Board games, handmade, a good alternative to ready-made products. Their key advantage is the ability to come up with a craft for a specific request. They vary in size, color, characters.
Games for two children
Joint games improve family relationships. This has been proven by psychologists. From improvised materials, entertainment is created that is not inferior in quality to factory-made options.
Walkers
Games for two are interesting due to the excitement. Participants fight for leadership in a friendly and cheerful atmosphere. You can occupy your free time with the help of "Walker". This game involves walking along a paper field of figures controlled by people. One of the versions of this game can be made with your own hands.
To do this you will need:
- 2 sheets of Whatman paper.
- Glue or double-sided tape.
- Colored marker.
- Ruler.
- Small pictures with a space theme.
- Scissors.
- Gouache in blue, violet, light blue colors.
- Paint brush.
- A glass of water.
- 2 chips that the players will move. Based on the theme of the plot, it is better to choose astronaut figures. You can cut them out of paper or take ready-made ones.
- Cube for games.
Pictures for the game are chosen based on the theme of the plot for it. In the presented master class, participants will conquer space. Therefore, the passage is built on this plot line.
Selecting images for the game and their designation:
| Picture | Its importance in the game |
| Black hole | If it hits, the player goes back several moves. |
| Planets | Choose pictures of each planet separately. While playing with the child, tell him the name of the celestial body. Thanks to this, the child will study space in an easy and unobtrusive way. |
| Asteroids | If the player lands on this picture, nothing threatens him. He will simply wait there until the other player's turn. |
| Galaxies | The galaxy can be divided into several pictures. For example, the Milky Way. When the player gets to it, he is explained that he is now traveling through this galaxy. |
| Rocket | When hitting it, the player is transported several moves forward. |
| Planet Earth | This will be the starting point from which players will begin their journey. |
| Space station | The final point of the journey. |
You can invent any board games with your own hands. For "Space Walker" different pictures will do. For example, comets. Don't forget to think of what they will mean.
When everything is prepared, we begin creating the game:
- 2 Whatman papers are glued together into one large piece of paper. Use tape or glue.
- They paint a panorama of space on canvas with gouache. They simply mix the colors and paint the white space with careless strokes.
- Cut out pictures. They can be printed or taken from magazines or newspapers.
- Lay out the pictures on the Whatman paper. Come up with a plot that the characters will follow. First, put the starting point, and start laying out the pictures from there. It is better to put the picture of the black hole at least 5 moves from the start. When the plot is ready, glue the pictures.
- Use a marker to draw arrows. From the black hole a few moves back. Where the rocket is, draw an arrow forward.
When the game is ready, you need to explain the rules to the child. They take turns throwing the dice and walking around the space field. The goal is to get to the station, the end point of the journey, as quickly as possible.
Tic Tac Toe
A simple but no less interesting game of tic-tac-toe can become even more exciting. Paper and pen are not used for this. They are replaced by homemade products.
You can make a game from the following set of materials:
- Whatman paper.
- Bright narrow ribbon.
- Hot glue.
- Round, flat stones (can be replaced with other available materials).
- Permanent marker.
Additionally, you will need scissors.
To create a game, do the following:
- The playing field is cut out of whatman paper. Its size depends on the person's preferences.
- The tape is cut into strips. They are needed to mark the cells on the field.
- Glue the tape onto a piece of Whatman paper so that there are 9 empty fields.
- Crosses and zeros are drawn on the stones with a marker.
When the game is ready, you can invite a second participant. The advantage of this option is its variability. Stones can be replaced with pictures of flowers and butterflies; apples and pears. Both paper and fabric options are used. If the child is small, it is better to take textile products. They will last longer.
Find a pair
DIY board games are made from items that most often end up in the trash. To create “Find a Pair,” you’ll need a lot of yellow Kinder Surprise jars. The more of them, the more difficult the game level.
For the simple version of "Find a Pair" you will need:
- 10 jars.
