Make eight equal-sized paper cards with four pairs of original animal drawings. Begin face up, then turn over two cards per turn if everyone wants a hidden-pair game.
Make a small set that is easy to check
An adult can cut eight broad rectangles from sturdy paper. Keep the cards the same size and leave the backs undecorated so the front picture cannot be guessed from a special mark. Choose four animal names your child already recognizes; the drawings do not need to be biologically detailed.
Draw two matching versions of each animal. For a cat pair, keep the same ear shape and body color on both. Two very different cats may create an interesting conversation, but they make a first matching game harder to explain.
Inspect the cards before playing
Place everything face up and find the four pairs together. If one picture looks too much like another, add a clear feature such as a broad tail or a distinctive color. Check that the paper is opaque enough to conceal the image when turned over. If the drawing shows through, use thicker card rather than pretending the information is hidden.
This is a homemade game, not a test of a child’s ability. Anyone can ask to keep the cards visible. You can also play with two pairs and save the other four cards for later.
Use a cooperative hidden-pair rule
Mix the cards face down in two rows. On a turn, reveal two cards and leave them visible long enough for everyone to look. If they match, put the pair beside the grid. If they do not, turn them back over in the same positions. Work together to find all four pairs rather than tracking a winner.
For example, the first turn reveals a cat and a bird. The next player can say, “I remember where the cat was,” and try to find its partner. Sharing a clue is allowed in this version; it is not cheating because the goal is cooperative.
Change only one rule at a time
When the group wants a change, add one new pair or spread the same cards farther apart. Avoid changing the number of cards, turn rules, and matching criteria simultaneously. A familiar structure makes the new choice easier to understand.
Store the set in an envelope labeled “Four animal pairs.” Count the cards together before putting them away so a missing partner does not cause confusion next time. Make another original set if you want more animals; do not copy a book’s artwork into cards for distribution.
A ready-made animal picture to explore
A coloring book can inspire a separate drawing session, but the matching cards here use your own art. Preview our Baby Animals paperback if your child wants ready-made pages featuring 40 baby animals and short facts. See the actual Baby Animals inside pages, then view the English paperback on Amazon. Current price and delivery are shown there.
For a related activity, explore a different animal game using outline clues.
Illustrative stock photo, not a photograph of this project or our book. Photo by Moussa Idrissi on Pexels, used under the Pexels License.
Explore Baby Animals
See the actual inside pages before deciding whether the book fits your child.
Check the paperback on Amazon