Memory Match Games for Toddlers: Why They Help Kids Learn

by Nicholas Russo

Flip two cards. Do they match? If not, flip them back and try to remember where they were. Memory match is one of the simplest games there is, and one of the best for young kids. Here's why it's so good for growing brains and how to play it with your toddler or preschooler.

What kids practice when they play memory match

  • Remembering. Holding "the dog was in the top corner" in mind is exactly the kind of short-term memory kids use when following directions.
  • Focus. Kids have to pay attention to every flip, even their opponent's.
  • Noticing details. Telling similar pictures apart builds visual skills that help later with letters and numbers.
  • Taking turns and patience. Waiting for your turn (and handling a miss) is good practice for big feelings.
  • Vocabulary. Name each picture out loud as you flip it.

Tips for playing with little kids

  1. Start with just 3 pairs. Six cards is plenty for a 2- or 3-year-old. Add more as they get better.
  2. Play face-up first. For beginners, practice finding matches with every card showing.
  3. Talk it through. "I remember a soccer ball was over here!" shows kids how to use their memory.
  4. Make your own cards. Two copies of family photos or stickers make a homemade game.
  5. Let them win sometimes. Success keeps them wanting to play.

Memory match in the Munchie Giraffe app

The Munchie Giraffe app's memory game uses colorful Munchie picture cards, like soccer, basketball, swimming and beach ball, and grows with your child through three levels:

  • Easy: 3 pairs, perfect for toddlers
  • Medium: 5 pairs
  • Hard: 8 pairs, a real challenge for preschoolers (and grown-ups!)

Munchie cheers kids on as they play. There's also a Spanish flip-card version that mixes memory practice with first Spanish words. See our post on first Spanish words for kids.

About the Munchie Giraffe app

The Munchie Giraffe learning app is made for kids ages 2–6 by the dad who created Munchie for his own son. It includes ABCs, letter tracing, English–Spanish words, memory match, puzzles, coloring and narrated read-along storybooks.

  • No ads and no tracking.
  • Free to download. Some activities are free to play, and a one-time in-app purchase unlocks everything.

Available for iPhone, iPad and Android:

Looking for screen-free fun too? Try our free activities for toddlers and preschoolers and the Munchie Giraffe picture books.

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