3 Best First Games for Toddlers and Preschoolers This Christmas

As Christmas approaches and everyone heads out to the stores for the perfect gifts to stick under the Christmas tree, consider spending your money on games instead of toys. Children's games are fun for the whole family, are educational and learning experiences, and invite parent and child interaction like no toy can. What are the best first games for toddlers and preschoolers? These selections are some of the best on the market today--from the classics around during my own childhood, to the newest games to hit the market.

Lucky Ducks
This wonderful game is the ideal selection for a toddler. Lucky Ducks features a mobile duck pond that the ducks will rotate around on, and the players must select a duck from the pond when it is their turn. The object of the game is to select 3 ducks with matching shapes on the bottom. This first game focuses on two basic skills--taking turns and matching shapes. It's simple design makes Lucky Ducks a perfect choice for young children new to game playing. In addition, Lucky Ducks is easy to set up and my children can both set it up and put it away completely independent of my help. My girls are proud of this accomplishment, and I love hearing my three year old call, "Mommy, we're ready to play the game now!" from the other room.

Memory
Classic Memory is still the perfect first game for young children. It requires no reading, which is one of the first things that parents should look for when selecting the perfect game for their toddlers and preschoolers. The game can be simplified by reducing the amount of pairs used for matching. Memory provides a wonderful teaching opportunity for matching. It also allows parents and adults to engage in discussions about the pictures on the cards, the colors, the shapes and sizes, as well as to teach important life and game playing skills such as taking turns. Memory also provides an opportunity to work on counting skills, as you count the pairs that each person has at the end of the game. Newer editions of Memory, such as Dora Memory, allow children to play with familiar characters. The game of Memory is ideal for older toddlers and beginning preschoolers.

Chutes and Ladders
Again, one of the biggest draws to Chutes and Ladders is that it requires no reading. Children spin the spinner and move forward along the path in hopes of reaching the top of the game board first. This game will require a little additional parental support while playing, especially in `the first few times that you play. Because of this, the game of Chutes and Ladders is probably more ideally suited for slightly older children, 3-4 year old preschoolers. Like Memory, it's a perfect game for learning about taking turns, and is also wonderful for counting and following directions. Chutes and Ladders also provides wonderful opportunities to talk about cause and effect and consequences, because children will quickly learn that if they land on a ladder they can climb up, but if they hit a chute, down they go. Chutes and Ladders also comes in character themed editions,such as Sesame Street.

With Christmas rapidly approaching, consider purchasing games instead of toys for the young children in your life. Kids will love the idea of playing a grown up game, and games provide wonderful opportunities for teaching, learning, and family fun and interaction that toys just can't compete with!