Tim's Memory & Matching Games

Animal Memory Game

A classic first memory game: match pairs of friendly animal cards. Add the animal names underneath to sneak in some vocabulary practice.

Why animal cards work so well for young children

Animals are the first category most toddlers name confidently, so an animal deck lets a three-year-old play a real game without needing to read anything. The pictures are distinct enough that early players can hold four or five in mind at once.

Switch on the word labels and the same deck becomes a vocabulary activity: children say the animal name each time they flip a card, connecting the spoken word to its printed form long before they can decode it.

Start with six pairs for preschoolers and work up to twelve. If a game is taking too long, remove a few pairs rather than letting frustration set in.

Frequently asked questions

What age is this animal memory game for?
Ages 3 and up. Use 6 pairs for toddlers, 8 to 10 for preschool, and 12 or more for school-age children.
Can I show the animal names on the cards?
Yes — tick 'Print the word under each picture' in the sidebar.
What paper should I use?
Card stock is best so the pictures don't show through. Plain paper works if you back each card or use the card-back page.

More memory game makers

Memory Game GeneratorEvery card style in one place — pictures, letters, numbers, words and math.Animal Memory GameMatch cute animal cards. A favourite first memory game for preschoolers.Food Memory GameFruit, veggies and snacks — great for healthy-eating lessons.Alphabet Memory GameMatch uppercase letters to their lowercase partners.Number Memory GameMatch numerals to dot patterns to build counting fluency.Sight Words Memory GamePre-K through 2nd grade sight-word pairs for reading practice.Math Facts Memory GameMatch 5 + 3 to 8. Addition, subtraction and multiplication facts.Custom Memory GameType your own pairs — vocabulary, foreign language, anything you like.