School Supplies The Best Flashcards for Kids That Make Learning Fun By Deanna McCormack Deanna McCormack Twitter Deanna McCormack is a beauty, parenting, and lifestyle writer who has written for Bustle, Byrdie, TheEverymom.com, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 06, 2022 Fact checked by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Verywell Family / Danie Drankwalter Flashcards are a great instructional tool for kids of all ages and can help them to hone the skills needed to excel in school and beyond. Flashcards cover commonly practiced topics like colors, shapes, math facts, and vocabulary and can also be used for more abstract skills like sign language and emotional intelligence. The best flashcards are age-appropriate, cover a variety of concepts, and have fun designs to keep kids engaged. While most flashcards are simple in concept, some include extra games and supplementary online experiences to extend the learning. Other important features to look for are easy-to-read fonts, durability, and if they come with a storage solution (ideally, they will fit in the box they come in, but some boxes can be flimsy). We researched popular options for kids of all ages with these features in mind. Here are the best flashcards for kids, by age and category. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Think Tank Scholar Preschool Flashcards Bundle at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Preschoolers: Melissa & Doug Smarty Pants Preschool Card Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Emotional Intelligence: Brybelly Emotional Intelligence Flashcard Game at Walmart Jump to Review Best for Toddlers: Mudpuppy Little Learner Ring Flashcards at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Big Kids: Trend Enterprises Multiplication and Division Three-Corner Flashcards at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Sign Language: Carson Dellosa Education American Sign Language Flashcards at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Basics: Carson Dellosa Education World of Eric Carle Colors and Shapes Flashcards at Amazon Jump to Review Best Variety Pack: Playskool Flashcards Variety Pack at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For FAQ Why Trust Verywell Family Best Overall Think Tank Scholar Preschool Flashcards Bundle 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon View On Thinktankscholar.com This award-winning sight words bundle from Think Tank is a great bang for your buck. The set is made for kids aged 2 to 6 years old and has five decks, each with 36 high-quality coated cards that stand up to hours of play. The five decks—alphabet, first words with opposites, colors and shapes, numbers and counting, and rhyming—are designed for different levels of learning. Each set gives your child a solid foundation for more complex concepts like reading, writing, spelling, and math. They are designed with a bolded font that's easy to read and detailed pictures. For parents and caregivers, the Think Tank Scholar Sight Words Bundle includes 30 teaching methods, 30 fun learning games, a color wheel, shape index, and letter and number charts for easy reference. In addition, the Think Tank website offers more educational games that can be played with the cards. Price at time of publication: $30 The 9 Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers Best for Preschoolers Melissa & Doug Smarty Pants Preschool Card Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Melissaanddoug.com Choosing flashcards for your preschooler isn’t as easy as you might think. Pre-K aged children may get bored with simple pictures and numbers but aren’t quite ready for math and reading. This flashcard set from Melissa and Doug is a perfect in-between option. It’s filled with mini illustrated activities like seek-and-find games and focuses on open-ended questions, logic puzzles, and conversation starters. The Melissa and Doug Smarty Pants flashcard set contains 120 extra-durable glossy cards, each with multiple activities. The stack stores easily in a fun plastic "smarty pants" case. Designed to inspire kids to become excited about learning, the fun questions on every card are age-appropriate and the pictures are colorful and creative. Price at time of publication: $17 Best for Emotional Intelligence Brybelly Feelings in a Flash - Emotional Intelligence Flashcard Game Walmart View On Walmart It’s never too early to begin the conversation with your child about feelings. Dealing with emotions can be complicated and a lot for little brains to tackle. Parents love the Brybelly Feelings in a Flash flashcard game because it introduces young children to a vocabulary of feeling words, like excited, hurt, afraid, and frustrated, and encourages a strong foundation of self-awareness. The set, which includes 50 open-ended scenario cards and 50 emotion face cards, is made for kids ages 6 years old and up but can work well for pre-K aged kids too. On the back of the cards there are easy coping strategies for your child to try, like “When I feel grumpy, I can get some rest.” The character illustrations on each card are fun and colorful. Price at time of publication: $25 The 9 Best Educational Toys for 4-Year-Olds of 2023 Best for Toddlers Mudpuppy Little Learner Ring Flashcards for Kids Amazon View On Amazon View On Mudpuppy.com Made for children one year old and up, The Little Learner Ring Flashcards from Mudpuppy are a popular choice for toddlers because they feature simple, high-contrast artwork that keeps young kids engaged. The pictures are cute and easy for little ones to identify. The concepts are simple and help young toddlers to practice sorting, matching, and recognition. The set comes with 26 double-sided cards that are sturdy, easy to wipe clean, and perfectly sized for little hands. These cards are also great for travel and taking on-the-go due to a toddler-safe, re-closable plastic ring. You won’t lose these cards, even with toddlers! Price at time of publication: $13 The 11 Best Toys for Fine Motor Skill Development of 2023 Best for Big Kids Trend Enterprises Multiplication and Division Three-Corner Flashcards Amazon View On Amazon View On Trendenterprises.com Flashcards aren’t as popular for older kids, but if you find the right set, they’re an easy way to practice and improve skills like math. The Multiplication and Division Three-Corner Flash Cards are super useful for kids age 8 to 11 years old. These uniquely shaped triangular