Matching games help children exercise their memories, but these types of games are also useful because they're portable and children won't easily get bored. Create your own matching game. Find anywhere from six to 20 images of different subjects, such as dinosaurs or Disney characters, and photocopy each image. The pictures should be cut all the same size and laminated to keep them clean and undamaged. To play, place all the cards face down on a carpet or table. Each child gets one turn to flip over any two cards. If the cards are a match, the child keeps them. If not, he turns them back over and the next child picks two. Continue until all the matches have been found.
Guessing games can be used to challenge a child's creativity and reasoning skills. Choose any small object in reach, but don't let the child see what you choose. Place the object inside of a sock or dark plastic bag and close the bag with a rubber band. The child takes hold of the bag and tries to guess what's inside by feeling the object. Guessing games can also be played in the car or at meal times without any props. You can describe a person, animal or place and ask the child to guess what it is.
You can help young children build coordination and motor skills while encouraging them to be active. Create an obstacle course for children to follow, or play "follow the leader." One child or adult is the leader and chooses a certain way to move throughout the room, such as skipping or crawling. Everyone else must follow behind and move in the same way. Take turns so everyone gets to be the leader. If the weather is nice, take children outside for a game of freeze tag. Everyone must run around and try to avoid the child or adult who is "it." Once he touches you, you must freeze until everyone's been caught.
Not only do toddlers and preschoolers love music, but it helps teach young children about rhythm, rhyming and communication. Sing or play a CD of the "Hokey Pokey" and ask children to follow along. If you have a group of children, play a version of musical chairs that won't result in hurt feelings. Set up chairs in the middle of the room, then start playing music and have children walk around them. When the music stops, everyone must sit on the chairs. After each round, take one chair away. Everyone has to work together to all fit on the remaining chairs.