Whether you call it Concentration or Memory, Matching Pairs or something else completely, playing a memory based matching game is one of the best first games to teach a young child, and this collection of 15 free, printable matching games for kids offers a great place to get started (see the complete list and download instructions at the bottom of this post).
What are the benefits of playing matching games with kids?
- This adorable memory game is perfect for young and older players alike. How fast will you be able to match up all of the hidden objects on each card? Try out each one of the modes. You can even challenge a friend in the one for two players!
- Find the Pair is a challenging online concentration memory game that requires players to spot the identical pairs in each level. Match pairs of shapes together with the help of your memory.
With a deck of matching pairs cards and just a few simple game rules you are set to help your child develop observational skills, visual discrimination, memory and concentration – to name just a few of the benefits of this great, first game.
A memory matching game is a also a wonderful way to teach children important game playing skills such turn taking, and through regular game play with older role models young children will also learn how to be a gracious winner…and loser!
Depending upon your choice of cards, memory matching games can also reinforce learning about a range of concepts such as colour recognition, letter names or sounds, counting, number recognition, alongside improved vocabulary and even reading skills. We have included details of all of our free, printable matching game sets below, many of which help to develop these important learning concepts.
We suggest starting play with children from the age of 3 years.
Instantly play free online games, including solitaire, mahjong, hidden object, word, casino, card and puzzle games. Play on your computer, tablet or phone.
RELATED: 10 Kids Memory Games to help improve memory, concentration and thinking skills.
How to Play Concentration or Memory
Shuffle the cards well and spread them face down across the table.
Players take turns to turn over two cards, searching for a matching pair. If the cards selected are a match, the player keeps the matching pair and takes another turn. If they are not the same, the cards are turned back over in the same location and play moves to the next player.
Free Pairs Games
Once all cards have been matched, the player with the most pairs wins the game.
15+ Free Printable Memory Matching Games for Kids
1. Cupcake Memory Matching Game: A fabulous challenge for developing visual discrimination skills, great for kindergarten age children.
2. Monster Shadows Matching Game: Another great challenge for visual discrimination skill development, match each of these cute monsters with their very individual shadow!
3. Opposites Memory Game: A fun way to revise learning about antonyms with preschool, kindergarten and first grade children.
4. Fruit Memory Matching Game: A fun tutti fruity fruit memory matching game with both pictures and words. Free to print and easy to play.
5. Garden Matching Memory Game Cards: Play with pictures or pictures and words – great for Earth Day, Spring, growth or gardening learning themes.
6. Alphabet Memory Matching Game: Choose from 5 fun game suggestions to get your preschooler or kindergartener playing with beginning letter sounds.
Just for fun: Try this Alphabet Matching Snack for a tasty treat!
7. Printable Feelings & Emotions Cards: Concentration/Memory is just one of eight game suggestions included with these printable emotions cards.
8. Emoji Emotions Matching Cards: Inspired by the super popular emoji craze, these emotions cards are great for inviting discussion about big emotions with young children.
9. Winter Animals Matching Pairs Game: These cute Winter animals make game time super sweet.
10. Yoga Poses Matching Game: For Concentration with a physical challenge, print two copies of our yoga poses cards for your game. Every time a player matches a pair they can perform the body shape challenge shown on the cards they have matched.
Free Online Memory Games Pairs
11. Star Wars Memory Game: May the Force be with you as you attempt to outplay your opponent with these cool Star Wars character game cards.
12. Halloween Matching Game: A not-so-spooky Halloween card deck!
13. Easter Matching Game: Explore all the colours of the rainbow while playing this fun Easter Matching Game with your toddler or preschooler.
14. Easter Egg Matching Cards: Learn to match patterns with these great Easter egg cards. Includes 4 game ideas.
RELATED: These Logical Thinking Games for Preschoolers are sure to get them thinking!
Printing Instructions for Matching Games
Click on the link for the game you wish to download and print. This will open a prompt for you to save the PDF to your computer. For best results, download directly to a computer, not a phone or tablet. Open the PDF and print the pages you require. When printing, select 'Fit to printable area' (or similar) to ensure the page fits with your printer type and local paper size (these have been created at A4 size). I suggest printing onto card stock or matte photo paper. Most of the card sets include a backing sheet. Flip and then re-insert your printed pages into your printer to print onto the reverse side. Cut apart the printed cards and then laminate for durability.
Having trouble accessing or downloading the file? Please try a different internet browser.
Please note: All Childhood 101 printables are for personal use only, you may not use any part of this content for commercial purposes-that includes selling the document, giving it away to promote your business or website, or printing the file to sell. You may not share, loan or redistribute these documents. Teachers may use multiple copies for students in their own classroom.
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In Kids Cute Pairs, it's time to test your memory with different characters. Improving memory is an importing thing for little kids when they're growing up, and educative games are one of the best ways to do that! Igt slots online. Suitable for both younger kids and older childer, this game will keep them busy for a long time.
Offering 3 different difficulty settings and two-player mode, both parents and their kids can have quality time together in this game. The objective of this game is to find the pairs of images on the cards. You can use the mouse to play the game. When you start, pick solo or multiplayer game mode. Then you can decide on the difficulty. As you increase the difficulty, the amount of the cards on the board will increase. The easy mode has 6 cards with vegetable and fruit images, the medium mode has 12 cards with pictures of different objects, and lastly, the hardest difficulty has 24 cards with animal images. Click on a card to flip and reveal the picture on it. Then choose another card to find the pair of it. If you're successful, the cards will disappear from the board. You complete the level when you match all the pairs and clear the board. In two-player mode, you play the game in turns, and the player who has the most points when the board is cleared wins the game.
For more educative and fun activities, be sure to browse our collection of free kids games by clicking here.
Developer
Inlogic Software developed Kids Cute Pairs
Release Date
May 15, 2019
Features
- Solo and 2 player modes
- 3 different difficulties
- Colorful and cute 2D graphics
- Easy gameplay
Controls
Use your mouse to play this game.