Are you looking for board games for 2 year olds that are fun and yet still educational?
Finding the right board games for your tiny family member is so important. Around 2 years old your little one finally possesses the most basic skills needed for epic game night participation!
If you hope to set them up for a future of family game nights, you need to find games that entertain and set them up for success. The following list has something for everyone and every type of family.
Several of the games on the list have also won toy awards and all have received rave reviews.
I hope it helps you find a new game for your family to enjoy.
This post may contain affiliate links which I would receive a small commission should you make a purchase.
Can 2 Year Olds Actually Play Board Games?
Yes! 2-year olds can actually play board games.
We all know that 2 year olds can have a short attention span, so it’s important to redirect them and keep their interest.
If they are completely done before the game is over, that’s okay! You can either start again later on or in a few days!
You don’t want them to have a negative experience, or they won’t want to play at all.
Surprising Benefits of Board Games for 2-year Olds
2 year olds are little sponges and constantly learning. Playing board games with your toddler can help them develop a lot of valuable skills, and things you may not even realize that they are learning.
Some examples are cooperation, strategizing, color matching, teamwork and even losing.
Educational Board Games for 2 year Olds
While nearly all board games for 2 year olds will be educational because toddlers are always learning, the following games are board games that promote cognitive or motor skills primarily.
These games also focus on teaching basic concepts that 2 year olds are ready to master such as: taking turns, following directions, fine motor, and number/letter/shape/color recognition.
1. Haba Animal upon Animal
This wobbly stacking game is a perfect board game for 2 year olds as it works not only on their fine motor skills, but also on their ability to take turns and cognitive development.
Deciding where to place their next piece to keep from knocking over the entire animal tower is a perfect opportunity to strengthen their decision-making skills. While this game is technically rated for 4 and up, I’ve found it to be a perfect game for little hands and fingers – and a real family favorite!
2. Think Roll & Play Game
Roll and Play is a family favorite! This board game is actually a perfect choice for one of the first games your little one experiences. In fact, this board game is even recommended for ages 18 months and up!
In this fun and educational game, toddlers are challenged cognitively and also given the opportunity for imaginative and social/emotional play – making this game a no brainer for a top choice on family game night.
The rules to this game are simple: You roll the cube, select a card with the matching color, and follow the instructions on the card. The cards all read fun and exciting instructions such as spin around or giggle and laugh.
My kids absolutely have a blast with this game each and every time we play it.
3. Let’s Go Fishing
Let’s Go Fishing is a classic game that is amazing at developing hand-eye coordination as well as color recognition. Little ones have so much fun fishing and don’t even realize they are practicing on those hand-eye coordination skills along the way!
You can challenge them to a race of who can catch the most fish or ask your little to catch certain colors. It’s totally up to you!
4. Candy Land
While most board games require reading to play, Candy Land simply requires color recognition to move your piece across the board.
I have fond memories of playing Candy Land growing up and I’m sure a lot of you do too!
5. Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards at Home
This scavenger hunt game is amazing for times when the weather isn’t so great outside. Item recognition is a really important skill to help your kiddos develop.
To make this game a little more challenging, you can ask your kiddos what they would use the scavenger hunt item for when it’s found.
Creative and Imaginative Board Games for 2 Year Olds
Promoting creativity and imagination in children is very important to their development. Thinking outside the box is a valuable skill that is best taught to children at a young age. As they grow and mature this skill will come in handy when problem solving.
1. Kids on Stage
Kids on Stage is an amazing game to promote creative thinking while in a convenient travel case. This is a bit more simplified charades game for kids.
Growing up, charades was a game that I always looked forward to and this is a great game for kids to get kids to use their imagination.
2. Acorn Soup
This game is great to have for kiddos that always seem to be underfoot while cooking dinner. Acorn Soup provides a way for your tiny chef to follow their own recipes, while cooking with you.
3. Panda’s Picnic
Panda’s Picnic is wonderful for your children’s imagination. Kids practice colors and shapes, turn-taking, gross and fine-motor skills and vocabulary as they play!
Players take turns reaching into the picnic basket to grab different foods. What shape did you get? What color did you get? Match it to your plate. When your plate is full, your picnic is complete!
Your kids either follow the game’s design or let them follow their own ideas.
4. Where’s Bear
Where’s Bear is a cute game to help kids use their imagination to discover clues for the bear’s location.
This game combines two favorite activities- stacking blocks and finding hidden objects-into a game! Parents and kids take turns hiding and finding Bear under the sturdy nesting boxes.
5. Topper Takes A Trip
Topper takes a trip is a fun game to help develop your child’s higher order thinking skills. The game comes with both destination cards and item cards to allow your child to “pack” for a trip.
This is great to help your child’s imagination soar.
Games for 2-year Olds that Promote Gross Motor Skills
Children need to learn the limits of what their body can do. Games that promote gross motor skill development help to develop strength in their muscles, ligaments and tendons while also helping them to realize their own limits.
1. Monkey Around
Monkey Around is a quirky little game that has no actual winner! It does, however help promote sharing and cooperation.
It’s also an outlet for your 2-year-old to get all their sillies out!
2. Wiggle n Giggle
Wiggle n Giggle is a fun card game to improve gross motor skills by moving like an animal. This game is good for kiddos that need to get their wiggles out.
