, we’ve divided our list into categories to make it easier for you to find the perfect game for your child.
Learning Games That Kids Will Definitely Enjoy!
First on our list are classic learning games for 5 year olds that have been around for years. These time-tested games are perfect for helping your child learn the basics, including the alphabet, numbers, shapes, and colors.
1. SplashLearn’s Online Educational Games for 5 Year Olds
Skill Development: Math and reading
Price: Free for teachers and a 7-day free trial for parents. Subscription starts at $4.99 per month
You can find various learning games for 5 year olds online. SplashLearn is a website that offers over 4,000 educational games for kids in grades prekindergarten to grade 5. The games teach children essential math, reading, and spelling concepts. And best of all, they’re fun and engaging.
One of the great things about SplashLearn is that the learning program creates a daily personalized learning plan for your child. This plan will ensure that your child is always working on the concepts they need to learn and they’re able to do so independently.
2. The Rubik’s Cube
Skill Development: Helps with cognitive development, motor skills and problem solving
What you need: Rubik’s cube
Not only is the Rubik’s Cube a classic game that’s perfect for helping your child learn about colors and patterns, but it’s also a great way to develop their problem-solving skills. You can help your child get started by teaching them how to solve the first layer of the cube. Once they’ve mastered that, they can move on to solving the entire cube.
Tip: Many online tutorials and how-to videos are available to help your child learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube.
3. Sequence Cards
Skill Development: This game helps with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s also a great way to teach your child how to count.
What you need: A deck of cards
Sequence cards is a classic card game that is perfect for helping your child learn about numbers and patterns. The game aims to lay down cards in numerical order, from 1–10. Not only will they be having fun, but they’ll be learning essential math skills too!
Tip: Make sure to start with an easy level before moving on to the more difficult ones.
4. Tic-Tac-Toe
Skill Development: This game is a lot of fun and also a great way to teach your child about numbers and strategic thinking.
What you need: A piece of paper and a pencil.
This game is a classic for a reason—it’s easy to learn, and it’s a lot of fun! Draw a grid with nine squares, and label each square with a number from one to nine. Players take turns drawing Xs and Os in the squares, trying to get three in a row. The first player to do so wins the game!
5. Knock the Can
Skill Development: It is a great way to teach your child about aiming and hand-eye coordination. It’s also a lot of fun!
What you need: An empty can and a softball.
This is a classic outdoor game for active kids. Players take turns throwing the ball at the can, trying to knock it over. The first player to do so wins the game! Your child will love spending time outdoors while playing this game.
Tip: Set up the can at different distances to make the game more challenging.
6. Alphabet Bingo
Skill Development: This game helps with letter recognition and letter sounds.
One of the most basic games you can play with your child is Alphabet Bingo. Write out the alphabet on each piece of paper, leaving a few spaces blank. The player then draws a letter from a bag or hat and fills the blank space. The first player to fill in all of their spaces wins the game!
What you need: A piece of paper for each player and a pen or pencil.
Tip: You can make the game more challenging by having the player fill in the spaces with words that start with the drawn letter.
Engaging and Easy Board Games
Board games for children are a great way to teach them about different concepts. They’re also a lot of fun! Here are a few of our favorites:
7. Chutes and Ladders
The game’s objective is to be the first player to finish by climbing up ladders and avoiding slides (chutes). This is a perfect math game for younger kids, as it doesn’t require any reading. It’s a great way to spend some quality time with your child while they learn important skills.
Skill Development: This classic game is a great way to teach your child about numbers and counting.
What you need: Chutes and Ladders board, dice, and different colored counters
Tip: Use dice with pictures instead of numbers to make the game more accessible for younger kids.
8. Candy Land
Candy Land is a classic board game for children. The game is simple—players move their pieces around the board according to the colors of candies they draw from a deck of cards. It is a fun, easy game that young children will enjoy.
Skill Development: It is perfect for 5 year olds, as it helps to develop counting and color recognition skills.
What you need: Candy Land board game
9. Scrabble Jr.
Scrabble Jr. is a great way to introduce your child to spelling and vocabulary. The game is played with two to four players. Players take turns making words with the letter tiles they have been dealt. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins! You can even help them by teaching them the definitions of words they don’t know.
Skill Development: This game is perfect for helping your child expand their vocabulary and learn new words.
What you need: Scrabble Jr. board game
Tip: Use smaller words and simpler rules when playing with younger children.
