21 Free, Printable Memory Matching Games for Kids
Whether you call it Concentration or Memory, Matching Pairs or something else completely, playing a matching memory game is one of the best first games to teach a young child, and this collection of 15 free, printable matching games for kids offers a great place to get started!
Our list of free printable memory games for kids includes matching card games for lots of different learning themes, seasons and holidays so there is a matching game for everyone! All of these matching game printables make perfect memory games for preschoolers, and older kids too.
Simply choose your set of memory cards from the list, print, cut, and you are ready to play!
What are the benefits of playing matching games with kids?
With a deck of matching pairs cards and just a few simple game rules you are set to help your child develop observational skills, visual discrimination, memory and concentration – to name just a few of the benefits of this great, first game.
A memory matching game is a also a wonderful way to teach children important game playing skills such turn taking, and through regular game play with older role models young children will also learn how to be a gracious winner…and loser!
Depending upon your choice of cards, memory matching games can also reinforce learning about a range of concepts such as colour recognition, letter names or sounds, counting, number recognition, alongside improved vocabulary and even reading skills. We have included details of all of our free, printable matching game sets below, many of which help to develop these important learning concepts.
Children from the age of 3 years can start playing these matching pairs games, and they are perfect for preschoolers and kindergarten aged children.
RELATED: 10 Kids Memory Games to help improve memory, concentration and thinking skills.
How to Play Concentration or Memory Card Game
Playing the concentration card game is easy! Once your children learn the rules they will be able to set up and play these matching games independently.
Once you’ve chosen your set of memory cards, shuffle the cards well and spread them face down across the table.
Players take turns to turn over two cards, searching for a matching pair. If the cards selected are a match, the player keeps the matching pair and takes another turn. If they are not the same, the cards are turned back over in the same location and play moves to the next player.
Once all cards have been matched, the player with the most pairs wins the game.
21 Free Printable Memory Matching Games for Kids
Chose from this list of fun, free, memory game printables that your kids will love.
Cupcake Memory Matching Game
This adorable cupcake memory game printable is a fabulous challenge for developing visual discrimination skills, great for kindergarten age children.
Monster Shadows Matching Game
This fun monster matching game is another great challenge for visual discrimination skill development. Kids will love the challenge of matching each of these cute monsters with their very individual shadows!
Opposites Memory Game
This free printable opposites pair matching game is a fun way to revise learning about antonyms with preschool, kindergarten and first grade children.
Fruit Memory Matching Game
Your kids will love this fun, tutti fruity, fruit memory matching game with both pictures and words. Free to print and easy to play.
Garden Matching Memory Game Cards
Play with pictures or pictures and words! This garden themed matching game is great for Earth Day, Spring, growth or gardening learning themes.
Alphabet Memory Matching Game
Choose from 5 fun matching game suggestions to get your preschooler or kindergartener playing with beginning letter sounds.
Just for fun: Try this Alphabet Matching Snack for a tasty treat!
Printable Feelings & Emotions Cards
Concentration/Memory is just one of eight game suggestions included with these printable emotions cards.
Emoji Emotions Matching Cards
Inspired by the super popular emoji craze, these emotions matching cards are great for inviting discussion about big emotions with young children, and a fun memory game to play.
Winter Animals Matching Pairs Game
These cute Winter animals memory cards make working on visual discrimination skills and concentration so much fun!
Yoga Poses Matching Game
For concentration with a physical challenge, print two copies of our yoga poses cards to play a memory game. When a player matches a pair they can perform the body shape challenge shown on the cards.
Star Wars Memory Game
May the Force be with you as you attempt to outplay your opponent with these cool Star Wars character matching pairs game cards.
Counting Matching Game 0 to 20
Use this matching game printable to develop counting and number recognition skills with preschool and kindergarten age children.
Times Tables Memory Matching Card Game
This times tables memory card game is perfect for reinforcing learning multiplication tables with students in grades 3 to 6.
Compound Words Matching Game
This memory matching game has a fun vocabulary twist! Develop vocabulary skills by forming compound words with pairs of cards.
Holiday Matching Card Games
These free printable memory matching games are a great way to include a little extra learning into holiday celebrations, and a fun game to play at holiday parties and get togethers.
Halloween Matching Game
Have fun playing memory with these not-so-spooky, free printable, Halloween matching cards!
Halloween Pumpkins Matching Cards
Download our free Halloween Pumpkins Matching Cards Game for a not-so-spooky way to develop visual discrimination skills.
Easter Egg Matching Cards
Learn to match patterns with these great Easter egg cards. Play a memory matching game or try one of the three other game options for these cards.
Easter Matching Game
Explore all the colours of the rainbow while playing this fun Easter Matching Game with your toddler or preschooler.
Chinese New Year Matching Game
Celebrate Chinese New Year with this fun set of memory cards. The kids will love learning about Lunar New Year while working on concentration skills.
Christmas Nativity Matching Game
Reinforce learning about the Christian origins of Christmas with preschool, kindergarten and first grade children with this set of nativity matching game cards.
Snowflake Memory Matching Game
This Winter Snowflake Memory Matching Game is trickier than many in our matching games collection as players need to be on the lookout for subtle differences between the game cards to find the matching pairs of snowflakes.
RELATED: These Logical Thinking Games for Preschoolers are sure to get them thinking!
Printing Instructions for Matching Games
Click on the link for the memory game you wish to download and print. This will open a prompt for you to save the PDF to your computer. For best results, download directly to a computer, not a phone or tablet. Open the PDF and print the pages you require. When printing, select “Fit to printable area” (or similar) to ensure the page fits with your printer type and local paper size (these have been created at A4 size). I suggest printing onto card stock or matte photo paper. Most of the card sets include a backing sheet. Flip and then re-insert your printed pages into your printer to print onto the reverse side. Cut apart the printed cards and then laminate for durability.
Having trouble accessing or downloading the file? Please try a different internet browser.
Please note: All Childhood 101 printables are for personal use only, you may not use any part of this content for commercial purposes-that includes selling the document, giving it away to promote your business or website, or printing the file to sell. You may not share, loan or redistribute these documents. Teachers may use multiple copies for students in their own classroom.
