Today I’m sharing a big collection of dice games for preschoolers!
(This post contains affiliate links.)
We love dice around here. We love them so much that they’re always disappearing! This week I bought a set of 100 dice and stored them in glass canning jar so we’d always have access to them.
(Note: the dice we bought came in the wrong color and size. We had to straighten it out on the phone to get our standard size black and white dice. You might have the same problem if you order from my link, but I couldn’t find a better set!)
Math skills preschoolers can practice using dice:
- Subitizing (looking at the dots and knowing right away what number they represent instead of counting each dot)
- Number recognition
- Counting
- Matching
- Comparing
- Adding
Can you think of some more?
Dice games for preschoolers
Roll & Cover for Every Season
Roll & Cover games are a popular way to learn with dice. The simplest version involves rolling a die and covering the number that you rolled. In my post you’ll find ten seasonal and holiday games. You’ll find a set using one die (pictured) and a set using two dice; older preschoolers might be ready to add the two numbers together and cover their sum.
Get the free printables in this post.
Dice War
You’ve played the card game War, right? If you have a big set of dice, you can play a similar game. Even if you don’t buy a big set like we did, you can gather dice from your board game collection to play this one.
Just put all the dice in a big pile. Each of you takes a die and rolls it. Whoever has the higher number gets both dice. If you roll the same number. those dice stay in the middle and you both roll again. Whoever gets the highest number takes all four dice.
At the end of the game, each of you counts your dice to see who has the most. This is a great game for learning to compare numbers!
Monster Dice Match
For the simple version of this game, your child can match dotted dice to the pictures. This is a great introduction to using dice for older toddlers and young preschoolers. If you have a numbered die, your child can cover the die which shows the same number. Get your free printable board games in this post.
Roll and Build
Visit Hands on As We Grow to see how to count and build with dice.
Dice Dot Pattern Game
This active dice dot pattern game from This Reading Mama is perfect for a rainy day! It will have your child learning and exercising at the same time. Love!
Balloon Dice Game
Looking for another dice game to get your child moving? Play this balloon game from Confidence Meets Parenting.
Build a Snowman
My kids had to wear warm jackets to school this week – can you believe it? We’ll be playing this build-a-snowman game from Toddler Approved soon enough!
Roll A Beetle
Get the free printable and directions for this fun Roll a Beetle game from Teach Beside Me.
Turkey Dice Game
Isn’t this a creative way to use up old lids? Check out this turkey dice game from Learn Play Imagine.
Spring Flower Math Game
Get out some silk flowers and play this spring flower math game from Fun-a-Day. I’m thinking this cheerful game will be nice to play in winter, too. 😉
Roll and Count
Get out some fun rubber animals and play this preschool counting game from No Time for Flashcards.
Dot Dabber Dice Game
Doesn’t this look inviting? You’ll need some coffee filters, Do-a-Dot markers, and the directions for this simple math game at Play Dr. Mom.
Candy Dice Game
Check out this candy with dice game from Toddler Approved. It’s a great way to use extra holiday candy! If you want to keep candy out of your house, try using pom poms, glass gems, or other fun manipulatives.
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Free Math Printables for Pre-K-3rd Grade
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Shawna
The dice matching busy bag link does not work
Heather Groth, Customer Support
Thank you, Shawna! We’ve removed the link!
Sherri Gustafson
Good materials for preschool children
Debbie Boan
Thank you for all of the wonderful resources you provide. Returning to Kindergarten after 8 years in fourth grade has been made easier with your resources and timely information.
Alicia
I love these games
Barbara Reese
Thank you so much for sharing. I am a Math Coach in a K-2 school. We host a school tour day for our local preschools. I am going to let our Kindergartners play this game with the preschoolers.
Anna G
You’re welcome, Barbara!
Juana Martinez
Thanks very much for FREE quality of printable worksheets and sharing great activities ideas.
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Juana!
Janice
Just bought a five piece wooden lawn dice set from Hobby Lobby for four year old granddaughter who loves dice.
I’m getting an Easter gift ready for her with loads of items to use with her dice, and I found you online!
I absolutely love love love your site and ideas!
Thank you so much, we are going to have a fun summer outdoors with your exceptionally creative ideas.
Anna Geiger
You sound like a very fun, engaged grandma, Janice! Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
Ann @ The Scrapbooking Housewife
Oh my goodness, what great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing my Dice Number Matching Game (and sorry I’m just commenting now)! 🙂
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Ann! 🙂
Lauren
Today’s trivia fact: the ‘dots’ are actually called pips. ?
Anna Geiger
My kids actually told me that after reading it in one of their trivia books. But I prefer “dots.” 🙂
Ettina
Have you ever checked out D&D dice? As well as the standard six-sided dice, D&D uses 4-sided, 8-sided, 10-sided, 12-sided and 20-sided dice. I’ve always thought D&D dice would be good for teaching math.
Anna Geiger
I had not heard of that, Ettina. I just looked on Amazon and there’s a pretty awesome set. Thanks for the suggestion!
Sis
Thank you for putting all these ideas in one place! I’m a Grandma visiting my 3 yo grandson and he is doing great learning ways to use his soft 2″ dice. We are counting, comparing, stacking, tossing into a receptacle, and now… We have all these new ideas! 🙂
Anna Geiger
Yay – so glad you found this post! Dice never get boring, do they? 🙂
Dianne
Hi Anna,
Thank you for sharing your “A”mazing ideas. I love the variety of ideas you have for math and yours are just what I have been looking for! I look forward to using them with my kiddos.
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Dianne – I hope you enjoy them!
Theres Just One Mommy
So many great and fun ideas for learning!
Selena @ Look! We're Learning!
Pinning! We have plenty of dice, but I have yet to use them…lol.
Stopping by from the TGIF linky. 🙂
Anna Geiger
Thanks for the pin, Selena!
Carolina
Loved this ideas, will definitely try with my 3 year-old!! Thanks for sharing!!
Anna Geiger
Thanks for reading, Carolina!
PlayDrMom
Wow! What great ideas! Thanks for including my dot dabber dice game!
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Laura!
celia will
Thanks Anna for those wonderful dice game such a wonderful ideas . I’m using the dice bingo, roll and count , and candy dice game for my level 1 students.
Lauren
Great ideas Anna! I found you via the ‘No time for flash cards’ linky 🙂
Will definitely try some of these ideas in my classroom.
Anna Geiger
Thanks, Lauren – I hope your students enjoy them!