10. Feed the Woozle
This game is about matching shapes and colors. The aim is to get the Woozle fed by matching the right colored food to his mouth. This is an extremely fun game for 5 year olds as it is both fun and educational. Your child will love playing this game, and you’ll love watching them learn!
Skill Development: It’s a great way to help your child learn about shapes and colors and develop their fine motor skills.
What you need: Candy Land board game
11. Guess Who?
Guess Who? is a classic board game that has been around for years. The game’s objective is to be the first player to guess which character their opponent has selected.
To play, each player chooses a card with a character on it. They then take turns asking yes or no questions about the other player’s character, such as “Do they have blue eyes?” The first player to guess correctly wins the game!
What you need: All you need is the game board pack of Guess Who?
Skill Development: It’s a great way to help your child learn about facial features and matching.
12. Katamino
A puzzle game that helps kids with spatial awareness. With eighty different challenges to solve, it’s a great way to keep little ones engaged and learning.
You can also play the game with multiple players, making it a great option to spend more quality time with your child.
Skill Development: Katamino is perfect for kids starting to get a handle on shapes and geometry
What you need: Katamino puzzle set
Related Reading: Best Math Puzzles for Kids to Improve Cognitive Abilities
Exhausting Physical Games for Kids
Along with the indoor games, there are a lot of outdoor games for children they can play to have some physical activity in their daily routine. Here are some popular and fun games for 5 year olds.
13. Hula Hoop
Hula hooping is not only a great workout but also a lot of fun! It’s the perfect game for 5 year olds to play to use up some of their boundless energy. Your kid can practice hula hooping in the backyard, at the park, or even indoors if you have enough space. With some practice, your kid will be a pro in no time!
Skill Development: This physical activity can also help improve coordination.
What you need: One or more Hula Hoops, and you’re good to go!
Related Reading: Creative Indoor Activities for Kids to Have Some No-Screen Fun
14. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get kids moving and exploring. To play, hide different items around your backyard or house. Then, give your child a list of items they need to find. Once they find all the items on the list, they win the game! Depending on your child’s age and ability, you can make the game as easy or as difficult as you like.
Skill Development: It’s also a perfect opportunity to teach them about nature and the world around them.
What you need: Some items that can be hidden as treasures and some sheets do draw maps or write clues for the hunters.
15. Don’t Let the Balloon Touch the Ground
All you need is a balloon and an outdoor space. The game’s objective is to keep the balloon from touching the ground. Players can use their hands, feet, or other body parts to keep the balloon aloft. If the balloon touches the ground, the player who last touched it is out! The last player standing wins the game.
Skill Development: This game is great for coordination and gross motor skills.
What you need: A balloon, that’s it!
16. Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a classic game that children can play anywhere. It’s a great way to get kids moving and exploring their environment.
Your child can play hide and seek with you, another adult, or even older kids. If you’re playing with younger children, be sure to provide them with some good hiding spots!
Skill Development: It’s the perfect opportunity to teach them about blending with environments and how to use their senses.
What you need: An enclosed area indoors or outdoors, like a small field or in a hall where players can hide
17. Bean Bag Toss
A bean bag toss is a great game to engage children in physical activity. To play, have your child stand a few feet away from the target and try to toss the bean bag inside. If they succeed, move the target further away.
If they miss, move the target closer. You can also make the game more challenging by having them toss the bean bag with their eyes closed or from a sitting position.
Skill Development: It is a great way to get kids moving and improve their coordination.
What you need: A bean bag and a target. You can make your target by drawing a circle on a piece of cardboard or using a hula hoop.
18. Ring Toss
Ring toss is a classic carnival game that children can play at home with a few simple supplies. Set up the target can in the middle of the room, and let your child take turns tossing the rings from a few feet away.
As they get better at releasing the rings, move the target further away. Your 5 year old will love the challenge of getting all the rings on the target.
Skill Development: This game will help improve hand-eye coordination.
What you need: You only need a few small objects for rings and something to use as a “target”—like an empty soda can.
19. Freeze Dance!
Turn up the music and get moving! This is a great game to get kids up and active. When the music stops, everyone has to freeze in place. The last person to freeze is out of the game. To make it more challenging, ask kids to make different moves when the music is playing—like hopping on one foot or touching toes.
It would be best if you also tried different genres of music to keep the game interesting. Your child will love busting a move to their favorite songs!
