How to Create a Homemade Board Game with Your Kids

We love board games! We love being creative! We love arts & crafts! So, creating a homemade board game is an amazing activity that lets our kids’ creative juices flow and keeps everyone engaged. It’s incredible how quickly they come up with ideas while I sit there, staring at the components on the table, wondering where to start. My youngest, for example, created an entire game about the Grinch who moved around the board stealing presents. We worked cooperatively as elves to grab the presents and deliver them to Santa. It turned out to be a surprisingly decent game!

If you’re looking for a fun family project that combines imagination, creativity, and teamwork, this is a perfect way to go. Here’s how you can get started and make your own homemade board game with your kids!

Step 1: Get Inspired by Existing Games

Start by opening up a few of your old or unused board games. Take a look at the different components: boards, pieces, cards, dice, etc. You can pull inspiration from these to create your game.

Ask your kids questions like:

• “What type of game do you want to make? A race, a mystery, or something completely different?”
• “What theme do you want? Fantasy, holiday-themed, adventure?”
• “Do you want to be competing or working together?”

It’s amazing how quickly they come up with ideas! Let them take the lead on brainstorming — it’s a great way to watch their imaginations unfold.

Step 2: Create the Board

You don’t need a fancy, pre-made game board to get started. In fact, making one yourself can be half the fun!

• Decide the layout: Is your game going to be a race around the board (like Monopoly or Candy Land)? Or a quest (like a treasure hunt or adventure)?
• Draw it out: Use paper, cardboard, or anything you have available. Draw paths, spaces, or any obstacles your game might have. You can even add some extra elements like traps, bonus spaces, or shortcuts!
• Personalize the design: Use markers or crayons to decorate the board. If your game has a theme (e.g., a Grinch game), make sure your board reflects that with holiday colors, pictures of the Grinch, or Santa’s workshop.

The beauty of homemade board games is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it! If your child is into drawing, let them handle the design of the board, and if they’re not, help them with the details.

Step 3: Design the Pieces & Cards

This is the part where the creativity really shines. If you’re using pieces from other games, you can repurpose them for your new creation. Or you can get creative and design your own!

• Game pieces: Use small toys, beads, buttons, or even LEGO pieces as your game tokens. You could also make your own pieces by drawing and cutting out characters on cardboard, then attaching something like a paperclip to keep them standing.

• Cards: If your game needs cards, create simple action or chance cards. For example, “Move forward 3 spaces,” “Lose a turn,” or “Go to Santa’s workshop.” Get creative with your card designs by adding drawings or fun descriptions.

Step 4: Establish the Rules

Once your board and pieces are ready, it’s time to lay down the rules. This is where you can get involved to make sure everything works smoothly.

Start by asking:

• How do players win? Do they reach a destination on the board first, collect items, or complete a mission?
• What happens when players land on certain spaces? Do they draw cards, face challenges, or help others?
• What’s the objective? Are they racing to the finish, collecting items, or solving a puzzle?

Let your kids help write or come up with the rules so they feel part of the entire process. The best part is that you can adjust the rules as you play to make the game even more fun or challenging.

Step 5: Play the Game!

Once everything is ready, gather around the table and give the game a try! Take turns explaining how it works, and remember, the most important thing is to have fun.

Be sure to encourage your kids to play with their newly created game often. Over time, they may want to tweak the rules or make new additions. The beauty of making a homemade board game is that it’s a living project — there’s always room for improvements and upgrades.

Conclusion

Making a homemade board game is an incredible way to engage your kids in a creative, hands-on project that also provides hours of fun. Not only will they get to express their creativity, but it’s a great way to spend quality time together as a family. So, gather up your old games, get your craft supplies, and let the imaginative journey begin!