Card games are a fantastic way for kids to have fun while learning essential skills such as strategy, math, and social interaction. From classic games that have stood the test of time to newer games that challenge the mind, we’ll explore a variety of card games for kids of all ages. Whether you’re looking for games for family game night or educational games that sharpen cognitive skills, you’ll find plenty of options here.
10 of the Best Card Games for Kids
1. Go Fish
Age: 4+
Players: 2-6
Skills: Memory, Matching
How to Play:
Each player starts with 5 cards. The rest of the deck is spread out in the middle of the table as the “ocean.” Players take turns asking others for specific cards to complete pairs in their hand. If the player has the requested card, they must hand it over; if not, they say “Go fish,” and the requester draws a card from the ocean. The game continues until all pairs are made. The player with the most pairs wins.
2. Crazy Eights
Age: 5+
Players: 2-4
Skills: Strategy, Matching
How to Play:
Players are dealt 5 cards each; the rest form a draw pile with the top card turned face up to start the discard pile. Players take turns placing a card on the discard pile, matching the rank or suit of the top card. Eights are wild and can be played on any card, allowing the player to dictate the suit. The first player to discard all their cards wins.
3. Old Maid
Age: 4+
Players: 2-8
Skills: Memory, Strategy
How to Play:
Remove one queen from a deck of cards. Deal all cards to the players. Players discard all pairs in their hand. Players then take turns drawing a card from the hand of the person to their left, discarding any pairs that result. The game ends when all pairs are discarded, and the player left holding the unmatched queen (the Old Maid) loses.
4. Snap
Age: 3+
Players: 2-8
Skills: Reflexes, Matching
How to Play:
Cards are dealt evenly to all players, who keep their stacks face down. Taking turns, each player quickly turns a card from their stack into a central pile. When a card is placed that matches the top card of the pile, players race to shout “Snap!” The first to do so takes the central pile, adding it to their stack. The player who eventually collects all the cards wins.
5. Memory
Age: 3+
Players: 1+
Skills: Concentration, Memory
How to Play:
Lay all cards face down in a grid. Players take turns flipping over two cards at a time, with the goal of uncovering matching pairs. If a player finds a match, they keep the pair and take another turn. If the cards do not match, they are turned back over, and the next player takes their turn. The game ends when all pairs have been found, with the player having the most pairs winning.
6. Uno
Age: 7+
Players: 2-10
Skills: Strategy, Color and Number Recognition
How to Play:
Each player starts with 7 cards. Players take turns matching a card from their hand with the face-up card on the deck either by number, color, or symbol. Special action cards, such as Skips, Reverses, Draw Twos, and color-changing Wild cards, add to the strategy. The first player to rid themselves of all their cards calls “Uno!” and wins the round.
