5 easy card games for families with young kids
One standard deck, five games: War, Go Fish, Old Maid, Concentration and Crazy Eights — what you need, how to play and what age each one suits.
Why a deck of cards is the best toy in the house
A standard 52-card deck fits in a pocket, costs a couple of dollars and works for dozens of games. Card games build number sense, memory, patience and turn-taking — and they put the whole family around one table. Take out the jokers, find a flat surface and agree that whoever loses a round shuffles the next one.
1. War — ages 4 and up
Deal the whole deck between two players. Each round, both flip their top card; the higher card takes both. If the cards tie, it’s “war”: each player puts three cards face down and one face up, and the higher face-up card wins the pile. War is ideal for kids who are just learning to compare numbers. A full game can go on forever, so set a timer and count cards at the end.
2. Go Fish — ages 5 and up
Deal five to seven cards each and spread the rest face down in the middle as the “pond.” On your turn, ask one player for a rank you already hold: “Do you have any sevens?” If they do, they hand them all over and you go again. If not, they say “Go fish!” and you draw from the pond. Collect sets of four; most sets wins. For little ones, play with pairs instead of fours.
3. Old Maid — ages 5 and up
Remove one queen so that a single queen has no partner. Deal out every card; players lay down any pairs they hold. Then take turns drawing a card, unseen, from the hand of the player on your left, and lay down pairs as they form. Whoever is left holding the lonely queen is the Old Maid for that round. The best part is trying to keep a straight face while you hold her.
4. Concentration (Memory) — ages 4 and up
Lay cards face down in rows. On your turn, flip two. A pair (same number and same color) is yours and you go again; otherwise flip them back in the same spots. Start with 8–12 pairs for preschoolers and use the full deck for older kids. It also works as a solo game: how few turns can you finish in?
5. Crazy Eights — ages 6 and up
Deal five cards each and turn one card face up. On your turn, play a card that matches the top card’s suit or number. Eights are wild: play one any time and name the next suit. If you can’t play, draw until you can. First player to get rid of all their cards wins. Kids who know UNO will feel right at home.
Tips for a good card night
- Play one game several times before adding a new one.
- Small hands? Cut a slot in a shoebox lid to make a card holder.
- Let a young child team up with a grown-up — one holds, one decides.
- Ready for more? Try Spoons for a loud, fast finish.