15 Fun And Easy Card Games For Kids

Card games are a favorite pastime for adults. But did you know that they can be an interesting activity for kids as well? There are several card games for kids and the traditional 52-card deck provides multiple entertaining options. MomJunction presents to you a list of easy card games for kids.

15 Fun Card Games For Children

1. Memory Card Game

It is one of the easiest card games to play with kids.

Players: One or more

How to play:

1. You will need two sets of 52-deck cards. Put the two decks together and shuffle the cards.
2. Place the cards facing downwards in rows and columns of your choice.
3. Do the same for another set as well, but in a pattern different from the first one.
4. Ask your child to pick a card and turn it around. Now pick a card from another spot on the array. Check the pattern on the card. If the patterns are the same, then you have a match. Otherwise, put the card the same way back at its place.
5. Continue playing the game until you find a matching pair. Your kid will have to use their memory to recollect where they had spotted a card.

2. Go Fish

The game involves a lot of interaction thus making it an ideal card game for kids to play with the entire family.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. Each player gets five cards if there are at least three players. If there are only two players then each gets seven cards. Place rest of the cards face down in a pile.
2. The first player picks a number (number on the card) or suit (diamonds, spades, hearts, clubs) of their choice from their set of cards. For instance, they pick the number 6. The player then randomly picks one player from the rest and asks them to hand over all the cards they have with number 6. For example, the kid says, “Dad, give me all cards with number 6 from your stack of cards”.
3. If the player receives at least one card (if the kid receives at least one number 6 card from dad) then he gets one more turn. The kid can then ask the same player or another player for cards of another number.
4. If the player whose card is requested does not have a card, then they say “Go fish”. So, if the dad does not have a number 6 card, he says, “Go Fish” to his son.
5. The player who receives the “Go Fish” command picks up a card from the pile of cards placed face down on the table. If he gets the card he wanted, then he will show the card to all the other players and will get one more turn. If he does not get a card, then the next player gets the turn, and the game continues.
6. The game ends when all the cards on the pile end or when one of the players gets all the four cards of a number, for instance, all the four 6s. You can make the game easier by reducing the number of cards required for winning.

[ Read: One-Minute Games For Kids ]

3. Crazy Eights

It is quite similar to Go Fish, but here the objective is to quickly get rid of the cards.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. Each player gets seven cards. The remaining cards are placed on a pile, which becomes the draw pile.
2. The first card of the pile is turned around. Now the first player has to match the suit or rank of the turned card. For example, if the first card is a heart with number nine, then the first player has to find either a number nine or heart from their stack of cards.
3. If the player finds a relevant card, they place it in a separate discard pile.
4. If the player is unable to find a relevant card from their stack of cards, then they the turn goes to the next player.
5. If the player has a number 8 card among their stack of cards, then they need not look for a match. They can discard the number 8 card. In such case, the player who discarded the number 8 card will tell which suit to match next. For instance, the player with eight can say, “The next player has now to find a spade among card.”
6. The game continues until one of the players discards all the cards and is declared the winner. You can also play the game with a time limit, in which case after the said time, the player with the least number of cards wins the game.

4. Beggar My Neighbor

The objective of this card game for kids is to collect as many cards as possible from other players.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. If you have at least four players then you will need two packs of 52-deck cards.
2. Distribute one card at a time to each player. The cards must be distributed face down so that the players can’t see them. Each player should get an equal number of cards. If there are some cards left, place
3. them face down on a pile at the center of the table.
4. Players keep their cards face down in front of them. They turn one card at a time and place it facing upwards on another stack at the center.
5. Players continue piling the cards at the center one turn at a time until someone gets a queen, king, jack, or an ace. These cards are called court cards.
6. If a player gets a court card, then the next player has to pay royalty by forfeiting cards. For an ace, the royalty is four cards, for a king it is three cards; for a queen is its two cards, and for a jack, it is one card.
7. The next player adds the said number of cards one by one to the central pile. If none of the cards is a court card, then the previous player, who got the court card, takes away the entire central pile of cards.
8. If the player paying the royalty gets a court card, then they need not pay any further. Instead, they ask the next player to pay royalty depending on the type of court card. Players who run out of cards while paying royalty are out of the game.
9. The winner is the one who has the maximum number of cards at the end of the time limit.

