5 Great Board games for Therapeutic Play: ages 2-4
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It is never too early to introduce your little one to the fun that comes with board games! Even at age two, playing games can help children develop focused attention, frustration tolerance, and impulse control all while having fun.
Selecting the right game to build these skills can be tricky, because there are so many options. Many of the classics – Monopoly, Connect 4, Battleship – are too complicated for this age group. I’ve compiled a list that targets a variety of skills & subjects and are lots of fun.
Here are five great picks for the littlest gamer in your life!
First Orchard – This cute game is a top pick for a reason: it has solid, well-made wooden components, bright colors, and simple rules. Cooperative formats are good for this age so that parents, educators, and therapists can help children experience success.
Players take turns rolling the dice and matching their roll to a colorful fruit. They are trying to collect all of the fruits before the raven reaches the tree. It is similar to Candyland, because of the color matching, but a more effective game for building skills.
Style: Cooperative
Skills: Fine Motor, Visual-Spatial, Executive Functioning
Subject: Math & Science, Natural World
Acorn Soup – This highly tactile and engaging game requires players to follow recipe cards and practice simple counting. The large wooden pieces are great for small hands and the simple, predictable format helps scaffold skill growth.
There are also good opportunities for play extensions and pretend – have your child bring in their favorite characters, dolls, or toys to join in soup making – or eating!
Style: Cooperative
Skills: Fine motor, Visual-Spatial, Executive Functioning, Sensory Integration
Subject: Math & Science, Natural World
Duck Duck DANCE! – If you have a wiggly, busy 2-4 year old (who doesn’t?) then this is the pick for you! This game has children up and moving their bodies while practicing imitation and focus all while working on gross motor milestones.
Players roll four large dice and complete the movements in order. This practice with sequencing and body awareness is also helpful for daily tasks such as getting dressed and washing up in the bath. Movement through play also provides vestibular and proprioceptive input which supports children with sensory processing differences.
Style: Cooperative
Skills: Gross Motor, Visual-Spatial, Executive Functioning, Sensory Integration
Subject: Arts & Music, Natural World
Three Little Piggies – This puzzle game comes with a picture storybook and 48 puzzles (24 with / 24 without the wolf). The puzzles gradually increase in complexity and challenge logic, problem solving, working memory, and visual spatial rotation.
Parents and educators can also play alongside their children to help them solve the puzzles, but often they are so engaged they will try to complete all the “levels.” The gentle growth in difficulty with the market, color-coded levels is fun for kids who might otherwise pick video games and are motivated by visual input.
Style: Solo Play
Skills: Fine Motor, Visual-Spatial, Executive Functioning
Subjects: Math & Science, English Language Arts, Fantasy & Science Fiction
Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game – This lovely games builds empathy and emotional intelligence. Children meet characters with familiar problems and feelings – a little boy who is afraid of the dark, or a little girl who is sad while standing outside in the rain. They then reach into the “helping bag” to draw out tokens to try and help.
Style: Cooperative
Skills: Fine Motor, Executive Functioning, Social-Emotional, Sensory Integration
Subjects: English Language Arts