- 5 pairs of objects that will fit inside the jars (one in each). These can be paper cutouts (2 of each): cherries, strawberries, raspberries.
- Scissors.
- Bag for jars.
- Any box with sides. This could be a chocolate candy container. The side does not have to be high. The main thing is that it prevents the yellow jars from falling out.
Game creation:
- They cut out pictures from paper.
- Place the pictures in the yellow boxes. One in each. There should be 10 jars with filling.
How to play:
- They put the jars in a bag.
- They shake the bag.
- The jars are poured out onto a field made from a box.
The first player chooses 2 jars and opens them. If there were 2 identical pictures inside, he takes them for himself. Repeats the move. When different images appear, he returns them to the field. The move passes to the other player.
You can collect the jars in a bag each time and shake them up so that the player does not remember their location. Instead of papers, you can use pebbles and buttons.
Bouncer
This game is similar to football.
To create it you will need:
- 2 rubber bands.
- A box with low sides. The bottom should be level, without any differences. It is better to take a container from chocolates or shoes.
- A picture of a playing field (perhaps a football field).
- Chestnuts. 10 for each player. Total: 20.
- Glue.
- Scissors.
- Paints, brush, glass of water.
- Awl.
Step by step creation process:
- A picture of the playing field is glued to the bottom of the box with sides.
- Mark the chestnuts with paint. 10 of them are highlighted in red, the rest in blue. You can use a different palette.
- Using an awl, make two holes opposite each other at the edges. Pull the elastic through them. Pull it tight, like a string. To prevent it from slipping out, make knots that do not go through the hole.
- Repeat step #3 from the other end of the box. You should have 2 stretched rubber bands, one on each edge of the field.
When the field is done, they start playing. Distribute the chestnuts among the 2 participants. The players place them on their halves of the field. They take turns knocking the chestnuts out onto the opponent's zone using a rubber band. They start timing. The winner is the one who throws as many objects onto the competitor's field as possible. You can knock out someone else's chestnuts with your own.
Games for kids
Board games for kids can be made with your own hands. Store-bought options may not be suitable for various reasons: inappropriate for age, too heavy attributes.
Therefore, the game is made taking into account the individual characteristics of the child. If he likes cars, then a plot with them is invented. This will allow to captivate and interest the child.
Logical game "Associations"
The leading activity for children is play. It is used as a teaching and development tool. You can make the fascinating and educational game "Associations" yourself. It will be interesting for children aged 3+. If the child is active, then they play it with two-year-olds.
To create it use:
- Whatman.
- Glue.
- Scissors.
- Pictures. They are printed or cut out from magazines and newspapers.
The advantage of this game is the variety of subjects. It is allowed to choose to study animals and their young, relationships in nature, seasons. The proposed version of the craft uses the theme "Transport".
For this, prepare the following pictures:
- Bus + large crowd of people.
- Combine harvester for field work + bakery products.
- Dump truck + sand.
- Crane + building blocks.
- Airplane + sky.
- Water carrier + water.
With the help of these pictures, the child will not only learn the names of transport, but also their functions.
The game is made as follows:
- Pictures of transport are glued onto Whatman paper.
- The remaining pictures are laid out on a sheet of paper next to the Whatman paper.
Invite a child. Throw a cube or any other object onto a piece of paper. Look at where it lands. Based on this, ask the child to find a picture that matches this transport. For example, if the cube lands on an airplane, you need to choose the sky. This means that this transport can fly.
Hit the glass
An interesting and simple game to develop your eye.
To create it you will need:
- 3 paper or plastic cups.
- Acorns or chestnuts. 10 pieces per person.
- Double-sided tape or hot glue.
- Candy box. Any other container can be used if necessary. It will serve as the base of the game, its field.
- A picture to stick on the playing field. It should imitate a basketball court. Another option is to draw it yourself on a sheet of paper and then stick it on the field.
