All kids no matter their age love playing board games. Also it is always something that you can guarantee will provide entertainment on those cold rainy days when your child is really bored.
However choosing the right board game can be difficult, as there are so many to choose from.
In this article we will be going through the best 20 board games for 4 year olds. So you can be assured that all these board games will provide you and your child hours of enjoyment.
OUR TOP PICK
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EDITORS CHOICE
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BEST VALUE
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OUR TOP PICK
The Ladybug Game
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The ladybug Game is about getting Ladybug safely home, feeding the ants and escaping the praying mantis.
This game is suitable for toddlers of ages 3 and up, so perfect for your 4 year old.
This is not only a fun game to play, but it also introduces your child to basic math concepts of addition and subtraction.
While also learning interesting facts about bugs as well. This game can be played by 2 to 4 people, so plenty of space for the whole family to get involved.Pros
- No reading required – There is no reading required for this game, making it a simple game for 4 year olds to play.
- Colorful – The board and all the cards are really bright and colourful, so will keep your child interested.
- Introduction to maths – The Ladybug game will introduce your child to the basic math concepts of addition and subtraction throughout the game.
Endless Loop – Some customers have said that this game can be completed in 20 minutes, others have said that it took them a lot longer to complete. If you do find that you have to keep going back and forth the game can take longer.
EDITORS CHOICE
CandyLand Board Game
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Canyland is an extremely colorful game for children to play.
This game is suitable for children aged 3 and up, so perfect for your 4 year old.
This game is all about a race to the castle, but along the way players will come across all kinds of sweet surprises.
Each player moves a gingerbread man player along the path and whoever reaches the castle first will win.The game board is filled with colorful and fun illustrations. This game teaches matching and color recognition.
While it also teaches children to take turns and learn to be a gracious winner or loser as it is a race.
No reading is required for this game, so it is perfect for children that haven’t yet learnt how to read.Pros
- Colorful illustrations – The game board features very colorful illustrations that your children will love.
- No reading required – This game involves no reading so children who haven’t learnt how to read can take part and love the game.
- Simple to play – This game is simple to understand. It is a race across the game board, with some color matching along the way.
Cons
- Game board too busy – Some customers have said that there are too many illustrations on the game board and it can be a bit overwhelming. However this is personal preference.
BEST VALUE
Operation
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Everyone knows the game of Operation. Your child will love playing this classic game of being a doctor in the operating room.
Cavity Sam is feeling under the weather and you need to ‘operate’ to make him feel better. By using tweezers, your child has to try and remove all of Cavity Sam’s aliments.
However you need to be careful and try to avoid getting ‘buzzed’. This is a great game for your child to play on their own or with friends and family. Pros
- Solo and multiplayer – This game can be played solo or with multiple players, it is up to you.
- Hand eye coordination – This game teaches hand eye coordination, as your child uses the tweezers to get the aliments out of the small holes.
- Provides a sense of achievement – Your child will try their best not to hear that buzz sound. They will feel proud when they take a piece out without setting the buzzer off.
Cons
- Small pieces – This game is recommended for 6 year olds, but 4 years can play this game too. Just be aware of the small pieces.
RUNNER UP
Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game
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In the Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game your child will have to collect puzzle pieces that will transform the caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.
This game is all about counting, collecting and puzzle building. Your child will move 3D colorful sculpted caterpillars from fruit to fruit.
Each time they stop to eat, this is when they are collecting their butterfly pieces. The first player to five butterfly pieces wins the game as their butterfly is complete.This game encourages your child to make decisions, as they choose which direction on the board to move to.
They will mix and match butterfly pieces to create beautiful and unique butterflies. This game uses Eric Carle’s well-known storybook character, and is perfect for 2 to 4 players. Pros
- No reading required – This game is perfect for 4 years old as no reading is required for them to enjoy this game.
- Encourages decision making – Your child chooses where they want to go and what fruit they are eating from. This game encourages them to make their own choices of how they want their butterfly to end up looking.
- Based on a well known story – All children know the story of the Hungry Caterpillar, hence they will recognize the characters and sculptors that are used to play the game.
Cons
- Repetitive – This game is quite repetitive, so your child could get bored if they play this game constantly.
RUNNER UP
Connect 4
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Connect 4 is a well known game, and it is always fun for a child to challenge a parent or friend to play against them. All you have to do is drop colored disks.
