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How to Create a Magnetic Board Game for Kids

Magnetic boards games are convenient for use with children for a few reasons. First, pieces are misplaced less often since they stick to the board. Second, they excellent during car rides where bumpy roads and potholes might send pieces flying with an ordinary board game. Making a magnetic board game for kids has a few additional benefits, most notably that you can personalize the colors to suit each child's preferences.

Things You'll Need

Flat, square piece of wood
Sanding paper
Magnetic paint
Paint brush
Vinyl paint in at least two colors
Pencil
Strong magnet disks

Instructions

- 1
  Select a square, flat piece of wood in the size you want your board game to be. Sand any rough edges and prepare the wood for painting.
- 2
  Paint the top and bottom of the wood with magnetic paint. Allow to dry.
- 3
  Add two more coats of magnetic paint, waiting for each to dry before continuing.
- 4
  Paint the entire piece of wood with one of the colors of vinyl paint and allow to dry.
- 5
  Sketch your board game lightly onto the surface of the paint with a pencil. If you want to create a checkers board, sketch an eight-by-eight grid.
- 6
  Paint in the board you've drawn with vinyl paint in a different color. Allow to dry.
- 7
  Flip the board over and sketch a second board, such as tic tac toe on that side.
- 8
  Paint in the board with vinyl paint.
- 9
  Use strong magnetic disks, such as ceramic magnets, as game pieces. A checkers game requires at least 12 pieces for each side. Paint the disks in opposing colors. These pieces can double for tic tac toe. If you are creating a chess game, paint the chess piece symbols on the tops of the magnets.

Board Games