Here are the best board games and educational games for 2-year-olds that will keep your kids entertained and learning at the same time. They are perfect for family game nights!
My husband and I are board game geeks. There, I admit it. Whenever we could get a group of friends together, our favorite thing to do is play board games all night until the sun came up.
Alas, that was our lives before kids.
When our son turned 2 and was no longer all about construction vehicles and trains, we looked for educational toys for 2-year-olds. To our delight, we found a bunch of educational and learning board games that even toddlers could play!
I know you have your doubts. Imagining your 2-year-old sitting down and playing a board game seems like mission impossible. But that’s why whoever made these preschool board games are GENIUSES! When you check out the games I have listed below, you will see why.
Playing games with your 2-year-old is so important for early childhood development. It teaches them various skills, such as gross and fine motor, reasoning and logic, memory and cognition, hand-eye coordination, and much more. They also will learn how to follow the rules and social-emotional skills that are critical for when they go to school.
Most importantly, playing games and spending quality time with your 2-year-old will give your family a chance to bond and create wonderful memories for years to come. For fun and educational games to play with your 2-year-old, check out the list below.
| If you are in a hurry … 💡 Check out the top 21 games for 2-year-olds! |
Best Games for 2-Year-Old Kids
Here are our top picks for games for 2-year-olds. Some of these we have been playing since my son was a toddler.
Even though my son is now in elementary school and my daughter is in kindergarten, they still playing games like Candyland and Hi Ho! Cherry-O.
Some of these board games are recommended for ages 3 and up, but my kids had no problem playing them when they turned 2. Observe your child closely when playing to gauge whether or not they are ready. Worst case scenario, you put the game away and bring it back out in a few months and try again.
1. Roll and Play Game
We have had the Roll and Play game since my son was 18 months old, and it remains a family favorite today (he is now 5!). The Roll and Play game is hands down the best game you should have for your 2-year-old.
The rules are simple: You roll the big plush cube, select a card with the matching color, and follow the instructions on the card. There are 48 cards with 6 different categories and each one is a fun activity, such as “roar like a lion” or “find something green.”
The Roll and Play game teaches children emotions, counting, body parts, color, animal sounds, and actions. It’s the perfect game for a fidgety 2-year-old who has tons of energy because the activities will get everyone up and moving.
My children always have a blast playing this, and they can play it over and over again. It’s no surprise that Roll and Play have won several awards, including an Oppenheim Platinum Award and the Play Advances Language Award.
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with: Creativity, active play, gross motor skills
Published by: Think Fun
2. First Orchard Game
First Orchard is a fun game for introducing your 2-year-old to the concept of teamwork. By working together, you will need to pick the fruits from the trees before the hungry raven reaches the end of the path.
We love the game because you either win together or lose together. It’s very simple, so your 2-year-old will have no problem understanding the rules. The pieces are large and durable, so your toddler can easily handle them.
Overall, First Orchard is the perfect game for learning color matching, where fruits come from and the different types of fruits, and social skills such as taking turns.
Number of players: 1-4 players
Helps with: Color recognition, memory skills, problem-solving
Published by: HABA
| If you like First Orchard … 💡 Here are more fun HABA games for your 2-year-old! |
3. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game
2-year-olds love to use tongs. I don’t know why. Both of my kids loved using tongs to pick up small items instead of using their hands when they were toddlers.
And that’s what makes The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game so fun! You spin the spinner, pick up the matching colored acorn with the Squirrel Squeezer, and carefully place it into your log. This game provides an excellent opportunity to improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while learning colors and counting.
The game is easy to set up and put away and comes with high-quality components. As one of the Amazon reviewers said, “If you’re on the fence, GET this game for your kiddos, you won’t be sorry!!”
Number of players: 4 players
Helps with: Color learning, matching skills, strategic thinking, turn-taking, eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills
Published by: Educational Insights
4. Button, Button, Belly Button
Kids love belly buttons. They love reading books about belly buttons and they are constantly lifting up their shirts to touch their own belly buttons. So why not play a cute game that will allow your kids to show off their belly buttons?
