Helpful Tips for Parents
- Games teach sportsmanship more efficiently than any direct instruction. A child who plays regularly learns to win graciously, lose without meltdown, and keep trying when behind.
- Modify rules when needed for younger children. The goal is engagement and positive experience, not correct rule-following. Rules are the container, not the point.
- Game time is a powerful family connection opportunity. 20 minutes of a board game or outdoor game delivers more relational warmth than 20 minutes of parallel screen time.
- Classic games (Duck Duck Goose, Red Light Green Light, Hide and Seek) have lasted because they're developmentally well-matched — they work across ages, require minimal equipment, and never get old.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are video games appropriate for preschoolers?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting all screens (including video games) to 1 hour per day for children ages 2–5. Simple, educational touchscreen games have minimal harm when time-limited; fast-paced, commercial, or violent video games are not appropriate for preschoolers at any screen time level. The best educational value comes from games that are interactive and challenge thinking — simple puzzles, matching, and story-based apps. Video games should not replace physical games or creative play for any preschooler.
How do I teach a preschooler the rules of a new game?
Show rather than tell: play the game with the new player doing each step guided by you, rather than explaining the rules in advance. "Your turn — you roll the die and move your piece that many spaces" is better than a rules explanation. Play a few "practice rounds" where there are no consequences for mistakes. Preschoolers learn games far faster through doing than through listening to explanations, which typically lose them after the second rule.
Related reading: See also our obstacle course ideas and our outdoor chalk games for more ideas on this topic.
🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop
- 😤 Frustration Tolerance — The regular small frustrations of game play — a bad roll, a losing streak, a close loss — give children repeated practice recovering from disappointment, building the emotional resilience they need for academic challenge.
- 🌍 Cultural Literacy — Traditional games and games from different cultures connect children to the broader human community — building the cultural awareness and global perspective that increasingly diverse classrooms require.
- 🔄 Turn-Taking & Patience — Games with clear turn-taking rules give children repeated practice waiting — one of the most challenging but important impulse-control skills preschoolers are developing — in a low-stakes, engaging context.
- 🏆 Sportsmanship — Experiencing winning and losing in a supportive environment — and practicing how to handle both graciously — builds the emotional resilience and social grace that competitive situations throughout life require.
Step-by-step instructions for creating this cool racecar bedroom.
Game Review - Barrel of Monkeys
Barrel of Monkeys
Created by Hasbro / Milton Bradley
About the Game
Although Barrel of Monkeys is a game, it can be used as a toy, too. It is intended for ages 3 - 7, but I think any age would enjoy playing with Barrel of Monkeys!
How to Play
The instruction for play provided by Hasbro is to dump the monkeys on a table. Then, using one of the monkeys, pick up another by hooking its arm. Continue the same, making a chain of monkeys. Your turn is over when a monkey is dropped. When playing by yourself, try to beat your best time while picking up all 12 monkeys. When playing with more than one person, each monkey on the chain is 1 point. First person to get 12 points wins.
Of course, you don't have to play by the manufacturer's rules - make up your own!
From The Reviewer
Barrel of Monkeys is loads of fun to play - with your preschooler or on your own! This was a favorite of mine when I was a child, so now I have reason to play with it again. My son enjoys making chains with the monkeys and even emptying the barrel and filling it back up again with the monkeys.
As much fun as this game is, we did have some difficulties playing by the rules. Hasbro's rules state that you are to dump the monkeys onto a table to play. However, I found it to be too difficult for my son to pick up the monkeys from a flat surface. It is much easier to create a chain of monkeys when pulling them directly from the barrel. We took turns seeing who could make the longest chain of monkeys without dropping one.
If your preschooler encounters the same difficulties, alter the rules for his/her skill level.
Alternative Version of Barrel of Monkeys
One fun activity to do with Barrel of Monkeys is to carry the barrel of monkeys around the house and let your preschooler hang the monkeys from anything and everything.
Another way to monkey around with Barrel of Monkeys is to play "Find the Monkeys". Hide the monkeys around the house and have your preschooler find them!
What Are Your Comments About This Game?
Share your comments with other parents who may be interested in this game.
I'm Stacey Lloyd , the Executive Editor and one of many writers for PreschoolRock.com. I enjoy writing about preschoolers, and reading your ideas and experiences with your preschooler. If you have any suggestions, ideas or questions about this site, please contact me .
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