5. War

The game is meant for two players. The rules are simple and all you need to look at is the number on the card.

Players:  Two

How to play:

1. Distribute the cards equally among the two players. The cards are placed face down and none of the players gets to see their cards.
2. Both players turn their cards at the same time. The one with the higher number takes both the cards. So, if one player comes out with number 3 card and another number 9, then the one with number 9 card takes the number 3 card too.
3. Queen, king, jack, and ace cards can be ignored since they do not have a number on them. However, you can keep a rule that ace has a value above number ten card while the queen, king, and jack have the least value; below the number two card.
4. If both players draw out cards of the same value, then they have a war. They place the card separately and then draw two other cards. Out of this, one card is face up and another is face down.
5. The players now turn the face down cards. Remember, each player has three cards, one is the original card, two is the open card, and three, which they are turning right now. The player who has a higher value on the third card takes away the three cards of the opponent. If the third card is also drawn, then each player turns out another card from the deck and so the game continues.
6. The winner of the game is the one who has the maximum number of cards at the end of the time limit or the one who still has cards while the opponent runs out.

[ Read: Beach Games For Kids ]

6. Twenty-One (Blackjack)

This game is all about addition and hence is a useful math card game for kids. The objective of the game is to have cards with a value that does not exceed 21.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. One person needs to be the “dealer” who will be responsible for distributing the cards. The rank cards have the value as mentioned on the card. The ace cards have 11 points while the jack, queen, and the king have 10 points each.
2. The dealer gives two cards to each player. The players take a look at their cards and demand an extra card if the sum of their cards is too low.
3. Do note the players cannot choose the card they get and the dealer can only pick the top card from their pile and give it to the player. Cards cannot be exchanged for another one from the dealer.
4. The game continues till no player asks for a card anymore. All players now display their cards. The one who has a sum of exactly 21 wins the game. If there is no one with 21, then the one with the closest number wins. Those who have a sum of more than 21 are out of their game and their points not considered.

7. Snap

This is one of the best card games for kids as it tests their observation and quick thinking skills.

Players: Two to six players

How to play:

1. One player needs to be an observer and the referee.
2. Players have an equal number of cards facing down. The first player turns the card and places it face-up on a pile at the center. The next player does the same and so on.
3. The game continues and all players keep turning their cards in such a way that the card is visible to other players.
4. If the player turns a card that matches the last card either in suit or number, then the first player to shout “Snap!” takes away all the cards in the pile. If there is a tie, then the card is returned to the person, shuffled in their stack by the referee, and their turn repeated.
5. The game continues till at least one player is left with no cards.

8. Snip Snap Snorem

A simple card game for children to keep themselves busy.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. Distribute the cards among all the players. It is okay if some of them get more cards than others. The players do not see the cards until they begin the game.
2. Once the game commences, the first player picks a card of their choice from their stack and places it at the center of the table.
3. The next player then checks if they have a card of the same suit or rank in their stack of cards. If they do have one, then they place it on top of the previous card and say “Snip”. The player then checks if they have another card and if they do, then they place it and say “Snap”. They check for a third card, and if they have one then they say “Snorem” and collect all the cards of the pile. The second player then starts the game by placing a card of their choice and the game continues.
4. If a player is able to match only one card or two (only say Snip or Snap), then they lose their cards. In such case, the second player begins the game by placing a card of their choice on the pile.
5. The player with the maximum number of cards in the given time limit wins the game.

[ Read: Brain Games For Kids ]

9. Old Maid

This card game is also called “Donkey” or “Pass the lady”. The game involves finding the second card to make a pair of cards.

Players: Three or more

How to play:

1. There are four queens in the card stack. Remove one of them so that there is only one queen left from the pair. Pairs are formed based on color. So diamonds and hearts are red, while spades and clubs are black. The number three diamond card will form a pair with the number three heart card, and so on.
2. Distribute the cards to all the players equally. The first player sorts all the cards and puts them into a fan pattern. All cards stay facing down except the ones that form pairs.
3. The second player picks any card from the first player’s cards. The player can either pick the card which is one from the pair or can pick the card facing downwards.
4. The third player then picks the second player’s card and the game continues.
5. There is only one loser in the game and that is the one who eventually is left with the single queen card or the “Old maid” card.

10. Pig

It is a fun card game for kids at birthday parties or any other place where you have a large group.

