Your Child Will Learn
The logic involved in making a board game, counting
Here’s What to Do
- Have several simple board games set up around the room (like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders). Invite families to play the games for 10 minutes.
- Tell kids it’s their turn- now they get to make their own board game. Give families a few minutes to brainstorm ideas for their new game. What will it be about? What are the rules?
- Give families time to make their games. They can make the game board on poster board and playing pieces out of paper. Hand out dice, or have families make spinners out of paper plates, fasteners, and paper clips.
- Give families some time to play their games. Then, ask an adult from each group to share a bit about the game they invented. Allow families to take their games home.
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Smile and do a big stretch together before settling into this activity
ENGAGE
- Suggest ideas for the game by saying, “I know you like…maybe you can create a game based on it. I can draw the spaces, then you can add all the other art.”
- Ask your child how the players will move around the board. Will anything happen that makes them lose a turn or move backwards? How will they know how many spaces to move forward or backward?
ENCOURAGE
- The game may not be logical or make sense, so keep the focus on playing and having fun.
- When playing the game, encourage your child to count the number of spaces they need to move.
REFLECT
- “Was the game we invented any fun? How can we make it better?”
Not Quite Ready
Focus on playing existing board games until they get the hang of it.
Ready for More
Ask your child to invent a card game.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will begin to understand the logic of board games, and practice math skills like counting and beginning addition and subtraction
Time to Complete
45-60 minutes
Materials Needed
Paper, cardboard, drawing and coloring materials, scissors, glue, tape, dice small toys or objects, for spinners: paper plate, brad fastener, paperclip