We’re sharing the best board games for two year olds! Updated for 2024!
Two year olds get a bad rap. Okay, well maybe some of it is justified, but on the whole, this is a really exciting year for them! So much new found independence! So many new things to learn! One of those things is the fun to be found in playing games.
As a mom of 7, I’ve spent my fair share of time playing and entertaining two year olds. Here’s what I’ve learned that will help your game time go smoothly!
What to look for in Board Games for Two Year Olds
- Simple Rules: Rules should be uncomplicated and straightforward allowing children to confidently follow them on their own without much or any adult interference. Many games can be modified to allow a two year old to play, but when you are selecting a game “for” a two year old, you want to find one that will not overwhelm them so they can learn and grow.
- Short Play Times: You want to select games with shorter play times to align with a kids’ natural attention span. As a general rule, your child’s attention equals about 2-3 minutes for every year they are. So look for one that plays around 5-10 minutes. The more you play together, the longer their attention spans will become!
- Engaging Themes: It’s always great to choose a theme players are excited about, no matter their age. During this early state, kids tend to gravitate towards familiar themes grounded in the every day over fantasy. Themes set around family life, animals, shapes, colors, or favorite characters can all make a game more engaging.
- Quality Components: Choosing a quality, well made game will help it see your child (and any siblings too) through their younger years while holding up to the sometimes rough play that kids can engage in.
- Educational Value: Games provide a great opportunity to learn some of the important educational elements kids are working on at this age like colors, number, shapes, critical thinking, and simple mathematics. Learning through play is a powerful tool in your child’s education journey.
The Goal is to Have Fun! It’s okay to ditch the rules.
You want to make playing games a fun and inviting experience. If you do this well, your two year old will have so much fun they’ll be begging you to play a game with them all the time. Remember that it’s okay if they just want to free play with the pieces — make that the game! If they’re tired halfway through, don’t sweat it! And if it seems that they’re actively trying to lose, that’s okay too! Just have fun together!
Check out my post on some of my best tips for gaming with young toddlers.
A Quick Note On Age Recommendations
Age recommendations are just that: recommendations.
These board games are not only for two year olds. This is merely a suggested starting age. Many of these games will be enjoyed by kids older than two, some kids younger than two might be able to play them as well.
Because of the variability in ages, abilities, and interests, there can be a lot of overlap in game compatibility. We recommend you check out the age posts for at least one year younger (not applicable here since this is the starting line for gamers) and one year older than your child’s current age.
It is also not cause for alarm if your child is not ready for these games yet. If you try one out and they don’t seem interested, just give them some time and try again in a few weeks or months. Kids grow so quickly they’ll be playing before you know it!
Be sure to check out our other post with age based recommendations
Age 3 — Age 4 — Age 5 — Age 6 — Age 7 — Age 8-10
Best Board Games for Two Year Olds
Roll and Play
Whether your kids are a bit too young to sit still for a game, or you just want a fun way to get the wiggles out, Roll & Play is my go-to! This is a great first game that we begin playing around 15 months. It can be played solo or with as many friends as you’d like!
First Orchard
This was our daughter’s first game over 10 years ago and it’s still the game we introduce first for our children’s first “real” board game. First Orchard is cooperative, so everyone works together while learning how to take turns and employ early strategy. The components are top notch and will last for years!
Friends and Neighbors
This is a great pick for an early game that teaches some emotional intelligence and care of others. Kids will help get all the friends in the neighborhood what they need. By drawing tokens out of a bag and matching it with the person it will help. Cute and quick!
Here Fishy Fishy
This one is great for a little hand-eye-coordination practice. It can be introduced even before kids are ready to play the game. It’s one of toddlers’ our most used free-play activities for homeschool.
Off to Bed
I love a game with a theme kids recognize! Off to Bed is all about following a bedtime routine. There are multiple ways to play and kids love getting to engage with the recognizable steps that they themselves do every evening.
Tiny Polka Dot
Tiny Polka Dot is a great game to help kids both learn how to play and follow rules, while also learning important early math skills! There are multiple ways to play using the cards in the box.
Rhino Hero Junior
Rhino Hero Junior works great for kids who have a strong desire to stack and build. There are many different ways to play the game. Kids will work on their fine motor skills, number recognition, and sequencing skills. Highly educational. Highly fun!
Animal Upon Animal Junior
This game takes the family classic and reimagines it for toddler hands and dexterity abilities. I love that there are multiples ways to play the game so you can adjust the game to keep your kids challenged.
Building Site
This game has been a hit with all of my boys! Build a house from the ground up by taking the materials over to the building site using the dump truck. You’ll use it as much as a free play activity as you will a game!
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