Players: Four or more

How to play:

1. For each player, set out a group of four cards. For example, if there are four players then pick four of cards of 2, 3, 4, and 5. Each player should eventually have a set of four cards. Set aside the rest of the cards.
2. Once you have a set of four cards, shuffle them well and distribute the cards to the players. Each player gets four cards.
3. The players sit in a circle and begin passing a card to the player next to them. Players keep their card visible while passing.
4. The passing continues till one player has a set of four cards, such as all four cards of number 6. The player who gains all four cards places a finger on their nose, stops passing cards, and sits quietly. The other players continue passing the cards.
5. The passing continues and the last one to remain without their finger on the nose is the loser and hence the “pig”.

11. Rummy

The classic card games for kids that never gets old. There are several versions of the game and here is a seven-card version. The objective of the game is to make sets of three to four cards of a suit.

Players: Two or more

How to play:

1. Each player is given seven cards. The remaining cards are placed on the table at a central stack. The top card of the stack is turned upwards while those below it face downwards.
2. The first player picks a card from the central pile and puts it into their stack of cards. They remove another card from their collection and puts it face down in the central stack of cards.
3. The next player does the same. The game continues till someone has a set of three or four cards of a suit. The person says “Rummy” and is declared the winner.

[ Read: Outdoor Games For Kids ]

12. Slapjack

A fun card game to play when you have a large group. The game mostly tests the kids’ reflexes. You do not need much knowledge of the game and thus is suitable for younger children.

Players: Four or more

How to play:

1. Shuffle the deck of cards and keep them face down in your hands. Make all the players sit in a small circle such that they can reach to the cards of the other players.
2. Bring the deck of cards in front of each player. Ask them to pick a card and place it face up in front of them.
3. The game continues till someone draws a jack. The first person to slap their hands on the jack (and the other player’s cards beneath) and say “slapjack” wins the entire pile of cards.

13. Sequence

The game involves counting and knowing the numbers, which make it a good educational card game for kids.

Players: Three or more

How to play:

1. Remove the kings, queens, and the jacks. Retain the aces. Distribute the cards among the players. All the players need not get an equal number of cards.
2. The first player picks the card of the lowest number from his stack and places it facing up on the table. For instance, he picks a number 2 spade and puts it on the table.
3. The next player has to now put a card that follows the sequence, that is, they must place a number 3 spade. If they do not have one, then the first player gets one more turn, and they place another lowest card from other suits (diamonds, spades, clubs, and hearts).
4. The game continues till a player is able to place a card next in the sequence. If the next player is able to put a card next in the sequence, then the first player’s turn is over and the next player begins a new sequence.
5. The player with the least number of cards at the end of the game is the winner.

14. Sevens

Another simple card game for kids where all you have to do is complete a suit of the card.

Players: Four or more

How to play:

1. The player who has the 7 of a suit, say the 7 of hearts, starts the game by placing the card face up at the center of the table.
2. The next player has to find a card of the same suit. So if the next player has 2 of hearts, they place it before 7, and if they have an 8, they place it after 7. If the next player is unable to add to the suit, then their turn is skipped and goes to the next player.
3. The game continues, and the first one to rid all their cards or have the least number of cards in the given time is the winner.

[ Read: Water Games For Kids ]

15. Trash (Garbage)

A game that can be played when there are only two players.

Players: Two

How to play:

1. You will need 30 cards from the deck. Shuffle them well.
2. Each player gets ten cards. The cards are placed face down in two rows of five cards each.
3. Two rows of five cards each, facing upwards, are placed at the center of the table between the two players.
4. The first player replaces a card from their row with the corresponding card in the central row. The player may see the card while they are replacing it but they must not show it to another player.
5. The second player also replaces a card of their choice from the central array of cards. Both players need to keep a track of cards they replace.
6. If the card the player picks from their row is a king, then they can pick any card from the central array of cards. However, if their card is a jack, queen, or ace, then they must discard the card to a separate pile called the trash.
7. The next player then has a choice to replace a card with the card from trash or one in the central row. But the first player cannot collect back the card that they had placed in the trash.
8.  The first player to replace all their cards becomes the winner.

These card games bring tons of fun while some of them also teach the kid a bit of counting and numbers. These games are such fun you can play one every weekend.

Which card games do you play with your children? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Rohit Garoo

 

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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