Counting Games for Children

Candy Land seems to be every child's first board game, because reading is not required. Also, it's not hard to get kids interested in a game with a candy theme.

Now that your child is ready to start adding, counting and comparing numbers, what games should be next for Family Game Night? Here are three that my wife and I enjoy playing with our 4-year-old daughter.

UNO

Everyone loves this game, and it's an easy transition from the colors of Candy Land to the colors and numbers of Uno. This game teaches kids to organize information in their heads when they are looking for reds and eights to match a red eight.

When playing Uno, your child will also learn to compare numbers and make decisions. My wife taught our girl that she needs to get rid of her high cards before her low cards. That way, she will have a low score if someone else wins.

I also like that she gets the chance to pick a new color when she has a wild card. I want my girl to grow up to be someone who can make decisions rather than waiting for someone else to take charge.

Uno is a game that big kids and adults enjoy, too, so when other people want to play Uno, she'll be ready.

RAT-A-TAT CAT

Rat-a-Tat Cat is a fun card game that is great for kids who are learning to add and count. Each player gets four cards ranging from 0 to 9. Players want to get rid of high cards (rats) and hang onto low cards (cats).

The worst card you can have is the 9, which features King Rat. The best card in Rat-a-Tat cat is the 0, which has picture of the Cat-ue of Liberty. The other cards have combinations of rats and cats.

We play the beginners' version of the game, in which two cards are face up and two are face down. This means your child has to remember the values of their down cards.

When you think you have a good enough hand to win, you say "Rat-a-Tat Cat!" We like to be silly and say "Rat-A-Cat Sat on a Fat Mat!"

Everyone turns over their cards and it's time to add them up. We have our daughter add the points to teach her to add numbers in her head.

Rat-a-Tat Cat is one of our family's favorite games. If you can't find it at the store, you can get it at gamewright.com.

SORRY!

Sorry! was one of my favorite games as a kid because we didn't own it. It was one of those cool games you played at other people's houses. Sorry is another great follow-up to Candy Land.

Sorry! teaches kids to count along as they move their pieces around the track. Sometimes they have to go 12 spaces, so they get a lot of practice.

Also, Sorry! teaches kids strategy. Is it better to move a piece that is closer to home or one that is furthest away? It really gets the mind working.

Also, when you draw a 7 card, you can split the 7 between two pieces. Your child learns counting and strategy.

So if your kid is in preschool or kindergarten, get them into Uno, Sorry! or Rat-a-Tat Cat. You will all have fun, and your child's mind will get a little exercise.