These 150 conversation starters for kids are the key to unlocking your child's heart: what's important to her, what has her worried, what she's excited about.

And most important of all, you'll close any distance that's come between you and your child during the day so you both go to bed feeling connected, loved, and happy.

But even when the stack does come crashing down? Giggles all around.

This game is simple enough for young kids to play independently, which is perfect if you need a few minutes to yourself to make an important phone call, take a bathroom break, or sneak a piece of chocolate from your secret stash (I won’t judge).

And unlike some other stacking games for kids that are made with low-quality plastic, these sturdy wooden pieces are made to last. Our copy of this game has lasted through four toddlers! (Side note: This game is made by the same company who makes First Orchard, which my kids also love.)

Note: The regular version of Animal Upon Animal is one of my family’s favorite board games for young kids. But if your child tends to put small objects in their mouth, I recommend starting out with this Animal Upon Animal Junior edition because it has larger game pieces perfect for younger toddlers.

From the Manufacturer

There’s pandemonium on the farm! Who can stack the hen on top of the sheep? And is there any space left for the dog?

This simplified version of HABA’s classic game is made especially for the needs of toddlers and preschoolers. This is a great first game for children to learn the rules and structure of organized play. The game includes two stacking game variations and a cooperative game variation.

This game is also the winner of six prestigious toy awards including the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and Dr. Toy Best 100 Children’s Products.

And the best part? It’s small and portable. You can throw it in your purse or your car for when you’re heading somewhere your child will have to wait a bit, like the doctor’s office or to eat out at a restaurant.

The small tin holding the cards also makes this game a great fit as a stocking stuffer for kids.

Note: The manufacturer says this the Classic edition is for ages 7 and up, but according to several other families (including mine!) most 5-year-olds are ready for this game. For the Jr Animals edition, most 3-year-olds can play and enjoy the game.

From the Manufacturer

Spot It! Classic: Test your observational skills and hone your reflexes with the award-winning gameplay of Spot It!, a game of lightning-fast choices for a group of two to eight players. The game functions on a simple mechanic: fifty-five circular cards, each of which features a number of symbols and has exactly one of those symbols in common with every other card in the deck.

With five distinct mini-games, you can be sure that Spot It! will be different every time you play, and because it’s always your turn, there’s never any downtime!

Spot It! 123: Spot It! 123 adds an educational twist on the family favorite! All of the symbols in Spot It! 123 are a number or familiar shape. With quick, engaging gameplay and multiple variants to play, Spot It! 123 makes for learning fun for the whole family.

Spot It! Jr Animals: Be on the lookout for creatures of the land, sea, and sky! Designed especially for ages 4 to 7, the Junior edition of the popular card game Spot It! features an adorable animal theme that kids love. Play this travel-friendly game five different ways for a new experience every time.

This particular card holder has stood the test of time, as opposed to other card holders we’ve tried!

From the Manufacturer

Give a big hand for this amazing card holder that makes playing card games easier than ever. Put as many cards as you can between the plastic paddles and before you know it, you’ll be playing like a pro!

Plus, the pictures on the cards give you lots of opportunities to say different words and grow your child’s vocabulary!

Note: The cards might be a bit thin for very young toddlers, so some parents laminated the cards to keep them in good condition over many game sessions.

From the Manufacturer

Seek-a-Boo is an engaging way to build your child’s vocabulary and improve memory skills with matching and repetition. Your active child will love moving from card to card, peeking under each “SEEK ME” circle, looking for a match to your “FIND ME” square. Seek-a-Boo has six color-coded card categories that highlight: foods, toys, clothing, colors & shapes, things found outdoors and animals. The interactive parent guide provides instruction for more ways to play; giving flexibility to increase or decrease difficulty for younger, older, or for playing with multiple children. Switch roles, create your own combinations, practice taking turns—the learning and play is endless!

The game has several variations, but our favorite is this: Each player takes turns picking a random card. The first person starts a story with “Once upon a time…” and then on the next turn, the next person uses their card as inspiration to add to the story.

The stories we come up with as a family always leave us giggling. Even my toddler loves to play!

What’s especially great about this game is you have several versions to choose from, and to kick it up a notch you can even mix different sets together.

This game also makes for a fun travel game to take along on road trips or plane rides.

From the Manufacturer

Use this beautifully illustrated visual card set to create your own stories. Recurring characters, locations, and props encourage linking the cards in endless combinations for fresh, new stories every time you play. You can play individually or in a group, or you can make up your own way to play!

Fairytale Mix-Ups: Arrange these charming fairy tale characters, locations, and iconic objects to create logical and/or hilarious tales. Kids will build critical thinking skills when they devise a way to incorporate a fire-breathing dragon and a flask of magic potion into their tale of a clever boot-wearing cat.

Animal Village: Join the animals in this village as they dance, sing, and play.

Mystery in the Forest: Storytellers will find plenty of images to develop a mystery and solve it, too. Will they connect the squirrel eavesdropping on chipmunks with the squirrel hiding golden coins under his acorns? Which happened first?

Volcano Island: Create a story with these fun illustrations of children exploring an island and encountering adventures along the way.

For kids who are learning the alphabet, be sure to check out the Sequence Letters edition for an educational (but fun!) game.

From the Manufacturer

Sequence for Kids: It’s the classic game of Sequence made just for kids! Play an animal card from your hand, and place your chip on the corresponding animal on the board. Wild cards add excitement to the game – use a unicorn card to place your chip anywhere, or use a dragon card to remove an opponent’s chip. The first player with four chips in a row wins! This exciting strategy game helps develop logical thinking skills. Reading is not required to play.

Sequence Letters: Kids will have fun playing the great game of Sequence while learning the letters of the alphabet! Players sound out the letter on their cards, match it to the beginning sound of a picture on the game board, and then place a chip there. Each card features a letter of the alphabet in upper and lower case. Colored squares on the cards and game board help with faster recognition. When you have 4 of your chips in a row, you’ve got a Sequence! Dot your ‘i’s’ and cross your ‘t’s’…it’s the way to learn your ABC’s!

WARNING: Choking Hazard – Contains small parts not suitable for children under 3 years.