Learning Through Play – Fun Educational Games for Little Ones

When it comes to helping little ones learn and grow, nothing beats play. For children under the age of six, play isn't just something to fill in time – it’s how they explore the world, build skills, and make sense of everything around them. As any parent, carer or educator knows, little kids learn best when they’re having fun. That’s where educational games become essential. These aren’t the old “chalk and talk” lessons of the past. They’re exciting, hands-on, and designed with little learners in mind.

These are a few great educational games that we at Marmalade Lion believe help Aussie kids build important early skills – all while having a good laugh.

Animal Charades

This one's a winner with toddlers and preschoolers alike. The idea is simple – act out an animal and let the other players guess what it is. No talking allowed – only actions and sounds! You can take turns or let the kids go wild and act out their favourites one after another.

Why it’s great
Animal Charades encourages imaginative thinking, builds vocabulary, and helps with memory and movement. It also strengthens kids’ understanding of how animals behave – all while getting their wriggles out!

Tip – Make animal cards in advance using drawings or pictures from magazines. This helps little ones who might be shy or unsure of where to start.

Number Treasure Hunt

Turn your living room or backyard into a mini adventure! Hide number cards (or even numbered toys) around the house, and send your child on a mission to find them. Once they’ve gathered all the numbers, you can ask them to put them in order, count aloud, or group them into pairs.

Why it’s great
This game gets kids moving while reinforcing number recognition, sequencing, and counting skills. It’s also a good one for practising teamwork if you’ve got siblings or friends involved.

Make it Aussie – Use little toy animals like koalas, wombats, or kangaroos and pop numbers on them. Kids love spotting their native animal friends during the hunt.

Story Cubes

Story cubes are small dice with pictures on each side – a tree, a hat, a monster, a rocket – you name it. Kids roll a few cubes and then make up a story based on the pictures they see. You can buy ready-made ones or make your own with paper and stickers.

Why it’s great
Story cubes build creativity, language skills, and early narrative understanding. They help little ones learn how stories are structured – beginning, middle, and end – without the pressure of writing anything down.

Bonus idea – Use Aussie-themed story cubes. Include a beach, a kangaroo, a sausage sanga, a thunderstorm, or even a bin chicken. Let your little storyteller run wild!

Shape Scavenger Hunt

Shapes are everywhere – you just have to look! Ask your child to find things around the house that match different shapes – circles (plates), squares (coasters), triangles (pizza slices), and so on. You can even head outside and look for shapes in nature.

Why it’s great
This activity develops visual-spatial awareness and helps kids recognise shapes in the real world – an important pre-maths skill. It’s also fab for language development, especially when you talk about what they find.

Top tip – Take photos of the objects they find and stick them into a “Shape Scrapbook”. It makes a lovely keepsake and reinforces learning through visuals.

“What’s Missing?” Memory Game

Lay out a few small toys or household objects on a tray. Let your child study them for a minute. Then cover them with a tea towel, secretly remove one item, and reveal the tray again. Can they spot what’s missing?

Why it’s great
This classic game sharpens memory, focus, and observational skills – all crucial for early learning. It’s also incredibly easy to set up with stuff you already have around the house.

Mix it up – Use themed items – like kitchen tools, soft toys, or even snacks – to keep things fresh and fun.

Alphabet Fishing

This one takes a little prep but is worth the effort. Cut out paper fish, write a letter on each one, and pop a paperclip on their noses. Then, using a stick, some string, and a magnet, create a fishing rod. Lay the fish “pond” on the floor and get fishing!

Why it’s great
Alphabet Fishing supports letter recognition, phonics, and fine motor skills. It’s also great for identifying the sounds letters make, which sets the stage for future reading.

Level it up – Ask your child to name something that starts with the letter they catch. It’s a great way to stretch their thinking and vocabulary.

Learning That Doesn’t Feel Like Learning

The best thing about these games is that kids don’t realise they’re learning. They’re just having a ball. That’s the magic of educational play – it sneaks in the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving without kids feeling like they’re stuck at a desk.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re using fancy toys or things lying around the house. What matters is the connection and engagement. Get down on the floor with your little one, join in the fun, and follow their lead. If they want to turn Alphabet Fishing into a shark rescue mission or turn Story Cubes into a musical, let them! Creativity is just as valuable as counting.

So next time you’re stuck indoors on a rainy day, or just want to sneak a bit of learning into your child’s afternoon, give one of these games a go. They're simple, affordable, and full of opportunities to laugh, bond and grow together.

After all, in the world of early learning, play really is the best teacher.