Button, Button, Belly Button is a simple game that will help your toddlers identify colors and develop important spatial recognition skills. Your kids will take turns moving the wooden button mover and then matching the card to the respective bear or button on the board.
When your child has the same color button and bear cards, he or she can lift their hands in the air like the bears on the game board and show everyone his or her belly button!
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with: Color recognition, matching skills, spatial recognition, vocabulary building, turn-taking
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
| If you like Button, Button, Belly Button and want more cooperative board games … 💡 Here are more Peaceable Kingdom games for your 2-year-old! |
5. Here Fishy Fishy! Magnetic Fishing Game
If your 2-year-old can’t sit still and needs something to do with his hands, Here, Fishy, Fishy! is the game for him!
After rolling the die, your kid will need to hook the fish with the corresponding color. If successful, then your kid gets a piece of the puzzle for his board. Once he collects all five pieces and completes the puzzle, he wins!
Each round doesn’t take too long so you can finish a game before your kid runs off to do who-knows-what.
If your toddler is not yet ready to follow the rules, you can take turns fishing.
Number of players: 1-4 players
Helps with: Hand-eye coordination, matching skills, concentration, color recognition, turn-taking, teamwork
Published by: HABA
6. Seek-a-Boo Game
The first time I saw the Seek-a-Boo Game played was at my child’s Montessori classroom. All the children were laughing and running around, trying to find the right cards.
Depending on your child’s learning and developmental stage, you can use the cards as an introduction to animals, colors, foods, etc., and work your way up to the matching game. You can play with just one child or a group of children, so it’s the perfect game to bust out on playdates.
The only downside is that the cards do bend easily (plus, you are playing with 2-year-olds who don’t fully comprehend the meaning of “gentle”), so you may want to laminate the cards for long-term use.
Number of players: 2+ players
Helps with: Memory skills, vocabulary-building, turn-taking, large motor skills
Published by: Mindware
7. Ladybug’s Garden Memory Game
If your 2-year-old likes memory games but has not learned to be careful with the cards, then this Ladybug’s Garden Memory Game will save you a lot of frustration.
Instead of cards, you use wooden caps shaped like ladybugs to hide the illustrations below. Your child needs to flip over the ladybugs to reveal what pictures are underneath and find the matching pair before the others do.
I remember playing this game with my son at a friend’s house when he was two years old. After explaining to him how to play, my friend and I were shocked at how great his memory was! Before we knew it, he found all the matching pairs and beat us all at the game. Never underestimate your children!
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with: Memory skills, friendly competition, turn-taking, fine motor skills
Published by: Fat Brain Toys
8. Feed the Woozle Game
This hilarious game involves feeding the hungry Woozle with funny and gross treats like chocolate-covered flies, fuzzy donuts, feathery tacos, frog-leg ice cream, broccoli lollipops, etc. Can you imagine your kids rolling on the floor, laughing over these silly snacks?
Despite its goofy nature, Feed the Woozle is an educational game that grows with your kid. For your 2-year-old, you may want to start by feeding the Woozle. As your kid gets the hang of the game, you can begin incorporating movements (hula dance, walking backward, etc.) while balancing the snacks on a spoon.
The game teaches your kids to work together and encourages motor skills, dexterity, and body awareness.
Number of players: 2-5 players
Helps with: Dexterity, balance, counting, and language skills
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
9. Hi Ho! Cherry-O Board Game
My husband had been begging me to get Hi Ho! Cherry-O for our kids as soon as he realized they could play board games. He has such great memories of playing this game when he was young, and you know what? I am glad that he did.
Hi Ho! Cherry-O is very similar to The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game described above. You spin the spinner, and players take turns picking cherries, blueberries, apples, and oranges from their trees to fill their baskets. You learn how to count, add, subtract, and match colors.
However, instead of using tongs, you use your fingers to pick up the fruits. That could be why the game is for children ages 3+. The fruits are tiny, so parental guidance is necessary to ensure your 2-year-old doesn’t put them in her mouth.
