Preschoolers that have not yet mastered the art of counting or basic mathematics can play card games rooted in picture cards. Games, including Memory, can introduce children to concepts, such as basic number, letter and picture recognition. Memory can be easily played by laying all cards face down and having children take turns turning over cards trying to make a match. For preschoolers, having them simply match numbers or letters is the easiest form of the game. Additional card games for preschoolers include flash cards with pictures on one side and words on the other to introduce basic words.
Elementary school children have a better understanding of letters and numbers, making card games, such as Go Fish and Advanced Memory, suitable for educational purposes. Go Fish is played using a standard deck of cards and works best with two to four players. Deal five to seven cards to each player and place the rest face down in the center. Have children try and make matches by asking the player to their left if they have a card that will help them make a match based on a number or letter; when none is available the child draws from the face down pile and places matched sets in front of them. The game teaches strategy and helps promote competitive play. Advanced memory is similar to the preschool version but uses two decks of cards and matches must be according to letter or number and suit; thus making the game harder.
Middle school children have grasped the concept of numbers, basic addition and subtraction, and baseline strategy for game-playing. More-advanced card games suitable for this set of older children includes Solitaire, War and even Blackjack. Soltaire teaches children to work independently and War supports critical-thinking skills. Solitaire is an individually played card game and War works best with just two players. Blackjack, or 21, can be used as a card game involving up to four children involved by using a single deck of cards. Blackjack can help students learn to think quickly and add faster.
High school students have mastered many basic card games and require card games that are more strategic to keep them interested. More advanced, complex forms of solitaire can be used as single player games to promote thinking skills for those needing a card game to keep them entertained and thinking at the same time. The strategy associated with Poker can help students learn how to think in advance, calculate moves and enhance strategic thinking skills. A variety of poker games can be played using a standard deck of cards and more complex versions, such as Low Chicago and Hi/Lo. Additional card games suitable for high school age students include Gin Rummy, Crazy Eights and Mah Jong.