Make your Own Board Game for Kids

The last time I saw Miss T, just before our shelter-in-place edict, I had been toying with creating a customizable, make-your-own board game. By the time she arrived after school, I had worked out the general idea.

While not fully formed, we played the game. And we had fun.

You can take the time to make the board game the way I did, taping together a bunch of colored squares. But if you’re too busy, simply grid out squares on a big sheet of butcher paper. And instead of consequence cards, handwrite the information directly on the squares.

The Concept

This make-your-own board game consists of 3-inch squares, five across and six rows deep. The object is to get from the first square on the bottom left, to the last square on the top left, traveling in a zig-zag pattern, from row to row.

You and your child decide:

• The objective. That is, where do you want to go?
• What are the obstacles to getting to your destination?
• How can you to get to your destination faster?
• What could be major setbacks?

Laying the Groundwork

First, select the mode of transportation: Miss T and I decided to make this a driving game, so for individual markers, I cut out car silhouettes from cardstock with my Cricut machine. Alternatively, you could find car images online. Or you can use Matchbox-size toy cars.

Next, decide on your destination: Where will we go in our car? Miss T and her family had driven to Los Angeles a few times before, so the drive was familiar. We selected that destination.

Now determine the challenges and the opportunities: What set of circumstances would make the journey go faster? And what would be some hinderances? Assign positive and negative repercussions and print them on white squares that will serve as consequence cards.

Examples Miss T and I brainstormed:

Negatives (lose 1 turn):

• Bad traffic
• Stop for lunch
• Police stop
• Flat tire

Positives (take an extra turn)

• Full tank of gas
• No traffic
• Green light
• Eat in car instead of stopping for lunch

Major setbacks (go back home)

• Forgot to close the garage door
• Forgot suitcase

This game could easily be about a fantasy airplane trip. Or a trip to the zoo or going to grandma’s house.

An easy game to play is Treasure Hunt. Just hide cryptic clues and provide a treat.

How to Make the Board Game

Materials Needed:

• 30 (3-inch) squares, cut from bright-colored cardstock
• 12 (2-inch) squares, cut from white cardstock
• Car cutouts or Matchbox-size toy cars
• Scotch tape or other clear tape
• Scissors
• Dice (one die preferable) or five slips of paper numbered from 1 to 5

First, make the board: I used my Cricut machine but you can hand-cut your squares. Use tape to attach the colored squares, creating a board that’s five squares by six squares.

Next, make your consequence cards: Type or handwrite your consequences (the challenges and opportunities above) on the white cardstock and cut into 2-inch squares. If you do this on a computer, type out the consequence and create a 2-inch square block around each one. If you handwrite, grid your cardstock into 2-inch squares with a pencil and ruler and write a consequence in each square. Cut out the squares.

Now, make numbered cards: Numbered 1 to 5, you will draw from this stack to determine the number of squares you will travel for each turn. You can use dice, instead.

Finally, arrange the white squares: Work with your child to arrange the consequence cards on the game board, any way you like.

Play the Game

Take turns throwing the die or draw one of the slips of paper to determine how many squares you can travel on each turn. Every time you land on a consequence card, you will gain an extra turn, lose a turn, or go back home.

Travel begins on the bottom far left square and travels in a zig zag pattern to end up at the top left square. The person who gets to the destination first is the winner.

What Kids Learn from this Activity

This homemade game can while away an hour or so to entertain housebound kids. The beauty of this board game is that you can customize it to the child’s experiences and interests.

Kids learn to:

• Identify a goal and analyze the challenges and opportunities to reach the goal.
• Use imagination to create their own fun.
• Create variations on a game, thinking up their own customized versions.

Sign Up!

Don’t forget to sign up for my email newsletter. Every Wednesday, I’ll give you a new idea for an activity or insight to nurture the little ones in your life.