My daughter, however, loved using her pincer grasp when she was two so this game was perfect for her. The pincer grasp is an essential fine motor development to master for your child to be able to hold a pencil or button a shirt later.
Number of players: 2-4 players
Helps with: Basic math skills (counting, addition, subtraction), turn-taking
Published by: HASBRO
10. Monkey Around – The Wiggle & Giggle Game
If your 2-year-old is anything like mine, he spends most of the day doing silly things anyway. That’s why he is going to love Monkey Around, where he will be hopping, balancing, and monkeying around!
Your kids will love carrying out the actions required on the “solo cards.” However, what you will adore are the “Everybody” cards. These cards challenge you to complete the action with a partner, such as “pretend to feed your partner the banana.” It’s an excellent opportunity to teach your 2-year-old how to work together with someone else to finish a task.
Monkey Around is a quick game that promotes hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and language skills. Plus, it comes with a cute beanbag banana!
Number of players: 2+ players
Helps with: Social skills, gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, vocabulary-building, imitation
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
11. Lucky Ducks
I try to avoid battery-powered games, but this one is fun. When you press the orange button, ducks start “swimming” in circles. The bottom side of each duck has a colored shape. The winner is the first player to pick up three ducks with matching shapes.
My 2-year-old loved Lucky Ducks, even though matching the shapes was a little hard for her. She just enjoyed picking the ducks up while they were swimming in the circular pond. Then, after she took off all the ducks, she would put them all back and press the button again to start over. It wasn’t until she was almost three that she started playing the game according to the rules.
I do have to warn you – this game is loud. The ducks will keep quacking until you turn it off, so if you want a quiet house, this might not be the game for you. That said, the kids love the quacking!
Number of players: 2-4 players
Helps with: Shape and color recognition, memory, and matching skills
Published by: Pressman
12. Snug as a Bug in a Rug
Eww, stinkbugs! Similar to the other Peaceable Kingdom games, Snug as a Bug in a Rug is a collaborative game that teaches your kids how to work together to achieve the same goal.
This wonderful game can be as easy or as difficult as your little one wants it to be. Level 1 of this game is simple enough for a 2-year-old. You roll the die at the beginning of the game to decide which one attribute will all players use to match the bugs. Then by working together, you need to get all the bugs under the rug before the stink bugs arrive and stink up the place!
The quality of the game is top-notch, and the bugs are so cute. My kids like sliding the bugs under the rug, and I love watching my kids play together (without fighting for once!).
Number of players: 2-4 players
Helps with: Emotional development, problem-solving, decision-making, and positive self-esteem
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
13. Candyland
Good old Candyland. What kid hasn’t played Candyland while growing up? One of our good friends gave my son this when he turned 2, and he has been playing it ever since.
Candyland is designed for non-readers so that even 2-year-olds can play it. You pick a card and move your gingerbread character pawn to the nearest stepping-stone that matches the color on the card.
Little kids can learn how to follow directions, take turns, and match colors while playing Candyland. My only caution is that if you have an energetic 2-year-old, he may not be able to sit still long enough to finish the game.
Number of players: 2-4 players
Helps with: Color recognition, turn-taking
Published by: Hasbro
14. Zoo on the Loose
Kids love the concept of Zoo on the Loose – animals have escaped from the zoo, and they have to get the animals back in their places when the zookeeper shows up!
Zoo on the Loose is a wonderful game to teach your kids about different animals and their habitats. You start the game by exploring the mat, and that alone will help your kids learn about other animals at the zoo, how to spot and count butterflies and zookeepers.
Then, your child gets to help the animals go on an adventure around your house. The directions on the cards will teach your child positional vocabulary, like “under” a chair or “in” the blue circle. Your kids will have a blast putting the animals in different places around the house!
Number of players: 1 or more players
Helps with: Memory, vocabulary, turn-taking, gross motor skills, following directions
Published by: Mindware
15. Where’s Bear?
Where’s Bear? is a straightforward game consisting of cardboard nesting boxes with illustrations of different rooms in the bear’s house. One person closes his eyes while the other hides the bear in one of the “rooms.” Then the person opens his eyes and tries to find the bear.
