The ‘Find the Matching Cats’ game

About the game

Hidden amongst 32 cute kittens are 16 matching pairs. But finding them isn’t so easy: one kitten differs in its tail, another in its paws, ears or clothes. Who will be the first to spot all the differences?

The child searches for matching pairs, carefully comparing each cat. What appears to be a simple matching game turns into a real test of attention to detail.

Every pair found is a small victory that inspires the child to look for the next one.

In the set

• 32 cat figurines (16 pairs)
• a cardboard storage box

How to play

1. Lay the cats out on the table.
2. The child looks for two matching ones and pairs them up.
3. The game ends when all 16 pairs have been found.

Where to start

Start with a few pairs that are clearly different, and then add cats that look very similar to one another.

Game variations

• Speed game: who can find all the matching pairs first?
• ‘Describe the cat’: one player describes it, the other searches for it;
• Make up a story about the cats’ adventures.

What children can practise

• attention to detail and visual memory
• comparing and spotting differences
• language skills (describing things in words)
• playing in a group

Who it’s for

Children aged 3 and over; at home, at kindergarten, or during lessons with a teacher.

Material

Wood-based board (pressed wood), bright print.