cards provide a creative way for big kids to learn the relationship between multiplying and dividing. For an affordable price, these 48 double-sided cards have 240 equations and a simple set of rules—cover one corner and try to solve the equation. They’re made to be easy to hold, have more of a game-like feel than your traditional flashcard, and can be used solo, in pairs, or even with a group. Price at time of publication: $13 Best for Sign Language Carson Dellosa Education American Sign Language Flashcards Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Wayfair For kids of all ages, sign language is a great skill to learn and has been proven to help with speech development. Simple signs can even act as a way for babies and toddlers to express themselves before they know how to speak. The Carson Dellosa American Sign Language Flashcards can encourage your young child to effectively communicate. For ages 4 and up, the set includes 105 glossy flashcards with 122 ASL signs and colorful illustrations. The cards cover the alphabet, numbers, animals, basic words, feelings, and more. They can be used to review and memorize for study or incorporated into a play and learn the game. Price at time of publication: $8 Best for Basics Carson Dellosa Education World of Eric Carle Colors and Shapes Flashcards Amazon View On Amazon View On Office Depot Let’s face it, kids' flashcards are most popular for basic skills like words, colors, and numbers. For a fun card set, parents love the World of Eric Carle Colors and Shapes flashcard set. The cards are brightly colored and feature artwork from the world of Eric Carle. The set includes 82 cards that cover simple skills like colors and shapes. They have rounded edges for easy flipping and are part of a larger collection of skill-building cards. Use them in your classroom or at home for cute and fun learning! Price at time of publication: $10 Best Variety Pack Playskool Flashcards Variety Pack Amazon View On Amazon View On Sears.com If you’re looking for a complete set of flashcards for well-rounded learning and play, the PlaySkool Flash Cards Variety Pack is a bestseller among parents of toddlers and pre-K aged kids. The cards come packed in a convenient carry case with a handle and include 4 card packs to learn about the alphabet, first words, shapes, colors, and numbers. This variety pack of colorful cards is perfect for words, color, and picture recognition, a building block for reading later on. Price at time of publication: $10 Final Verdict New learners that are on their way to preschool will benefit from the well-rounded Think Tank Scholar Preschool Bundle, as it touches on most of the topics they will learn in school. For bigger kids that are trying to master more complex math concepts, Three Corner Multiplication and Division Cards turn hard-to-understand problems into an enjoyable game. What to Look for in Flash Cards for Kids Age-Appropriateness One of the best things about flashcards is that they’re a great instructional tool for children of all ages at any learning level. However, you want to ensure you purchase flashcards that are appropriate for your child's skills, abilities, and developmental level. Flashcards may feature colors, math, vocabulary, shapes, numbers, and more, allowing you to use them for a wide range of learning needs. While it may feel most sensible to buy flashcards geared towards your child’s grade level, you want to consider their actual learning level. It’s best to start with where they are academically, whether they are a little behind and need help catching up, or are ahead of the class and need a challenge. Concepts Depending on your child's developmental stage, they may need to sharpen different skills. Whether you want to reinforce their knowledge of the alphabet or help them develop their emotional intelligence, there is a flashcard set out there to help them. Flashcards are designed for many different educational categories, like shapes, math, vocabulary, and so many more. You know your child best and can determine what areas they could use a little extra help with (you can also check with your child's teacher). Once you’ve determined the areas that need special attention, you can then check out flashcards based on those categories. Kid Appeal The beauty of flashcards is that they make learning feel like a fun game. It’s no secret, though, that flashcards can sometimes feel repetitive and not as fun as other activities. Choosing cards that are colorful, fun, and engaging can help encourage your little learner to actually want to use them. For example, if your child is working on their colors, check out flashcards that are simple, yet eye-catching, like the Carson Dellosa Education World of Eric Carle Colors and Shapes Flashcards (view at Amazon). The simple but unique design won’t overwhelm your child and they can still have fun while learning. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of flashcards? Flashcards can be an effective way for your child to learn everything from shapes and numbers to sign language. Flashcards are a great way for education to be engaging and fun. While they can often feel repetitive for children, there are flashcards out there that can help keep a child’s mind working hard. Look for colorful and engaging sets that are eye-catching. At what age should you start using flashcards? While some flashcards are available for babies and toddlers, school-aged children should be using flashcards to learn things such as vocabulary. Babies and toddlers might enjoy the contrast, colors, and pictures, but they won’t learn from flashcards the way a school-aged child will. What are the best ways to use flashcards? The first step to using flashcards is to look for a set that is exciting and creative which will keep your child’s mind engaged. You can make it into a low-stakes game so that it doesn't get too repetitive or exhausting for your child. The more playful you are, the less pressure it takes off your child to perform well. Why Trust Verywell Family Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and creative consultant based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She enjoys working with startups and regularly covers product launches in the lifestyle, beauty, and motherhood space. She has a 3-year-old son and an infant daughter and is the co-founder of Loonie Kid, a Canadian clothing company for kids and toddlers. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit