How to Make Up a Game at Home

Choose a game category. Several categories exist, including "board games" "action games," "performance games," "hiding and finding," "following directions," "guessing," "judging," "races," "individual goals," "team goals" and "tag."

Develop the game's overall goal based on the category you selected. In a performance game, for example, if the objective of the game is "guessing," the overall goal of the game may be to guess what cartoon character, song, or movie a participant acts out or describes. The goal of a race may be to collect the most number of objects (such as fruits or rocks) within a certain period of time. In a "judging" game, the goal may be to see which contestant draws the most accurate rendition of a movie star, cartoon character or person your know.

Develop rules for the game. In a guessing game, for example, require players to work in teams or as individuals, and limit the time that players have to guess the character being described or acted out. In a race, consider instituting a penalty if racers cross the starting line before they are supposed to. If the game is a "hiding and finding" game, require players to find hidden objects in order, according to a map that you develop.

Choose the equipment you need for the game. In the example of guessing cartoon characters, decide what props are acceptable. If players are making drawings to describe a character, each team (or individual) needs a canvas and markers. In a race with racers working in teams of two, include props to add to the challenge, such as sacks for them to race in. If the game category is "following directions," limit the amount of time a direction is followed and penalize players for looking at each other while following those directions. Looking at other players would be considered cheating.