Game ideas for 2 and 3 year olds

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

These game ideas can be used when teaching concept development, pre-reading skills and other cognitive skills to 2/3 year old children. They can be used in the classroom as well as the homeschooling environment. 

 

Shadow Matching

This shadow matching game is a little more advanced than those commonly found on the Internet. The pictures in this game have a bit more dimension and are somewhat more complex in shape. When children have used and mastered the shadow matching game in this post, you may find that this game is a great next step. This game is not free and can be purchased and downloaded from this site insha'Allaah. There are 15 photographic images of objects and 15 silhouettes of the objects in the file.

Beginning Sounds game

This game idea is helpful when studying the letters and the sounds they make. It is also helpful when children begin identifying the beginning sounds they hear in words. The game also helps build students' vocabulary. The teacher/teacher-parent can introduce new and more complex words to children as the children study the alphabet. The teacher/teacher-parent sits with the child and tells him/her what the object is on each card (if the child needs this support) and the child, listening for the beginning sound in the word, places the card under the letter that represents the beginning sound he/she hears. The child is listening for the beginning sound in each word but in the process he/she will also acquire new words and expand his/her vocabulary insha'Allaah. You may wish to start with 1 or 2 letters (with object/word cards for each letter) only when playing this game and as students gain skill and confidence you can use 3-4 letters (and object/word cards). If laminated, this game can be used in your classroom each year and will, insha'Allaah, withstand student handling. 
 
Children self-correct with ease in this game which makes it ideal for learning centres. To confirm if they have placed the cards in the correct row, children simply turn the cards over one at a time and check to make sure the first letter - highlighted in red - is the same letter on the letter card at the top of the mat. Children do not need to know how to read to play this game.

Control of Error

The next game helps children work on concept development. 

What Goes Together Game

Children are presented cards and must decide which cards go together. This association is based on how we use objects and/or how objects are complimentary. The teacher/teacher-parent prepares cards that show objects that he/she is confident his/her students are familiar with and know the usage of (i.e. the object).  

One way this game can be used is: the teacher presents the lesson and may begin with four cards (i.e. two pairs of objects). For example, the teacher may present a card with a toothbrush, a card with a pair of socks, a card with a tube of toothpaste and a card with a pair of shoes. The teacher, simply and briefly, discusses with the child which objects go together and matches the cards accordingly. The teachers takes a minute to discuss why these objects go together and then he/she using the same cards and a new set of cards as well, invites the child to do the activity independently. 

Before explaining to the child why two cards go together, you may wish to allow the child to draw on his/her prior knowledge and work from there. So before telling him which objects go together and why, ask him/her which cards he/she thinks go together. Allow the child to match the cards. If they are incorrect do not immediately correct the child. Invite him/her to explain their reasoning for placing the two cards together. If it is indeed an error, discuss with the child the reasons the two cards do not go together and then show and discuss which cards actually go together and why.

Making your own set allows you to expand the set as needed. For example, you may start with a set that has 10 cards (5 sets) and end up with a game that has 15-20 cards (or more!).


Insha'Allaah, you find these ideas helpful and beneficial for your class/child(ren). 


Enjoy insha'Allaah!