Activity: Invent a Board Game – Then Play It Together

Perfect for: Indoors (kitchen table, floor, or whiteboard)

Best for: Ages 6+ (teaches creativity, logic, strategy, art, rule-making, and storytelling)

Activity Description:

Design a brand-new board game from scratch. Kids decide the theme, objective, characters, rules, and twists—then build it using cardboard, markers, dice, and little toys or tokens. It can be silly, serious, strategic, or story-based. Afterward, everyone plays it together. This builds problem-solving skills, game design logic, storytelling, and patience—plus, it’s really fun.

How to Do It:

1. Choose a Theme and Goal

Ask:

• “What’s this game about?” (Space pirates? Time travel? Saving the planet? Candyland with a twist?)
• “How do you win?” (Collect points, reach the end, escape a trap?)

Let them name the game something exciting, like Treasure Trek or Race Through the Volcano.

2. Create the Game Board

Use cardboard or paper to draw the playing area. It can be:

• A path with spaces and challenges
• A map with zones to explore
• A spiral, maze, or branching route

Encourage use of color, drawings, arrows, and symbols. Let them decorate with stickers or cut-out paper items.

3. Decide on the Rules

Help them think through things like:

• How do players move? (Dice, cards, spinners?)
• What do spaces mean? (Safe zones, traps, power-ups?)
• Are there action cards or battles?
• Can players help or sabotage each other?

Write the rules down clearly, like a real game manual. This strengthens logical thinking and clear communication.

4. Make Game Pieces

Use LEGO people, pebbles, paper tokens, or even homemade mini figurines from clay or foil. Let them personalize each one.

Optional: Add chance cards, “mystery boxes,” or mini-games within the game.

5. Play-Test and Improve It

Now it’s time to play! Let them spot any rules that don’t work and change them. Ask:

• “What part was most fun?”
• “What should we make harder or sillier?”
• “How can we improve the next version?”

This teaches iteration and adapting ideas—key life skills.

Need another powerful, playful idea next? Just type n!