The real challenge is deciding whether to red or yellow. Once you get 4 discs in a row, whether that is vertically or horizontally or diagonally then you win.
This is a great two player game that will keep your child entertained.Pros
- Simple – This is a simple game to play and it is a simple game to understand and learn to play.
- Up to 2 players – You don’t need to worry about needing lots of players to complete this game as it only requires two.
- Short – Some games can last for hours, well not with this one as it will only last a few minutes. However you will end up having multiple games so you may find yourself playing for hours.
Cons
- Cheaply made – Some customers have said that this game is cheaply made. Which means that the plastic can break quite easily. So you just need to be careful when setting it up and storing it.
RUNNER UP
Kerplunk
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Kerplunk has been around quite a while and it is still enjoyed by children today.
You create a kind of lattice using the sticks that have been pushed through the translucent tube. You then place the marbles on top of this lattice.
Then players take it in turns to remove sticks while also trying not to let any marbles drop through.
The player with the least amount of marbles at the end wins. This is a great multiplier game, where up to 4 people can play.Pros
- Easy to set up – This game only takes a couple of minutes to set.
- Simple concept – Your child will be able to understand how to play this game really easily and the instructions are easy to follow.
- Counting – This game encourages children to count how many marbles they have at the end.
Sticks – The sticks are quite flimsy, so they can break easily.
RUNNER UP
Hi Ho Cherry – O
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Hi Ho Cherry – O is great for children aged 3 and up. Your child will be picking pretend fruit from the trees on the board and filling up their baskets.
There is a spinner that tells your child how many pieces of fruit they either need to pick or put back on the trees. The fake fruit that is being picked includes apples, blueberries, oranges and cherries. The first player that fills up their basket wins.
This game helps your child to practice basic math skills of counting, adding and subtracting. Yet they won’t even realise that they are developing these skills.Pros
- Simple – This game has a simple concept and therefore is easy for any child to understand and play.
- Develops basic mathematical skills – This game will help children develop basic math skills of counting, addition and subtraction without realizing they are doing it.
- Colorful – This game is all about picking bright and colourful fruits, which are pleasing to look at.
Cons
- Small pieces – The fruit are quite small, hence they can be quite easy to lose or misplace.
RUNNER UP
Pete the Cat: The Missing Cupcakes Game
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Based on the book series, this board game makes players work together to get the missing cupcakes back from Grumpy Toad.
Children will sing songs, identify animals, food and words, while also acting out physical actions.
This game is great for 2 to 3 players, it lets children use their imagination and improve their social skills.Pros
- Social skills – Children will use and develop their social skills as they make up strategies and make decisions throughout the game.
- Physical – This game isn’t just a sit down game, children will have to get up and act out certain things.
- Multiplier – This game is perfect for 2 to 4 players
Cons
- Can take a while to complete – If you keep losing things to the Grumpy Toad, then this game can take a long time to complete.
RUNNER UP
Soggy Doggy
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With this board game, players race around the board while taking turns in giving Soggy Doggy a bath.
However, like any dog, he likes to shake himself dry and you never know when he is going to shak himself dry.
If he shakes himself dry on your turn, then you must go back to the start. Therefore, the first player to make it around the bathtub is the winner.Pros
- Multiplayer – This game is perfect for 2 to 4 players.
- Suspense game – You don’t know when Soggy Doggy is going to shake, so you are always waiting for it to happen.
- Easy concept – This game is really easy to play and understand.
Cons
- Shaking water – Some customers have said that when Soggy Doggy shakes no water is felt by the players and can make a mess on the table.
RUNNER UP
Disney Classic Characters Matching Game
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This game comes with 72 tiles. All you have to do is flip over the tiles and try to find matching pairs of your favorite Disney characters.
This game helps children develop their memory and matching skills. It also makes them focus because they have to try and remember where certain cards are.
The player that collects the most pairs wins. However this game can be played solo, it is entirely up to you.Pros
- Develops memory skills – Your child will develop memory skills as they try to remember where certain cards are.
- Matching – This game encourages matching skills as players try to find matching pairs.
- Solo or multiplayer – Children can play this game by themselves or with friends and family.
Cons
- Short – This is a short game that really only lasts 15 minutes. Children can get quite bored after a while and multiple games.
RUNNER UP
Chutes and Ladders
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One of the most well known games on the market. This is a classic game that can be enjoyed by the whole family. No reading is required in this game.
