Free Games for Kids: Fun Games that Help Kids to Learn

Creating Free Games

Creating educational games to do with your child does not need to cost any money. Using items that you have around your house along with a little imagination will help you create games for any subject and grade level. Use the games below to get started.

License Plate Math

This game will allow your child to practice her math skills while running everyday errands. Have her look at a license plate and add together the numbers that she sees on it. For example, if she sees a license plate, like 326VFH, have her add together 3 + 2 + 6. Depending on your child's ability level, you can also have her multiply or subtract the numbers.

As an added challenge, you can also correspond letters to numbers to add, subtract or multiply. For example, the letter a = 1, b = 2 c = 3, d = 4, etc. Therefore, if your child finds a license plate that states 456EAB, she can add, subtract or multiply 4 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 1 + 2. If she gets five license plate math problems correct, give her a prize.

Punch the Letters

This game will teach your child about letter recognition and spelling. Find several large boxes and use a utility knife to carve out all the letters of the alphabet. Keep the cutouts in a pile. When you are finished, place all the letters back into place (they will stay put because the cardboard will keep them in place).

Ask your child to find a letter and give him a ruler to punch the cutout of that letter out when he finds it. Keep one side of the box open so that you can retrieve the letters that have been punched out. You can also have your child punch out basic words to practice his spelling.

Dinosaur Dig

Help your child become a paleontologist with this fun game. First, read about what paleontologists do and how they discover dinosaur bones. Then, save some bones from your chicken, steak and pork dinners. When you have plenty of bones, clean and boil them. Make sure that there are not any edges that may cut or hurt your child.

Bury the bones in a sand box or a large pan full of dirt. Have your child get a paintbrush and a shovel and look for the 'dinosaur' bones.