6 Easy Card Games for Early Elementary Kids

As a nanny, I’ve always found card games to be a wonderful way to blend fun with learning. They’re portable, engaging, and can be easily tailored to suit different ages and developmental stages. Here are some of my favorite card games that kids love and benefit from:

1. Go Fish

Age: 4+

Objective: Players ask each other for cards to form pairs or sets.

Skills Developed:

• Memory: Remembering who has what cards.
• Social Skills: Practicing polite asking and turn-taking.
• Basic Math: Counting pairs and sets.

How to Play: Each player gets five cards. The remaining cards form a draw pile. Players ask each other for specific cards to make pairs. If the asked player has the card, they must give it. If not, they say, “Go Fish,” and the asking player draws a card from the pile. The game continues until all pairs are made.

2. Uno

Age: 6+

Objective: Be the first to get rid of all your cards by matching them by color or number to the top card on the discard pile.

Skills Developed:

• Color and Number Recognition: Matching cards based on these attributes.
• Strategic Thinking: Planning moves and blocking opponents.
• Attention: Keeping track of changing game dynamics.

How to Play: Players take turns matching a card from their hand to the top card of the discard pile by either color or number. Special cards add twists like making opponents draw cards or skipping turns. The first player to discard all their cards wins.

3. Old Maid

Age: 4+

Objective: Avoid being the player left with the unmatched Old Maid card.

Skills Developed:

• Matching: Finding pairs.
• Memory and Strategy: Remembering and strategizing to avoid the Old Maid.

How to Play: Players take turns drawing cards from each other’s hands to form pairs. The player left with the unmatched Old Maid card at the end of the game loses. This game is great for reinforcing matching skills and memory.

4. Crazy Eights

Age: 5+

Objective: Be the first to get rid of all your cards by matching the top card in the discard pile by either suit or number.

Skills Developed:

• Matching: Learning to match cards by suit or number.
• Strategic Planning: Deciding when to play which cards.

How to Play: Players take turns placing a card from their hand on the discard pile if it matches the suit or number of the top card. Eights are wild and can be played at any time, allowing the player to change the suit. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins.

5. Memory (Concentration)

Age: 3+

Objective: Find and collect matching pairs of cards.

Skills Developed:

• Memory: Remembering the location of cards.
• Concentration: Focusing on the game.

How to Play: Lay all cards face down. Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find matching pairs. If they match, the player keeps the pair and takes another turn. If not, the cards are flipped back over, and the next player takes their turn. The game continues until all pairs are found.

6. War

Age: 5+

Objective: Win all the cards by having the higher card in each round.

Skills Developed:

• Number Comparison: Understanding greater than and less than.
• Basic Counting: Counting cards won.

How to Play: Divide the deck evenly between two players. Each player simultaneously flips over the top card of their deck. The player with the higher card wins both cards and adds them to their pile. If the cards are equal, it’s a “war,” and players place additional cards face down and another card face up. The higher card wins all the cards. The game ends when one player has all the cards.

Card games are more than just fun; they are powerful tools for learning and development. They help kids improve memory, strategic thinking, social interaction, and basic math skills, all while having a great time. These games are also perfect for family gatherings, playdates, or quiet afternoons indoors.

Next time you’re looking for an engaging activity, try pulling out a deck of cards. Not only will the kids be entertained, but they’ll also be learning valuable skills that will serve them well in school and beyond. Happy playing!