Perfect for: Indoors (great for rainy days, quiet weekends, or family nights)
Best for: Ages 7+ (teaches creativity, rules systems, logic, math, and empathy)
Activity Description:
Kids become game designers by inventing their own board game from scratch. They’ll think through everything—from theme and goal to rules and challenges—then build it using craft supplies, cardboard, or recycled items. This activity strengthens creative thinking, rule-making, strategic planning, and storytelling—all while being ridiculously fun when everyone plays it together.
How to Do It:
1. Choose the Theme and Goal
Ask:
- “What’s the world of the game?” (Pirates? Robots? Time Travel?)
- “How do you win?” (Collect treasures, escape a maze, be the last survivor?)
Let them choose something exciting, silly, or epic.
2. Design the Game Board and Pieces
They can use:
- Cardboard, paper, felt tip pens
- Dice, bottle caps, LEGO, paper clips
- Anything they like as tokens, cards, obstacles, and rewards
Encourage adding cool paths, traps, secret shortcuts, or lucky cards!
3. Write the Rules
Help them think through:
- How do you start?
- What can you do on a turn?
- What are the obstacles or challenges?
- How does the game end?
This part builds logic and empathy—they have to think about what’s fun and fair for others too.
4. Playtest and Improve
Play the game together! When things go wrong or it’s confusing, that’s a great chance to fix and improve.
Ask:
- “Was that part too easy?”
- “Did everyone get a fair chance?”
- “Should the rules be clearer?”
Designers learn by seeing their creation in action.
5. Keep It and Share It
Once it’s polished, make a game box, give it a name, and even write a tagline.
They can teach it to friends, play with visiting family, or bring it to school for game day.
This activity builds confidence and teaches kids how to create something others enjoy—a real gift for any future designer, leader, or storyteller.
Type n for your next fun, skill-building activity!
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