Play is an important part of childhood and helps children connect their knowledge with the world around them! For this reason, we’ve researched different games for specific age groups to help you easily choose a game that’s right for you and your child along with expert recommendations based on research from the Media and Children Communication Toolkit. Because every child and family is unique, it’s good to do what feels right for your own situation. What works for one family might not work for yours. Your family might also be interested in creating a Family Media Plan, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Here are some of our librarian recommended games websites for children between birth and 6 years of age. You can also borrow Playaway Launchpad tablets, pre-loaded with learning games or video games from the Library.

 

Infant-2 Years

For most of the kids, learning with a device starts when they are around 2 years old. Children under 2 years are developing at a rapid pace that can set them up for success throughout their entire life if cultivated and encouraged! Children at this age need engaging hands-on exploration and social interaction with their caregivers and parents to aid in cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skill development. Though every situation and child is different, these are some basic guidelines you can consider: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that families avoid digital media use (except video-chatting) in children younger than 18 to 24 months. For children ages 18 to 24 months of age, digital media can be added in moderation if it’s high-quality programming and families use the media together with their child.

Non-Digital Activities

Tips on playing with babies and toddlers.

Learning Resources printable activities and games to use with your infant or toddler!

Sing songs and rhymes that have movement such as bounces, tickles, lifts, or tapping.

Don’t forget the classics! Peek-a-Boo, roll the ball, shaking rattles to a rhythm, imitation games (where you mimic the noises or facial expressions your baby makes), sensory activities, blowing bubbles, and mirror play.

Apps and Online Game Websites

OwlieBoo
A fun game website that helps little ones get the hang of using a computer.

Cbeebies
An online game site brought to you by the BBC that focuses on games designed to encourage learning through play.

Fish School App
This free option for younger toddlers who are just being introduced to the concepts of counting and the alphabet is a lot of fun! It also has several activities such as find the odd-fish-out, play a memory-type matching game or learn shapes and colors.

Baby Games for 2, 3, 4 Year Old Toddlers App
Kids will learn colors, shapes and more as they follow simple thematic stories on this free app.

Sort It Out! App
A free app that helps develop conceptualization, visual perception and fine motor skills.

 

3-4 Years

Children in the 3-4 age range are still developing many of their cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills. Though every situation and child is different, these are some basic guidelines you can consider: For children 2 to 5 years of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming while viewing the content with your children to help them understand what they are seeing and help them apply what they learn to the world around them.

Non-Digital Activities

Learning Resources printable activities and games to use with your child!

5 Ways to play with ordinary objects!

Sing songs and rhymes that have movement such as bounces, tickles, lifts, or tapping. Find some of our favorites here.

Don’t forget the classics! Sensory or water play, building blocks, color and number hunts, sorting and matching games.

Apps and Online Game Websites

ABCYa
Bright, catchy games that teach core preschool concepts including ABC’s, 123’s, skills, and strategies.

Education.com
Jumpstart your child’s learning with these fun, core concept games!

Highlights Games
The classic children’s magazine has online games!

StarFall
This is a great resource for interactive letter work for emerging readers.

Musical Me App
This free app teaches notes, rhythm and pitch!

Sesame Street - Breathe, Think, Do! App
This is a resource app for you to share with your child to help teach skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence.

Moose Math App
A free app that introduces the concepts of numbers and math to your child while practicing counting, addition, subtraction and sorting.

Puzzle Kids App
Help build your child’s logic skills and help them recognize shapes and patterns with this free app.

 

5-6 Years

Children who fall into the 5-6 year age range can have more opportunities to explore digital games and screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and adolescents get the recommended amount of daily physical activity (1 hour) and adequate sleep (8–12 hours, depending on age), but can enjoy screen time beyond that. As always, the amount of time your child spends on a screen is entirely up to the family and can be widely different depending on many circumstances.

Non-Digital Activities

Learning Resources printable activities and games to use with your child!

Scholastic Activities for Kids
Find fun, hands-on activities and instructions on how to do them!

Don’t forget the classics! Play with building materials, Hide and Seek, I Spy, Hot Potato, Duck Duck Goose, Simon Says, Red Light GreenLight, etc.

Apps and Online Game Websites

FunBrain
A fun website with brainy games for kids in grades pre-K–8.

PBS Kids Games
This website features games starring popular book and TV characters. 

Sesame Street Games
A great website with games featuring your favorite muppets!

Khan Academy App
A free app with a treasure trove of high-quality reading, drawing, writing, storytelling & many more activities!

Scratch Jr. App
With this free app, kids can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer or iPad.

ABC Kids App
It’s time to learn the alphabet with this free app! ABC Kids is a fun and creative educational game designed for preschoolers and kindergarteners to help them learn their ABC’s.

Code Karts App
Ready, Set, Code! This free app teaches all the fundamentals of coding!

 

If you are looking for game recommendations for older kids, please see games for tweens.