Preschool bingo

Why 3×3 picture bingo fits preschoolers

3×3 picture cards keep a preschool game short and easy to follow, even for kids who can't read yet. Each square shows a picture with its word underneath. There is no picture-only option, so the word is always there for kids who are starting to notice letters.

By default, the center square is a free space, which leaves 8 squares to mark. That makes a fast game. Here's what our simulation found (10,000 decks per setup, 100 games each, with 40 items and 30 players):

• 3×3, free space, 8 squares to mark: the first bingo came after a median of 4 calls. In 18% of games, 2 or more kids won on the same call.
• 4×4, no free space, 16 squares to mark: the median was 11 calls. 2 or more kids won on the same call in 17% of games.

We suggest 3×3 for ages 3 to 5. Try 4×4 when you want a longer game with 5-year-olds.

Bingo games preschoolers can play

The best preschool bingo uses something your class is learning right now. Type one of these themes into the game description on this page. They're prompt ideas, not official word lists:

• Everyday things: cup, shoe, ball, spoon
• Colors: a red apple, a yellow sun, a green leaf, a blue cup
• Shapes: circle, square, triangle, star, heart (see shape bingo)
• Farm animals: cow, pig, hen, horse, sheep
• Food and snacks: apple, banana, carrot, bread
• Things that go: bus, bike, boat, train
• Weather: sun, rain, snow, cloud, rainbow
• Letter of the week: for B, try ball, bus, bear, banana
• This week's book: the animals, places and objects from the story

For letter games, check each picture in the preview before you print. Tap any square that shows the wrong thing, and redraw it. You get 10 redraws per set. Licensed characters are never drawn. If your description names one, the whole set stays words only, so describe the book's animals and objects instead.

Use your own vocabulary

You can also describe your own theme or paste this week's word list. The app writes the items, then shows them before any picture is drawn. On "Check your list", you can rename or remove an item, tap "+ Add", or ask it to "Suggest 6 more items".

Aim for 30 items or more for a class of 30. If your list is too short, the app tells you how many cards it can make.

Items come out in the language you write in. Describe the game in Spanish, and the list comes out in Spanish.

Can a 4-year-old play bingo?

Yes, with a few changes: pictures instead of numbers, a 3×3 grid, and an adult who shows each picture while calling it. The child only has to find a match on a small card.