Here’s a fun little Bird and Nest egg-matching game you can play with a preschooler.
The materials are simple. You’ll need:
- The printable download and instructions (Print the game pieces on cardstock or heavy paper for best results)
- Some miniature foam eggs (warning: choking hazard)
- OR some candy jelly beans (you’ll need yellow, pink, orange, green, blue, purple)
- Dice or a spinner with numbers 1-6
Grandma RaRa created this adorable game and it’s included in our Birdwatching Playdatebox.
It will help your preschooler learn colors, counting, and more. We include colorful eggs with your Playdatebox purchase, but if you didn’t happen to order a box, you can still play because you can download a free copy right here! SweeTarts Jelly Beans happen to come in all of the right colors. Don’t eat your pieces until you finish playing!
Adapting the Bird and Nest Game to your Child’s Abilities
Play the Bird and Nest Game in one of three levels. Play again and again! The game adapts to your child’s developmental abilities.
Level 1:
On this level, you simply turn over one of the colored cards from your stack then move an egg that matches that color into the appropriate bird’s nest.
Level 2:
This time, roll the die with each card turn. Move the corresponding number of eggs into their matching nest. For example, if a “3” is rolled on the die, and a “yellow” card is turned over, move 3 yellow eggs to the yellow bird nest.
Level 3:
You’ll use the double-color cards to play with a partner to see if you can empty one nest of all of its eggs by moving eggs from one colored nest into another. Your colors will get all mixed up.
Once you have mastered all of the levels of the Bird and Nest Game, can you and your child invent a new level for the game? If so, let us know about it in the comments!