How to Choose the Right Card Game for Your Child's Age

Picking the best card games for kids comes down to a few things: one, how old are they? If they're young and are just learning skills like math and memorization, you'll need to keep it simple with a classic card game like Go Fish, War, or Snap. If your child is an elementary-aged kiddo, games like Spoons and Seven-in-a-Row are good because they're more fast-paced and introduce the concept of strategy.

If you're playing with a tween or teen, something more complicated that requires advanced rules, higher-level strategy, and reading comprehension will be challenging and fun when it's time to play.  

Tips for Hosting a Fun Family Game Night

The first rule of family game nights: choose classic card games or easy card games for kids, because if no one can understand how to play, it won't be fun; it'll be frustrating for everyone involved. Once you've decided what to play, you can add in fun details like a theme, prizes, a family-friendly playlist, and of course, snacks!

The second rule of family game night? Turn off the TV, put away the phones, be present, connect with your crew, and have fun! 

Do you have any fours? Go fish!

Best Card Games for Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 2-4)

1. Go Fish

You can get cute decks just for this game, or a classic deck works just fine.

How to play: The goal is to get four of a kind. Deal out seven cards to each player (If your group has seven or more players, use five cards apiece), and put the remaining cards in a deck in the center. Player 1 picks any other player to ask if he has the card she’s looking for (e.g., Do you have any threes?). Hand over the card if you've got it, or tell them to “Go Fish” for a card in the pile. As soon as you find four of a kind, put them face up on the table. Whoever runs out of cards first is the winner.

2. Memory

One of the most iconic preschool card games out there!

How to play: Turn a standard deck into a game of concentration by shuffling the deck, laying out the cards in rows, and hunting for “matches” of the red kings, black threes, and so forth. For little ones, use just the two red suits for a more manageable set.

3. Snap

How to play: Deal out all the cards as evenly as you can among your players, making little decks in front of everyone. One at a time, players turn over the top card of their decks to make a face-up pile. When someone turns over a card that matches one that’s already face-up on another player's pile, scream “Snap!” as loud as you can. The person to call it first wins both face-up piles and adds the cards to the bottom of their face-down pile. Keep playing until someone wins all the cards; that player wins the game. If you run out of cards, flip over the face-up cards and continue. You can get more details here.

Insider tip: You can penalize players for calling a false “Snap!”, but you can ignore that rule to keep the peace.

4. Eye Found It

This “Find It” game is great for all ages.

How to play: Deal out the cards, which display very crowded Disney scenes. Be the first to get rid of your five cards by locating the target objects on them.

5. Roll & Play

Roll & Play is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who are developing their motor skills and listening ears.

How to play: Roll the colored dice, pick a card that matches the color, and follow directions like "Roar like a lion" or "Spin around twice."

6. Forehead Poker

This is a fun and super-simple two-player game.

How to play: Place the deck between you and your child. Each of you grabs a card without peeking at it and places it on your forehead so that your opponent can see it, but you can't. Have your little one guess if their card is higher or lower than yours. If they’re right, they take the pair; if they’re wrong, it’s yours. Take turns and work your way through the deck. The person with the most cards at the end is the winner.

Fun Card Games for Elementary School Kids (Ages 5-8)

7. Spoons

A great choice for family game nights! This fast-paced option is one of the best card games for kids and will have your crew cracking up in no time.

How to play: Sit in a circle, and put in the center a pile of spoons that's exactly one less than the number of players. Deal four cards to everyone for their hand. The dealer picks up a card from the deck and discards one, which he passes to the person on the left. That person does the same, and the play continues with everyone picking passing cards quickly around the circle. If you get four of a kind, quietly grab a spoon. When players notice a spoon is missing, they quietly grab one, too. Whoever is left without a spoon is out! The game continues until one person is left—the winner!

8. Kings In the Corner

The goal is simple—get rid of all your cards!

How to play: Each player is dealt seven cards; the rest go in a deck in the middle of the table, with one card flipped over at each side of the deck. Like Solitaire in reverse, you’ve got to stack the preceding card in the sequence, but in the opposite color. So, if the five of diamonds is showing, you can play a four of spades or clubs. If you have a king, you can lay it down on the table “in the corner” to start a new pile. Get all the rules and scoring here.