All you have to do is spin the spinner and move your player up the ladders or down the chutes when you come across one. The first person to the top of the board is the winner.
Chutes and Ladders helps children to practice their counting skills as they travel along the game board.
This game can be played again and again without getting boring.Pros
- No reading – There is no reading required.
- Improves counting skills – Children can develop their counting skills as they move across the board.
- Multiplayer – This game is perfect for a family game night, with up to 4 players.
Complicated board design – Some board designs can be a bit difficult to understand where everything leads to.
RUNNER UP
Hungry Hippos
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Everyone has heard of Hungry Hippos. It is where each player chooses a hippo and marbles are released onto the game board.
Players use their hippos to eat as many marbles as possible. The player who has eaten the most marbles wins the game.Pros
- Fast action – This is a quick game that is a lot of fun for everyone playing.
- Multiplayer – This game is perfect for 2 to 4 players.
- Colorful – The hippos are all bright colors, so everyone can choose their favorite color.
Cons
- Hippo Necks – Customers have claimed that the hippo necks get stuck which then stops the game or ends up breaking the game.
RUNNER UP
Wildcraft Herbal Adventure
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Wildcraft Herbal Adventure is a board game that doesn’t require any reading. Instead this game features illustrations and icons.
In this game, players will learn what different plants look like and what they can be used for. This game is a mixture of learning and adventure.
There are waterfalls to slide down, logs to cross and deer trails to venture through.
This game is all about learning and identifying plants, which then leads to children being able to identify plants in their own backyard.Pros
- No reading required – This game is all about illustrations, so no reading is required.
- Develops plant knowledge – This is an educational game that will teach the players all about plants and what they can be used for.
- Made from recycled materials – This game is made with 100% recycled and recyclable materials.
Cons
- Doesn’t teach you a lot – Some customers have claimed that while this game is a little bit educational, it doesn’t teach you as much information as maybe customers would have liked.
RUNNER UP
Baby Dinosaur Rescue Board Game
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This game is a race to get all of the dinosaurs to the island before the valley is filled up with lava. Players work together to collect all the dinosaurs on the island to win.
This is an image based game, so no reading is required. This game develops matching skills and teamwork.
While this game is more about collaboration rather than competition as everyone works together.
This is a great multiplayer game for 2 to 4 players of children aged 4 and up.Pros
- No reading required – This is an image based game so no reading is required.
- Improves teamwork skills – This game is about the players working together, and there are no winners or losers. Hence it improves players and childrens teamwork skills.
- Matching – This is a matching based game and will improve players communication skills, as they talk about strategies.
Cons
- Confusing instructions – Some of the instructions may be a bit confusing. You can move any dinosaur on the board, which may confuse children who are used to having only one item to move around.
RUNNER UP
Guess Who?
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Guess Who is another classic game.
This is a two player game and each player chooses a card. The other player has to try and guess which character you have by asking questions.
Kids will enjoy looking at all the features on all the characters and coming up with yes or no questions.
The player who guesses correctly the other person’s character wins. This is an easy game to play on those rainy days.Pros
- Simple to set up – This game is really easy to set up and play.
- Problem Solving – This game develops children’s thinking and problem solving skills.
- Varieties available – You can get the classic guess who but there are also disney and pet versions available.
Cons
- Cards slide out – Customers have said the cards can keep sliding out of the holders.
RUNNER UP
Hoot Owl Hoot
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In this game, players work together to help the owls fly back to their nest, before the sun comes up.
If you help all the owls get home before the sun comes up then everyone wins.
This game really helps with communication skills and problem solving. Everyone has to work together to find strategies to get all the owls home before the sun arrives.
This game creates a sense of community in a non-stressful environment. A color matching game that is ideal for 2 to 4 players.Pros
- Communication skills – This game helps children improve their communication skills, as they must talk to each other about how to win the game.
- Multiplayer – This is a multiplayer game that can be played with up to 4 people.
- Coloring matching – This game helps children improve their colors and matching skills.
Cons
- Made with simple materials – This game has cheap materials which can break easily, so be careful when handling.
RUNNER UP
Let’s Go Fishin’
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This is a fast paced game, where each player has their own fishing rod. They must try to hook their rod into the fish mouths that will open and close.
Whoever catches the most fish is the winner. This game is a great way to develop children’s hand eye coordination.
While also it is a lot of fun to play as everyone is in competition with each other to get the most fish.Pros
- Fast paced – This is a quick game that takes no time to set up.
