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The Best Printable Matching Cards for Playing Memory Games With Preschoolers

This set of 9 printable matching card games is instantly downloadable in PDF format and will make a great addition to your memory game collection in class or at home.

There are a variety of matching pairs of images in various themes, as well as colours, numbers and shapes, that are perfect for preschool and kindergarten-age children.

Here is a peek at the 9 printable preschool matching games:

Memory card games

How to Prepare the Cards

  • Choose the sets of cards you’d like to print.
  • Print two copies of each page to make pairs of matching cards.
  • Print it onto cardstock or poster board paper so that it is durable and also so that you don’t see the pictures from the back.
  • Optional: laminate the pages to make the cards last even longer.
  • Cut out the individual cards.

How to Play the Memory Game

  • This game can be played with 2 or more children.
  • Choose how many pairs of matching cards you would like to play with – young children can start with 3 or 4 pairs, and older children can go up to 24 pairs.
  • Lay them all face down and shuffle them.
  • Players take turns turning over two cards at a time.
  • If they match, the player keeps the cards.
  • If they don’t match, the player must turn them face down again.
  • In the end, the player with the most pairs of cards wins the game.
  • Playing with toddlers? Shuffle and lay all the cards face up, and let toddlers find the matching pairs.

Benefits of Playing Memory Games

Here are just a few of the skills that playing memory games improves:

  • Visual memory
  • Visual discrimination
  • Attention span
  • Fine motor coordination
  • Social skills – turn-taking and cooperation
  • Matching
  • Vocabulary
  • Shapes, colours and number concept

Printable Matching Games

Here is a look at all the matching games in the printable PDF:

1. Fruit Memory Game

12 picture cards of various fruits:

Printable preschool matching game - fruit

2. Shape Memory Game

12 picture cards of two and three-dimensional shapes:

Printable preschool matching game - shapes

3. Ocean Memory Game

24 picture cards with ocean-themed images:

Printable preschool matching game - the ocean

4. Fun Things Memory Game

12 picture cards of children’s toys:

Printable preschool matching game - fun toys

5. Colour Memory Game

12 picture cards of different colours:

Printable preschool matching game - colours

6. ‘Things That Go’ Memory Game

24 picture cards with transportation-themed images:

Printable preschool matching game - transport

7. Number Memory Game

9 cards with dots representing the numbers 1 to 9:

Printable preschool matching game - numbers

8. Bugs Memory Game

12 picture cards of various bugs:

Printable preschool matching game - bugs

9. African Animals

24 picture cards of animals, reptiles and birds found in Africa:

Printable preschool matching game - animals

Click below to get your copy of the matching cards:

Printable memory games

Here are more memory games for children as well as the top classic games for preschoolers.

Images of 4 sets of matching card games. Text reads: 9 free sets! Printable matching games for preschoolers.

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