9. Math Minute to Win It

Here's one for kids learning addition or multiplication math facts.

How to play: Let the aces serve as ones, and jacks serve as tens (If you have an older child, Queens can be elevens and Kings can be twelves.). Set a timer for a minute and turn over two cards. Your child must add (or multiply) the numbers as fast as she can to earn as many cards as possible before the timer runs out. Play two rounds, and try to beat your score from the first round.

10. Math Wars

Sharpen those addition skills!

How to play: In this game, face cards are worth 10, and the ace is 11. Deal every player four cards, and simply add up the value. The person with the higher number wins the hand. Play the best out of five games.

11. Blitz (aka 31)

With simple rules, just three cards to hold, and math skills to practice, this is one of those elementary card games you might know about but will want to play again and again.

How to play: To win, gather three cards of the same suit that add up to 31 (like an ace, which is worth 11 points, and two face cards, worth 10 points each). Start by shuffling the deck and then putting all the cards face down in a single pile except for one, which you turn over (this will become the discard pile). When a player has a turn, they either pulls from the top of the discard pile (if that card is helpful) or from the pull pile.

You must discard a card you pull or another card from your hand so you keep three cards in your hand at all times. Once a player has three cards of the same suit that add up to 31, the player reveals his/her hand and yells "Blitz!"

12. Seven-in-a-Row

How to play: Place seven cards face down in a row in front of each player. Player 1 turns over their first card and declares whether they think the next card will be higher or lower. If it is, the process continues. If they’re wrong (or if the number is the same), they stop, and it's the next player's turn. Player 2 will see if they can get further than Player 1.

Essentially, everyone plays until they're wrong, and the first person to finish their row of seven is the winner. Players get a new hand of seven cards with each turn.

13. Beggar My Neighbor

Bookmark this as one of those fun card games for families your child will want to play more than once.

How to play: Deal out all the cards as evenly as you can so that each person has a face-down deck in front of them. Player 1 turns over their top card; if it's a number card, their turn ends. But if it's a face card or ace, the next player must pay an “honor” by turning over cards (four cards for an ace, three for a king, two for a queen, or 1 for a jack).

If these honor cards are all numbered cards, Player 1 gets to keep the bunch. But, if a face card is turned over while paying an honor, the next player pays a fresh honor to Player 2. Keep going until one person has all the cards.

14. Blink

Don't Blink or you might miss something! Race as fast as you can to make matches based on shape, rank, and color in this two-player fun card game for families.

15. Happy Salmon

High-five and fist-bump your opponents in this high-energy, silly card-matching game geared for four to six players. T

16. Throw Throw Burrito 

This hilarious, fast-paced game is like a cross between Spoons and Dodgeball.

How to play: Quickly pass cards to make matches, and if you match certain action cards, start a burrito battle where squishy toy burritos will fly (better duck!). This game is great for older kids and any good sport that doesn’t mind getting a burrito chucked at them. It's a game from the creators of Exploding Kittens, so you know kids will love it.

You're never too young to know when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em. Photo by Mommy Poppins

Challenging and Engaging Card Games for Tweens and Teens (Ages 9+)

17. Blackjack or 21

It’s you against the dealer in this classic casino game.

How to play: Deal two cards face up to each player; the dealer gets two cards as well, but one is down and the other is up. The dealer gives the first player the option to get another card, intending to get cards up to as close to 21 as possible without going over (which is game over!). Players can take (hit) as many cards as they like, or stop (hold) whenever they want.

Note that in this game, face cards are 10 points each, and aces either equal one point or 11 points. When all players eventually hold, the dealer shows their hand and must take cards until they reach 17. The player closest to 21 without going over is the winner.

18. Snip Snap Snorem

How to play: Gather three or more people and deal out all the cards. Everyone looks at their cards, and the player to the left of the dealer goes first. The first person plays a card face-up on the table. For whatever card is played, everyone else has to match the rank in other suits. Say "pass" if you don't have it. The player who plays the fourth card gets to choose any card in their hand for the next round.

