Key Matching Game

This Homemade key matching game is a fun way for kiddos to work on their colors, shapes, numbers, matching skills, and fine motor skills all in one!

18 month old sitting on the floor playing the homemade key matching game555

I had originally bought these keys for something entirely different. When it didn’t work out, I knew I had to come up with some fun activity to use them for. My first thought was to make a “driving” game of sorts to stick them into, and then I realized they were not only different colors but had individual shapes and numbers too!

Here’s an Amazon link to the keys we have: LINK. They’re like $5. I am not currently earning from Amazon, just helping you out!

materials for making a key matching game

How I made the Key Matching Game

I found a cardboard box. Nothing fancy, just a box we had something shipped to us in. Then got a piece of paper to fit it. I think I found an oversized piece and cut it to fit. My box is bigger than your average printer paper, but it doesn’t need to be this big. I made it to fit the box I had on hand.

Then, I drew 5 shapes on the paper that matched the shape and color of each key.

After that I numbered them in the same way that the keys are numbered and wrote the word KEYS nice and big across the top.

Once I was happy with my artwork, I placed it on top of the closed cardboard box and used packing tape to completely cover the paper. This attached it to the box and laminated it, minimizing wear and tear later.

With the entire top covered in tape, I used my big kitchen scissors (a knife might have worked better) to poke a hole vertically into the center of each shape. Stabbing and then rocking back and forth made the hole wide enough for the keys to fit through.

And that’s that! The key matching game is done!

This was a super easy game to throw together, and both W (18m) and J (4y) have enjoyed it equally.

This is perfect if you have a play area that accommodates varying ages. I have even caught J helping W figure out which keys go to which colors a few times. I love seeing that kind of interaction between them.

For younger toddlers this is primarily good for