Matching Game

Playing games with kids is a great way to spend quality time with them. There are so many different games that you can play with them, and the earlier you start with them, the more they’ll want to play with you and the better they’ll be at playing other games as they get older. Learning about game mechanics from an early age is really beneficial to help your child understand how different games work.

One of the simplest games out there is the matching game. This game has been around for a very long time, and at this point it’s a game that every child has played. This is a great game for the youngest of players. The basics of the game are that you have multiple matching cards that you must find the match to. All of the cards lay face down on the table, and you flip over two cards at a time trying to find a match.

This game is simple enough for a child as young as two to figure out. All they need to be able to do is see that two pictures are the same, and they’ll be able to play this game. While they may struggle a little bit the first few times you play, keep at it. You may be surprised at how quickly they pick it up. When they get a match, make sure to cheer them on and have them keep going to find more.

If your child struggles with flipping the cards over to match, start with the cards all face up and simply have your child find the matching cards. By starting with them matching the cards, they start to understand what the point of the game is. They are able to see that only one other card matches each card, and the point is to find those matches. As they start to get the hang of it, you can flip the cards over.

The matching game also teachers your child about turn based games. Most board games are turn based, so understanding how to wait while another player takes their turn is an important lesson for them to learn. Most kids will struggle with this. They’re going to want to always be going. Be patient with them, but be firm that they wait until it’s their turn to find another match - you’ll be glad later on that you did.

Taking turns is a lesson that your child will use outside of games as well. The more patience they can learn within a game, when they’re having fun, the easier it will be when they’re having to learn to wait for something else to get a turn. For example, any time that you must stand in line and wait for something they’re excited for, the more patience they’ll have learned from games, the easier it will be (don’t worry, it’ll still be hard most of the time).

Matching pairs together will help your child to build stronger analytical skills. The matching game forces your brain to learn to keep information in your mind when the cards are flipped back over. While your child may not realize it, they are building out a stronger memory when they play the matching game (thus the game is often called “Memory”). Building that strong memory from an early age will be a huge benefit as they grow.

Play games with your kids. Include the matching game from an early age to help build strong memory skills in your child and teach them about basic game mechanics. Buy the matching game now.