- Hand eye coordination – Children can develop their hand eye coordination as they try to hook fish with their rods.
- Colorful – All the fish have bright colors, that makes this game look attractive.
Cons
- Makes a loud noise – The motor can make a loud noise while in use, which can be annoying to listen to for long periods of time.
- Batteries – The batteries are said to run out quite quickly.
RUNNER UP
Sequence for Kids
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This is a strategy game which helps develop thinking skills, but no reading skills are required.
You have to play a card from your hand and then place a chip on the corresponding character on the game board.
The first player with four chips in a row wins the game. This is a great multiplayer game, which can have up to 4 players playing. Pros
- No reading required – This game doesn’t require any reading skills.
- Develop logical thinking skills – Players choose where to put their chips; this game develops children’s thinking skills as they want to put their chips in the right place.
- Multiplayer – This game can be played with up to 4 players, making this a great family game.
Cons
- Thin cards – The cards are thin, which makes them very easy to break
RUNNER UP
My Feelings Board Game
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In this game, 280 scenarios help young children express their feelings and help them to talk about their emotions.
There is a booklet that introduces seven different kids, all who have different emotions.
There are 24 movement cards that also keep your child engaged. This game is a lot of fun and helps young children learn how to express how they are feeling in a range of situations.
The first person to the end of the board is the winner, after they have recognised and acted out emotions.Pros
- Emotions – This game helps children who may struggle with emotions to talk about emotions.
- Simple – The aim of this game is to reach the end of the board, after navigating through different situations.
- Multiplayer – This game is great for the whole family to get involved in.
Long – This is a longer game and will take a while until someone reaches the end and wins.
RUNNER UP
Zingo
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Zingo is bingo that helps children who are now just starting to learn to read, to match the word to the image. Players race to be the first player with a full card so they can yell ‘Zingo’.
This game helps build language and matching skills. With up to 7 players, this is a great game for any 4 year old who has just started to learn how to read to play.Pros
- Players – This game can be played by 7 people.
- Matching Skills – This game involves children to match the image and the word together.
- Fast paced – This is a quick game as all players hurry to be the first one with a full card.
Cons
- Not many cards – It isn’t a deal breaker but this game only has 24 cards, so not that many words or numbers to learn.
Best 20 Board Games For 4 Year Olds Buying Guide
When it comes to buying board games for a 4 year old you need to be mindful of what the game is asking you to do. Most of the games on this list don’t require any reading.
This is something that you want when it comes to games for 4 year olds, as they can’t read yet or have only just started to learn.
So if there is no reading required on the game, then your child can enjoy the game more and it also means that you can walk away from them while they are playing.
Otherwise you will have to read everything and you may not enjoy playing yourself and your child won’t fully understand what is happening.A lot of games for 4 year olds are really beneficial. It helps them develop a lot of skills such as communication and thinking skills.
However they can also help develop teamwork skills too, if it is a collaborative game. There are many benefits to your child playing these games.
Alongside all of this, letting your child play one of these games, you will discover if they are a competitive person. They’ll learn how to be a gracious winner or loser too. It is worth noting that all of the games that we’ve mentioned are really colorful and require moving pieces. This helps keep your child engaged.
You’ll find that some games that we have mentioned have other varieties, such as a princess or hero varieties.
So you can buy some games and tailor them more to your child, or you can stay classic. It is completely up to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A 4 Year Old Play Checkers?
You can teach a child to play checkers when they are around 4 or 5 years old. This game can be enjoyed by the young and old.
Can A 4 Year Old Play Monopoly?
This game is recommended for children aged 5 and above. However this is quite a simple game to play, so a 4 year old should be able to play.
They will just need a little help so they can fully understand what is happening.
What Do 4 Year Olds Learn Through Playing Board Games?
4 year olds learn through playing, so by kicking a ball, make believe or playing a board game.
A board game helps develop thinking skills and math skills, without them realising it. They learn their numbers by counting how many steps they need to take.
Or they learn their colors through matching board games. Board games are an effective way to help develop lots of skills, without them realising they are being taught anything.
Conclusion
Board games are a great way to develop a range of skills for your 4 year old.
All the games that we have mentioned will keep your little ones entertained on those rainy days, or days when you want to get them away from screens.
They are colorful, enjoyable and will last you a long time. You may find yourself having more regular game nights from now on.
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