You can give the person hints by telling him what’s in the room. Where’s Bear? is great for building vocabulary about things around the house. You can also talk about what the bear could be doing in each room, like sleeping on the bed or sitting on the couch.
And if your 2-year-old likes stacking blocks or boxes, then this is the perfect game for your kid! The boxes are sturdy and well-made, almost as if the game maker expects toddlers to knock down all boxes to find the bear.
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with: Social skill development, cognitive benefits, social-emotional skills
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
16. Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game
The one book we read every single night when my kids were babies and toddlers was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This game is the perfect complement to the story!
You pick a card that tells you how many spaces you can move your caterpillar. When you land on a piece of fruit, then you collect a butterfly puzzle piece. The first person to collect all five butterfly pieces and reach the center of the board wins the game.
The butterfly puzzle pieces are interchangeable, so your butterfly is unique every time. Your kids can learn to count, recognize their colors, and develope strategic thinking while playing. What a great way to bring the class children’s book to life!
Number of players: 2-4 players
Helps with: Color recognition, counting, decision-making skills, following directions, turn-taking
Published by: Briarpatch
17. Acorn Soup
Do your little ones crowd around you in the kitchen while you try to cook? Mine loves to “help” out in the kitchen and learn what goes into their food.
Acorn Soup allows your 2-year-old to help the squirrel make his delicious soup. Pick a card, identify the ingredients, and count how many of each ingredient the soup needs.
Acorn Soup will get your kid’s imagination going as he stirs and pretends to make the soup. You can use the cards and wooden ingredients to teach your kids new vocabulary. If you have a plush squirrel, you can have your kid pretend to feed it.
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with: Fine motor skills, balancing and hand-eye coordination, cognitive skills such as counting and number recognition, matching and sorting, pretend play, creative thinking, imagination, naming and matching vocabulary building
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
18. Panda’s Picnic in The Park
Panda’s Picnic in the Park is a simple game where you and your toddler build your own pretend picnic. The idea is that you both take turns reaching into the basket to grab a different food item. You have to look at what shape and color the food item is and match it up to the correct plate. When all of your plates are full, your picnic is ready.
Number of players: 2 players
Helps with Practice colors and shapes, turn-takings, gross and fine motor skills, language skills
Published by: Peaceable Kingdom
19. Smelly Socks
Smelly Socks is a great matching game for preschoolers. It is a fun and simple matching game, where players turn over sock cards to find matching patterned socks for their monsters.
The colorful cards are durable pieces that are sure to survive even the most active little one!
Number of Players: 2-4 players
Helps with: matching and memory skills, observational skills, personal and social skills.
Published By: Orchard Toys
20. Duck Duck Dance
Duck Duck Dance is an adorable game that will get your 2-year-old up and moving! Simply roll the dice, make the dance move, and flip over the audience member to enjoy the show. Once all the audience members are watching the show, the game is complete!
Toddlers will love wiggling, spinning, and grooving with this fun dancing game. I recommend putting some dance music on to make this game even more active!
Number of Players: 2-4 players
Helps with: gross motor skills, sequencing, counting, imitating, and vocabulary
Published By: Peaceable Kingdom
21. Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards
Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards is not what you might think of when you are searching for a board game for your 2-year-old, but it’s a cooperative game that you should not miss!
With 20 double-sided study cards to choose from, your toddler will have so much fun running around the house, looking for items like a button or a hat. The cards also contain learning concepts such as colors, sizes, and shapes.
This scavenger hunt game is great to get kids moving as they search for household objects. And if your toddler has older siblings, they can jump in on the fun, too!
Number of Players: 2+ players
Helps with: observational skills, cooperative play, vocabulary, visual perception, and emotional connections
Published By: Mollybee Kids
Final Thoughts on the Best Games for 2-Year-Olds
If you are looking to buy a board game for a 2-year-old, we hope this post helped you figure out which board games would be the best for your child.
All of the board games listed are great options for toddlers, and I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Happy playing!
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