For extra fun, say "Snip" when the second card is played, "Snap" for the third, and "Snorem" for the last card in the book. The first person to get rid of all their cards is the winner. Get a detailed version of the rules here.

When kids are laughing and playing together, you know who wins? Parents!

Classic Card Games Every Kid Should Know

19. Spit

One of the best card games for kids! In this two-player game, try to get rid of all your cards first.

How to play: Both players play simultaneously, yelling "Spit" to start. Play fast, play one-handed, play ruthlessly. Read detailed instructions for playing this slightly complicated but amazingly fun classic card game here. Hint: The video is very helpful!

20. Rummy

Gin and Rummy have different variations. The goal is to earn points by collecting sets of three or four of a kind or runs of three or more of the same suit.

How to play: Here’s a basic version good for older kids. Deal 10 cards to each player. The rest go in the center as a draw pile, with one card turned up to start the discard pile. You’ve got two jobs on your turn: take a card from the draw pile or the discard pile. Then, put any matches or runs on the table face up. For rules on scoring and all the variations, check out these detailed rules.

21. War

Warning: This game of luck can be addictive for kids!

How to play: Divide the deck evenly among the two players. Each player turns over the top card on their deck at the same time. Whomever the higher card takes both cards and puts them at the bottom of their stack. If the cards are the same, it’s war! Each player counts out three cards (face down), and the next card is shown. The player with the higher card wins all the cards.

22. Crazy 8s

This easy card game for kids has one crazy twist—the eights rule!

How to play: Deal out seven cards to each person in a two-player game, or five cards for games with three or four players. The rest go in a draw pile, with one card turned over to start the play pile. The player to the dealer's left must match the card's number or suit from the face-up pile. A player who does not have a match may play an eight and change the suit to anything they wish. A player who has neither a match nor an eight must draw until he gets a card that can be played. The first to discard all their cards wins.

23. Old Maid

If you don’t want to use a standard deck of cards, there are cute Old Maid sets with funny pictures kids will adore.

How to play: Prep a standard deck of cards by removing one queen card and shuffling the deck. Deal out all the cards to all the players until there are none left. Players remove the pairs from their hands. The dealer fans out his cards in his hands and offers his hand to the player on his left. That player selects one and adds it to their hand. Any matches are removed. The process continues around and around the circle until everything is paired up except the queen. Whoever is left with it at the end of the game is the Old Maid!

24. Uno

Learning to play Uno is a rite of passage for elementary school kids, and it’s the ultimate choice for family game nights.

How to play: Match colors and numbers of cards in your hand and try to be the first to get rid of all your cards. Be forewarned: if you play this often on family game nights, be prepared for people to make up house rules that include options like “stacking,” jump-in," and even (we aren’t kidding), physical challenges. This is truly a classic card game that can get even the surliest of teens excited.

Frequently Asked Questions About Card Games for Kids:

Q: What are the easiest card games for young kids?

A: Think basic—simple rules and strategies, such as matching numbers, pictures, or patterns when looking for preschool card games.

Q: How can I make card games more engaging for my kids?

A: Have you ever tried to play a new game, but the rules were so confusing that you decided it wasn’t worth the effort? If you want your kids to enjoy playing classic card games or something new, check the rules before you start playing to ensure they won’t get confused or frustrated. On the other hand, your older kid might get bored playing Go Fish, but finding a card game for tweens, like Hearts, or something silly like Spoons, might pique their interest.

Q: Are there educational card games?

A: Yes! Lots of preschool card games, like memory, help young kids learn patterns, and there are plenty of elementary card games that help your budding mathematician brush up on number skills while having fun.

Q: What are some good card games for a large group?

A: Classic card games like Rummy, Spoons, Blitz, and Poker are great if you have a traditional set of cards. If you want to go with a modern game, something like Cards Against Humanity (they have a family version!), Uno, or Exploding Kittens works great when you have a big group.

This article contains some affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you make a purchase. There is no extra cost to the reader. We only recommend products and services that we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.

Unless noted, photos by the author