10 ESl board games for toddlers

ESL board games for toddlers (ages 2–5) should be very visual, simple, and movement-based, since little ones learn best through play, repetition, and interaction. Here are 10 toddler-friendly ESL board game ideas that focus on basic English like colors, animals, numbers, and simple action verbs.

 
🎲 10 ESL Board Games for Toddlers
 
🟥 1. Color Hop
Target Skill: Color Recognition & Vocabulary
How to Play:

Use a path of big colored circles on the floor or board.
Kids roll a colored die or spin a color wheel.
They say the color and jump (or move a token) to that color.
Optional: Hold up or find something that matches the color.
 
🐶 2. Animal Sounds Safari
Target Skill: Animal Names & Sounds
How to Play:

Each space has a picture of an animal.
Kids land on an animal, say its name, and make the sound.
Example: “Cow! Moo!”
Add toy animals for more fun!
 
🙋‍♂️ 3. Action Dice Game
Target Skill: Verbs & Movement
How to Play:

Use a big die with pictures: Jump, Clap, Run, Sit, Dance, Spin.
Kids roll and say the action, then do it!
Reinforce by chanting: “Clap! Clap! Clap your hands!”
 
🔢 4. Number Train
Target Skill: Numbers 1–10
How to Play:

Make a train with numbered cars (1–10).
Kids roll a die, move forward, and count aloud.
Optional: Put that many buttons or stickers on the train car.
 
🍎 5. Fruit Basket Board Game
Target Skill: Food Vocabulary
How to Play:

Board has fruit images (apple, banana, orange, etc.).
When kids land on a fruit, they say the name and pretend to eat it.
Add real toy fruits or plastic food for hands-on learning.
 
👕 6. Clothes Match-Up
Target Skill: Clothes Vocabulary
How to Play:

Use cards or board with clothing items (hat, shirt, shoes).
Land on a piece of clothing, say it, and match it to a doll or cutout figure.
Fun way to say: “It’s a hat! Put on the hat!”
 
🧼 7. Daily Routine Race
Target Skill: Simple Daily Activities
How to Play:

Path of daily routine images (wake up, brush teeth, eat, play, sleep).
Kids roll a die and move through the day.
They say what they're doing: “I brush my teeth!”
 
🐛 8. Bug Hunt Board Game
Target Skill: Nature Vocabulary
How to Play:

Use a board with cute bug pictures (bee, butterfly, ant).
When they land on a bug, they name it and pretend to be it.
Great for movements like “Fly like a butterfly!”
 
🎵 9. Sing & Spin
Target Skill: Songs & Rhymes
How to Play:

Use a spinner with nursery rhymes or songs (e.g., “Twinkle Twinkle”, “ABC”, “Baby Shark”).
Spin and sing!
Add simple actions for each song to keep them engaged.
 
💬 10. Feelings Faces Game
Target Skill: Emotions Vocabulary
How to Play:

Each space shows a face (happy, sad, angry, sleepy).
Kids land on a face, say the emotion, and make the face or act it out.
Encourage sentences: “I’m happy!”
 
🧩 Want Printables or Templates?
I can design printable game boards, dice, or cards for any of these games. Just tell me which ones you want and in what format (PDF, PowerPoint, Google Slides).