Having fun with the Kids at Home 
​A Mom’s Perspective
Part 1 of 3: Preschool
Author: Kalinda Patton, Asmodee staff member and toddler mom - May 1st, 2020

This voluntary lockdown and social distancing business is hard for everyone, but my thoughts go out to all the parents out there. For those who need to work from home with the kids; for those who are working in essential services, but that still need to take care of their kids; and those who aren’t working but have their kids at home with them.

Is it just me who believes that when our child is born, they come laden with the baggage of guilt? We feel guilty that we work too much, or do not spend enough time with them. We feel guilty when we say no to something, or when we give in and say yes. Currently, we feel guilty for all the screen time they’re getting, or not becoming their teacher while school is out.

But all this guilt doesn’t do us any good, in my opinion. We’re all just doing our best while facing a tough situation. And what works for one family may not work for another. As a mom working from home with a little one, taking a few breaks in the day to spend time with him helps me feel more connected and engaged. And one of our favorite activities is… you guessed it! Playing games! As one parent to another, I thought I’d offer a few suggestions for games that your kids can play, with or without you, while having fun and maybe even learning something new in the process.
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Note: The game suggestions in this article apply to preschool kids. Other articles will follow with suggestions for older kids.

Teddy’s Colors & Shapes
HABA
Ages 2 and up

This game is perfect for helping kids learn their colors and shapes. It includes different forms (square/round/triangle/flower) of different colors (red/blue/green/yellow). Even though this game includes actual rules, we know that at this age, kids will not follow them anyway! They can just have fun trying to correctly identify the shapes and colors. For some added difficulty, they can try to place the correct shape in the spaces of the 4 different boards included in the game. Learning their colors and shapes and will soon be
​child’s play!
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Easily adjustable for different ages and knowledge levels, this game will perfectly adapt to your child.

Here Fishy Fishy
HABA
Ages 2 and up

What is cuter than colorful little fish? Your child attempting to pick them up with a tiny fishing rod, of course! Your kids will have so much fun fishing for colorful sea creatures, like starfish, octopuses, and even seahorses with a magnetic fishing rod. They can practice their dexterity, their concentration and the relationship between sight and
​motor skills.

To make the game easier, try adding or removing some of the rules, depending on the age and skills of your little ones, or add an extra level of difficulty for added complexity.

Spot it! 1-2-3
Zygomatic
Ages 3 and up

The popular series of Spot it! games ask players to identify, as quickly as possible, the matching symbol between two given cards. There is always only one matching symbol. The 1-2-3 version of the game is adapted for a younger audience and adds a bit of learning to the mix. The symbols on the cards in this version of the game represent numbers and shapes in many different colors. When identifying the matching symbols, you will have to say, “red triangle” or “green four.” In addition to helping the kiddos learn numbers, colors, and shapes, this game helps them practice their speed, their perception, and their concentration.
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There are many different variants included with the game, but don’t hesitate to let your kids come up with their very own ways to identify the symbols. They will likely surprise you with their creativity.

Attrape Rêves*
Space Cow
Ages 4 and up

Any kid will tell you: a bad dream can really ruin a good night’s sleep (for them as much as for you!) Thankfully, stuffed animals are there to help them face the scariest of nightmares and turn them into wonderful dreams. In Attrape Rêves, players will have to use their observational skills in order to choose the best stuffed animal to banish the bad dream. Stuffed animals and nightmares come in different shapes and sizes; kids will have to find the right sized stuffed animal to completely overcome the nightmare.
Then, depending on the number of stars present on the stuffed animal, they will draw “dream” tokens from a bag and create a dream that includes all the items illustrated on the tokens.

The game includes a version for younger kids (3+) and for older kids (6+) that allows you to adapt the level of difficulty for your child.

*This game is only available in  French. However, there is no text on any of the components other than the rules, so once the kids know how to play, they are all set!

Le Monstre des Couleurs*
Purple Brain
Ages 4 and up

It’s often hard for little ones to express their emotions appropriately. Are they crying because they are sad, hurt, mad, or maybe because they are scared? Sometimes, they don’t have the words to express and explain what they are feeling.

Le Monstre des couleurs is based on the book The Color Monster by Anna Llenas and will help you address the subject of different emotions with your child to help them correctly identify anger, sadness, and fear, but also happiness and calm. Players will help the monster separate his emotions, while remembering a situation when they were feeling the same emotion.

Helping our kids understand and identify their different emotions will likely improve their communication of those emotions, thus helping to intercept tantrums before they happen. A little help for us parents, who don’t always understand what they are trying to tell us.

*This game is only available in French. However, there is no text on any of the components other than the rules. Emotions and how to express them break any language barriers anyway!
Well, this concludes my little list of games that you can play with your kids under five during this period of self-isolation and physical distancing, or anytime for that matter! Lose the guilt and feel good knowing they are having fun while learning something new in the process. For those of you with kids in kindergarten to grade 6, or with teens, a game selection for those two age groups will follow in subsequent articles, so stay tuned!
Stay safe, Keep Calm, and Game On!
Check out the Print & Play site to find free games you can print and play at home