Families don’t all look the same, and that’s exactly what makes them special. This Types of Family Matching Game for Kids is a thoughtful, age appropriate way to help children understand diversity, representation, and acceptance through play.
It introduces different family structures from around the world in a gentle, positive way, showing children that love, care, and connection matter more than labels.
This printable matching game helps children explore many different types of families, from nuclear family households to single parent families, blended families, extended families, and more. It opens up conversations about family dynamics, living together, relatives, parents, and caregivers, while reinforcing that every family unit is valid and worthy of respect.
Whether you’re using this resource at home, in a classroom, or in a therapy or social emotional learning setting, it supports empathy, understanding, and real world awareness in a way children can easily relate to. There are so many kind of families and it’s valuable for kids to see their own reality represented.
How to Play the Types of Family Matching Game
To play the game, start by printing the pages and cutting out all of the cards. Laminating them can be helpful if you plan to reuse the activity or use it with a group of children. Mix all the cards together and lay them face down on a table or floor.
Children take turns flipping over one description card and one illustration card. If the family description matches the picture, they keep the pair. If not, both cards are turned back over and the next player takes a turn. The game continues until all matches are found, and the child with the most pairs at the end wins.
You can also slow the game down and turn it into a discussion activity by reading the description aloud, talking about the family type, and asking children if it reminds them of families they know.
Types of Families Included in This Pack
This resource includes a wide range of family structures and family dynamics, helping children see that there are many common and meaningful ways families live and work together.
Multigenerational Family
A multigenerational family is shown through a child living with parents, grandparents, and extended relatives all in one home, highlighting busy, connected living and shared responsibilities.
Same Gender Parent Family
Same gender parent families are represented with a child living with two moms, focusing on everyday life, routines, and love rather than differences.
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Adoptive Family
An adoptive family is included, showing a child adopted from another country and now living with loving parents, helping normalize adoption as a family type.
Single Parent Family
Single parent families are represented through a child living with just one parent, showing care, stability, and strong bonds even when one parent has passed away.
Extended Family Household
Extended family households show families where parents, children, and grandparents live together, reflecting how common this structure is in many cultures.
Close Knit Extended Family in Neighboring Homes
Close knit extended families in neighboring homes highlight relatives living nearby, sharing holidays, traditions, and daily life.
Non Parental Guardian Family
Non parental guardian families are included, where children live with guardians rather than parents, showing safety and care outside traditional roles.
Blended Family
Blended families show children living with a parent, stepparent, and stepsiblings, helping children understand family changes and new family members.
Grandparent Led Household
Grandparent led households highlight children being raised by grandparents while parents work elsewhere, something many children experience around the world.
Families with Non Biological Guardians
Families with non biological guardians are shown through loving caregivers who are not related by blood but provide stability and care.
Co Parenting Family
Co parenting families show children living between two homes, with loving parents in separate households working together.
Sibling Caregiver Household
Sibling caregiver households represent older siblings stepping into caregiver roles, emphasizing responsibility, love, and resilience.
Nomadic or Traveling Family
Nomadic or traveling families introduce children to families who live and work on the move, showing that home can look different for everyone.
Foster Family
Foster families are included to gently explain temporary care while birth parents work toward reunification.
Nuclear Family
A nuclear family example shows a child living with two parents and a sibling, helping children recognize one of the most commonly discussed family structures.Together, these examples help answer questions children naturally have about kinds of family, different types of families, and what family really means.
We have more than 14 types of family represented within the pack, but you can discuss with the kids how many types of family are there and whether they have any more types of family structures not covered within the pack. It’s great to discuss what is it that makes a family, and how a family can be defined.
What’s Inside the Types of Family in the World Pack
This printable resource is designed to be clear, engaging, and easy for children to use independently or with adult support. It looks at types of family structures and has an example of a family from all different types of family dynamics.
Cover Page
The cover introduces the Families Around the World Matching Game with a warm, welcoming design that sets the tone for learning about acceptance, diversity, and understanding different family types.
Description Cards Page
This page includes all the written family descriptions. Each card explains a different family structure in child friendly language, focusing on daily life, relationships, and care rather than complicated terms. These cards support reading comprehension and introduce important family terms in context.
Illustration Cards Pages
The illustration cards visually represent each family type. Children match the pictures to the description cards, helping them connect real world family structures with visual examples. The illustrations show families living together, spending time with parents, relatives, and caregivers, and taking part in everyday activities.
How to Play Page
The how to play page explains the game rules clearly, making it easy for parents, teachers, and children to understand how to use the resource right away.
Learning Benefits of the Types of Family Matching Game
This activity supports social emotional learning, language development, and early sociology concepts in a very accessible way. Children learn that families can be nuclear, extended, blended, single parent, or something entirely different, and that all family structures are valid.
The game helps build empathy and acceptance by exposing children to family structures they may not personally experience. It encourages respectful conversations about family, parents, relatives, and living situations without judgment.
From a cognitive perspective, the matching format supports memory skills, concentration, and visual discrimination. Reading the description cards also builds vocabulary around family terms and helps children understand different family dynamics.
This resource works well for preschoolers through early elementary aged children, roughly ages 4 to 9, depending on reading ability and how the game is used. It can also be adapted for therapy sessions, small group discussions, and inclusive classroom lessons.
Download the What is Family and Types of Family Game Printable PDF
You can download the full Types of Family Matching Game as a printable PDF. It includes all description cards, illustration cards, the cover page, and the how to play instructions, ready to print and use.
Terms of use: Our classification of family matching game printable pdf is free for personal use and classroom use.
Understanding family structures is an important part of helping children grow into kind, accepting, and confident people. This Types of Family Matching Game for Kids introduces children to many different types of families in the world, showing that love, care, and connection are what truly define a family.
By exploring different family dynamics through play, children learn that there is no single way a family should look. Instead, families are built through relationships, support, and shared life experiences. This resource makes those big ideas accessible, meaningful, and engaging for young learners.
More Fun Activities You May Also Enjoy
If your child enjoyed learning about different types of families through this matching game, there are plenty more activities that build understanding, empathy, and confidence through play.
Exploring family structures, emotions, and everyday life experiences helps children make sense of the world around them while strengthening important social and emotional skills. These activities are designed to be engaging, meaningful, and easy to use at home or in the classroom.
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If you found this activity helpful, we’d love for you to share it with other parents, teachers, or caregivers who might enjoy it too. Sharing this post helps more children see themselves represented and supports inclusive conversations about families in everyday learning.