Creation process:
- A picture of the playing field is glued to the base of the box.
- A cup is glued into the middle of the field.
The game proceeds according to the following scenario:
- Each player is given 1 cup.
- Chestnuts and acorns are placed in the players' cups: an equal number for each.
- Players take turns throwing acorns and chestnuts into the cup.
The one who throws the most objects into the glass on the field wins.
Snake
This game can be played by one or two participants. Thanks to this activity, finger motor skills develop.
To create the game you will need:
- Album sheet of paper.
- Paints or marker.
- Chestnut.
- If there are several players, then all materials are taken in double version.
Making of "Snake":
- Place a sheet of paper vertically in front of you.
- From the bottom point of the sheet to the top, draw a curved line. You can make it any way: zigzag, wavy.
The shape of the line depends on the child's motor development. For children whose hands are just learning to hold a pencil, draw a straighter line. When this is done, the game begins. To do this, place a chestnut at the beginning of the line.
The child's task is to move the object with his finger. The condition is that the chestnut must move strictly along the line. If two people play, the winner is the one who manages to bring the object to the edge of the sheet first.
Repeaters
To create this game you will need:
- A sheet of thick paper.
- The pictures are in pairs (2 hares, for example).
- Glue or double-sided tape.
- Scissors.
- Scotch tape is transparent.
Creation process:
- Pictures of the game characters are cut out. An important condition is that they must be the same size.
- They glue the pictures onto sheets of white paper.
- The cards are laminated using adhesive tape.
They play as follows:
- The pictures are laid out on the table with the white side up.
- The participant needs to find 2 identical pictures. There are 2 attempts per move. If a person does not guess in 1 move, the pictures are turned over to the white side up.
Then the second participant tries to find paired images. There is no need to swap the cards. The child will develop memory.
Who lives in the house?
Board games are made with your own hands and for the development of logical thinking. One of them is "Who lives in the house". This game develops attention and intelligence in children.
To create you will need:
- Album and cardboard sheet.
- Glue or tape.
- Scissors.
- Markers or paints for drawing.
- One-size pictures: zebra; tiger; crocodile; peacock; giraffe. Choose any images, adhering to the rule: the color of the animals must be special, characteristic only of this species.
Creation process:
- Draw a house with a window on a sheet of paper. You can glue a picture of the building.
- Cut out a window so that a small opening appears. Its size is approximately 4x4 cm.
- Glue a sheet of paper with a house onto the cardboard. The structure needs to open and close. It can be made using the principle of a postcard.
- Cut out images of animals.
They play as follows:
- Take 1 picture. For example, a giraffe.
- They are placed inside a paper structure so that part of the animal is visible through the window.
- Ask your child to guess who lives in the house based on the color.
The child, guided by the color visible from the window, will guess the inhabitant of the house. If he named the correct answer, the structure is opened, showing him the animal.
To make the game more expressive, the cardboard sheet can be decorated with a home interior. When the album sheet is lifted, the child will see not only the animal, but also the colorful interior.
The butterflies are lost
This game helps kids remember colors better.
To create you will need:
- A sheet of Whatman paper.
- Paints, brush, glass of water.
- Scissors.
- Pictures of butterflies (you can draw and cut them out yourself).
- Ice cream sticks.
- Glue.
Game creation:
- Draw a meadow on a piece of Whatman paper. It is mandatory to make 5 colors: blue, yellow, red, orange, pink. It is allowed to use a different palette. The main thing is that the colors do not repeat.
- In the color of the buds, butterflies are drawn on a separate sheet of paper or ready-made images are used.
- They cut out butterflies.
- Butterflies are glued to popsicle sticks. Their wings are raised slightly so that they don't look flat.
When everything is ready, a drawing paper with a picture of a meadow is placed in front of the child. They tell him that the butterflies have lost their flower houses. The task is to return the insects to the buds. The child needs to find houses in the color of the butterflies' wings.
