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Erika Malzberg
Beyond Candyland – Fun Games To Play With Your Pre-school-aged Daughter (or Son!)
My daughter is great at many things…but entertaining herself is not one of them! So, to maintain her interest and my sanity, it’s essential that we have a well-stocked game shelf. These are the games and toys that get pulled down most frequently: the ones that engage her mind, allow for her imaginative exploration “outside the box” (literally!) and are fun for me to play as well.
18 Gift Ideas for female
Who like educational toys, games & puzzles, video games & systems
Recommended for Age(s): 2 - 6
New - Just Dance Kids 2 Wii by Ubisoft - 17695
I think my daughter enjoys watching me and her father make fools of ourselves more than she does playing herself! But when she’s not laughing at our klutziness, or oohing over the cute kids featured in the dances, she enjoys busting some moves herself and I’ve even caught her doing some of the moves when the game was turned off!
Monster Feet Party Accessory
Seriously, who doesn’t want monster feet?! Your child will build her coordination while stomping around with these adorable (and sturdy) stilts.
Hello Kitty Jump Rope Kid / Ladies New Pink
Jump rope, play limbo, make a wiggly snake for your child to jump over or crawl under. Who knew that a jump rope could be so versatile? This one is sturdy and cute.
Green Toys Tea Set
Of the many (and I mean many!) teapot sets my daughter owns, this is probably her favorite. The pieces are large enough for small hands to maneuver and there are enough pieces to create a nice-sized tea party.
Colorations Incredible Foam Dough - Sampler Pack
Foam dough, or fun dough, as my daughter used to call it. Be advised that this “dough” will stick to warm hands, but it’s worth the clean-up. When my daughter started pre-school, this was her favorite thing to play with – so we had to get some for home. The feel of the pellets is immensely satisfying and there’s no end to what you can create with this product.
Set
This is an adult game – and a very challenging one at that! But my daughter is really interested in it and often wants to check it out. While adults may have difficulty accessing the side of their brains that enables them to identify sets, I’ve seen some gifted kids as young as 4 show their mathematical prowess!
Disney Princess *Gowns & Crowns* Game
Princesses may not be everyone’s thing, but they sure are popular with my little girl. This many little pieces to this game are a bit hard to keep track of and getting your princess’s crown to actually stay on her head can be a bit of a challenge, but the game is actually fun and a good exercise for your brain!
Make Me a Cake!: A Delicious Game of Creative Cake-Making [Misc. Supplies]
My daughter and I haven’t even read all the rules to this game yet, but we have spent many happy hours creating beautifully decorated cakes that look almost good enough to eat. Beautifully designed!
Strawberry Shortcake Berry Fun 63pc Puzzle
Say hello to a few minutes to yourself when you pull out this puzzle! 63 pieces seems like the perfect amount to provide enough challenge for my daughter while still allowing her to do the puzzle herself.
Connect 4
To be honest, my daughter is still figuring this game out. But even without playing with advance strategy, she still enjoys this game: trying to create a line to win, creating patterns, and using the pieces as play food (okay, maybe that’s just my kid!).
LEGO DUPLO Building Plates (x3) 2198
The best ever addition to our Lego set! With these baseplates, in various sizes, my daughter can build the tallest princess towers, the sturdiest jails, the biggest horse stables, and much more. So satisfying for kids who need a little support for their creations.
Melissa & Doug Abby & Emma Deluxe Magnetic Dress-Up Set
My daughter is very particular about what she will wear, but more open to trying out different fashions on these magnetic dolls! Sturdy pieces and lots of variety make this a great dress-up set to play with. Oh the adventures we have sent Emily and Abby on…
Hello Kitty Bingo (Value Tin)
Cute and fun and good for helping your child learn their ABC’s…if you’re into that sort of thing! Four bingo boards covered with Hello Kitty and her cutest friends make this the cutest bingo set I’ve ever seen!
Richard Scarry Matching Game
My daughter loves Richard Scarry…and loves to show me how much better her memory is than mine! This game contains a ton of matches with pics of some of children’s most beloved Scarry characters. Play with all the cards to really challenge yourself, or use an abridged selection of cards if you don’t want to get destroyed!
Zobmondo Entertainment The Ladybug Game
This game was developed by a childhood expert: a kid! No reading skills necessary to play this easy-to-follow but interesting game. And what child doesn’t love cute ladybugs?
Green Eggs and Ham Speedy Diner Game
Fun game that combines some physical activity along with the “board” elements of the game. My daughter loves to click and spin the menu wheel to see what to serve to her fox, goat, and mouse friends.
Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set
My daughter got this lovely wooden cookie toy kit 3 years ago, and still plays with it regularly! Everything your child needs to “bake” her very own cookies.
Uno Card Game
A card game that is as much fun for adults to play as it is for kids. Children get to practice their numbers and colors and build strategic skills. Also, there’s no beating the sound of your child as she enthusiastically shouts out “Uno!” before slamming down the winning card!