Skill Development: This will enhance their improve their attention to detail as well as their body movement skills.
What you need: Speakers and some free space for the kids to dance.
Related Reading: The Complete Playlist of Dance Songs for Kids
Indoor Games For Kids to Stimulate Their Brain
Not everyone has access to an outdoor space, but that doesn’t mean your child can’t be active. There are plenty of games for 5 year olds that can be played indoors!
Related Reading: Brain Games for Kids to Nurture Holistic Development
20. Tangram
Tangram is a Chinese puzzle game that people of all ages can play. The game’s objective is to create different shapes using all seven pieces.
You can help your child get started by showing them how to make basic shapes, like a square or triangle. They can try to make more complex shapes as they get better at the game.
Skill Development: This game is great for problem-solving and spatial awareness.
What you need: The Tangram puzzle set
21. Balloon Volleyball
Set up a net in your living room or basement and play a game of indoor volleyball! To keep the game fair, you can have one person on each team hit the balloon three times before it goes over the net. The first team to reach 21 points wins the game!
Skill Development: This is a great way to get kids moving and improve their hand-eye coordination.
What you need: A balloon instead of a volleyball and if you don’t have a net you can use a rope or a laundry basket.
22. Cup Stacking
Cup stacking is an easy game and all you need is a set of plastic cups and some patience!
To play, have your child stack the cups into towers of different heights. As they get better at the game, they can try to stack the cups faster or in more complex patterns.
Skill Development: Cup Stacking is a great way to improve your child’s hand-eye coordination and improve motor skills.
Tip: You can also turn cup stacking into a race by timing how fast your child can stack and unstack the cups.
What you need: Just a bunch of cups!
23. Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes is a simple game that kids can play with a pencil and paper. The goal of the game is to create as many squares as possible by connecting the dots.
However, one player can only make one line per move. To make the game more challenging, you can increase the grid size or have your child play with more than one person.
Skill Development: This game is great for honing problem-solving and planning skills.
What you need: A pencil or pen and a sheet of paper.
24. Frozen Words
Simply write down a bunch of words on slips of paper, and put them in a container. Then have your child draw a slip of paper out of the container and try to guess the word from the definition you give. If they guess correctly, they get to keep the word. The person with the most words at the end of the game wins!
Skill Development: This is an excellent game for teaching kids vocabulary.
What you need: Some small chits of paper to write the words and a big sheet of paper or board for the kids to draw on.
25. Who’s the Baby?
This game is a great way to introduce fundamental concepts like family and relationships. Players take turns asking questions about the baby in the picture, and the player who correctly guesses the baby’s identity wins the game.
Objectives:
- To learn about family and relationships
- To practice identifying people in pictures
Skill Development: This game will help your child practice their memory and observation skills.
What you need: Lots of photos of family and friends.
Related Reading: Brain Boosting Memory Games for Kids for Enhanced Learning
Let’s Make Learning Fun!
Learning should be enjoyable for both you and your child. By incorporating games into your child’s learning, you can help them retain information while having fun! Try out some of these games the next time you’re looking for a learning activity. Your child is sure to love them! So get out there and make learning fun for your kids!
What are some benefits of playing games for 5 year olds?
Playing games has many benefits, including improved problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. Games can also help to introduce new concepts and vocabulary words. Educational games for 5 year olds can also prepare them for the skills they’ll learn in school.
What should I do if my child isn’t interested in educational games?
Don’t worry! Not every child is interested in games, and that’s okay. There are plenty of other ways to help your child learn. Try reading books together, doing puzzles, or even just talking about the things that interest them. As long as you’re spending time together and engaging with your child, they’ll be learning!
How can I tell if my child is ready for some of these games?
The best way to know if your child is ready for a particular game is to try it out and see how they do. If they seem to be struggling, that’s okay! Just try an easier game or one that’s more tailored to their interests. With time and practice, they’ll be playing more complex games in no time!
Do I need to buy anything special to play these games?
No, you don’t need to buy anything special. There are various free games for 5 year olds to enhance their learning. Many of the games on this list can be played with items that you already have around the house!
Are there any games for kids that can be played quickly?
There is no need to worry if you don’t have much time to spend on these games. Just a few minutes here and there can make a big difference. If you’re short on time, try incorporating learning into everyday activities like cooking or cleaning. Add games to your weekly or monthly schedule since every little bit helps!