Games for schoolchildren
Board games can be made with your own hands to expand children's horizons. The plots are based on new information that schoolchildren may have difficulty absorbing in class. Thanks to this, memorizing the material is easy.
Find by description
This game helps children to master the theme of nature, space, historical events. You can create entertainment for any request. The example shows the creation of a game on the topic of "Animals".
To create you will need:
- Sheets of paper.
- Pictures of animals.
- Glue.
- Scissors.
This game is designed to develop erudition, thinking, memory. Much attention is paid to the preparation of cards. Therefore, they decide on the plot, and only then make cards for the game.
For the topic "Animals" you will need:
| Picture | Text for the picture (will be on a separate card) |
| Lion | A large animal. Belongs to predators. The fur is short with a yellow tint. Males have a long mane. |
| Monkey | This is a mammal. Its body structure is very similar to that of a human. |
| Giraffe | Lives in Africa. The animal has long legs and neck. |
| Crocodile | Lives in warm countries. Refers to aquatic reptiles. Large in size. |
| Zebra | African horse with striped coloring. |
| Jackal | Refers to predatory animals. Canine family. Eats carrion. |
| Antelope | Belongs to the family of bovids. Even-toed ungulate, ruminant. |
The suggested list is approximate. The more cards, the more interesting the game. When compiling, it is important to use a real description of the animal. This will allow the child to form a correct idea about it.
Game creation:
- Cut out the pictures and descriptions for them.
- Glue pictures and text onto different pieces of paper. There should be an equal number. For example, 5 animals and the same number of separate cards with their descriptions.
The essence of the game:
- The animal cards are laid out on the table, face up. There is no need to hide it.
- The cards with the description are laid out next to each other, but in such a way that the text is not visible to the players.
- Players distribute the sequence of moves.
- The host asks the first player to draw a card with text (any).
- The participant takes a card and reads the text to himself.
The player's task is to find a picture of an animal that matches the description. If the participant chooses correctly, the host gives him one point. Then the next player guesses.
Journey
This game will help schoolchildren quickly remember the habitats of living creatures on the world map.
To create you will need:
- Whatman.
- Pencils or paints for drawing.
- Pictures with animals: elephants, ostriches, tigers, camels, bears.
- Scissors.
To choose the right pictures, you can use a regular reference book with a description of the animal world. There are illustrations that clearly show the habitat of each living creature.
Creation process:
- A map of the world is drawn on paper. The following areas are highlighted in different colors: South and North America, Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, Antarctica.
- Cut out small figures of animals from paper.
It is important to consider that there are creatures that live on several continents. For example, crocodiles. Therefore, there should be several of their images.
The game is played according to the principle of who can guess the most animal habitats. The figures are laid out on the table. Players take turns choosing one and guessing its location on the map. In case of the correct answer, the participant gets 1 point. The winner is the one who scores the most points.
You can make the game more difficult. This will make the choice of the picture random. To do this, laminate each image with tape. This will make it more wear-resistant.
Then put the cards in an opaque bag. Players will take turns pulling pictures out of the bag. If a participant does not guess the location of a living creature on the map, he returns it back to the bag.
Tips for Making DIY Paper Games
Useful tips:
- For walking games you can use figures made from chocolate eggs (Kinder Surprise, for example).
- It is better to laminate paper fields and objects with tape. This will make the game last longer.
- When coloring the game board, it is better to use waterproof markers. Gouache can start to crack over time. This will spoil the appearance of the image.
- Before drawing on the paper field, make a sketch. This will help you avoid mistakes.
- If there is not enough tape and the cards need to be laminated, use multiflora (files). Place the paper inside them, cut out carefully along the perimeter, and seal the edges with a piece of transparent tape.
Board games made with your own hands will brighten up your free time. They not only have fun with them, but also develop the child's thinking. Games for erudition, didactic or logical - come up with any plot. This is the main advantage of crafts over purchased products.
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