Simply choose a card from the deck and imitate the position or movement that’s shown.
3. Easy Score Basketball Set
Easy Score Basketball set is a great way to get your kids playing cooperatively while also working on their gross motor skills. The easy to adjust basketball hoop is perfect to use for multiple years.
You can have them shoot and keep score, or you can play games like HORSE.
4. Easy Score Soccer Set
This toddler size soccer set is a great way to work on your child’s gross motor skills while keeping them invested in the game. My kiddos love kicking the soccer ball, so this game is perfect!
5. Kids Bowling Friends Set
As we all know, knocking things over is a favorite pastime for young children. This bowling pin set is a great way to keep your little one active and having fun. The weighted bottoms make them easy for them to be set up.
6. The Floor is Lava
I don’t know about your kids, but a frequent game in my house is The Floor Is Lava. The Floor is Lava promotes physical activity and is fun for the whole family.
I love that this game helps kids learn how to follow the rules while also helping them learn physical limits.
Matching and Memory Board Games for 2-year Olds
Memory games are great quiet time games. These types of games promote identification and memory skills.
1. Seek-a-Boo
Seek-a-Boo is a perfect matching game for younger children. This game has easy to identify cards that are large and easy for younger children to handle.
2. My First Match It – Heads and Tails
These self correcting puzzles are a great way to help children work on their matching and fine motor skills as they piece together two halves of different animals. There are also more advanced versions for older children.
3. Disney Classic Characters Matching Game
This matching game gives your children the chance to find and match their favorite Disney Characters.
4. Toddler Flash Cards
These flash cards are a wonderful way to teach your little one letters, numbers, shapes and colors. These flash cards are designed to easily fit in a child’s hands.
5. The Magic Cup Game
This classic memory game is perfect for helping kids develop their situational awareness and pattern recognition. The best part is you can use anything in place of the ball.
Board Games for 2 year olds that Promote Cooperation
Sometimes getting a 2 year old to cooperate can be difficult, but this is why it is important to work on these skills. Naturally, children want to do only the things they like or want so we must teach them it cannot always be their turn.
1. My First Orchard
This game is perfect to teach your kids to count as well as develop social skills and color recognition. I love that this game promotes teamwork and teaching little ones how to take turns.
My First Orchard allows players to work together as a team to roll the dice and pick the matching fruit from the orchard before the raven makes it down the path to steal it all.
If the players harvest all the fruit before the raven reaches the orchard, they win together! If the raven gets there first, they lose together. Repetitive play helps teach winning and losing and nurtures little gamers.
2. HABA Building Site
HABA Building Site is a game that promotes cooperation and teamwork. This game also comes with a story to be read aloud while playing.
The players flip over cardboard chips to determine what pieces to move next and use the truck to move the pieces to the building site.
3. Rhino Hero Jr.
Rhino Hero Jr is a cute game and perfect for developing a range of different skills. This game is great for fine motor skill development, teamwork, observation and grouping.
Table Games for 2-year Olds
These games are perfect to play on any table type space.
1. Banana Blast
This game will make everyone giggle for hours! Remove bananas one at a time until the monkey jumps off the top of the tree. The anticipation will leave your whole family on the edge of their seats.
2. Off to Bed!
Bedtime routines can be a hassle, especially when kiddos insist that they are not tired. This game helps to make bedtime routines something your littles will look forward to.
3. Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game
2 year olds love to help and this game promotes empathy, compassion and cooperation. Friends and Neighbors helps to teach children about emotions and how to handle them.
4. Tumbling Tower
2 Year olds love building (and toppling) towers! This board game is perfect for any hard surface and will provide your 2 year old with tons of fun!
They may knock the tower down very quickly since their fine motor skills aren’t quite ready for the precision needed in this game, however they will still love playing.
5. The Ladybug Game
The Ladybug Game is a perfect addition to your family game night! No reading is necessary for play and you get a new adventure each and every time you play!
Board games for 2 Year Olds that the Whole Family Will Enjoy
If you have a large range of ages or even want to get in on the game yourself, these games are fantastic. Having games on hand that the whole family will enjoy is a must!
1. Snail’s Pace Race
This game is perfect if you need a quick activity to throw in, or you can play it over and over. This game promotes turn taking and color recognition.
2. Don’t Break the Ice
There is nothing like telling your 2-year-old they are allowed to bang on something. Don’t break the ice is a great way to teach cause and effect to little ones.
3. Hi Ho! Cherry-O
This luck-based game is a great way to help promote counting as well as taking turns with others. Hi Ho Cherry-O is guaranteed to keep your family laughing.
3. Crocodile Dentist
Who doesn’t love this classic (and thrilling?!) game. Your whole family will be sure to enjoy the anticipation this board game offers.
4. Yeti in My Spaghetti
Even the name is fun to say! This board game is sure to bring a lot of laughs from your 2 year old, and your entire family.
5. Search and Find
Get the whole family involved in this silly and fun search and find game. Although the directions mention 3 and up, I’ve found 2 year olds enjoy this game just as much!
I cherish playing games as a family and it’s always better when every member of the family can be involved. Watching your littles participate and have fun is so rewarding and knowing that they are learning makes it even better. What are your favorite games that 2 year olds can play? Let me know in the comments below!
