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How to Create Your Own Picture Game

If you're trying to teach your toddler or preschool-aged child to recognize basic shapes, letters, numbers or everyday objects, design a simple board game that will make learning exciting and entertaining. Combine basic craft supplies like cardstock and stickers with your own photos or images clipped from recycled magazines to create a game that allows your child to learn and play at the same time. Let your child complete the activity with other children or play alone just for fun.

Things You'll Need

8.5-by-11-inch cardstock
Paper trimmer
Glue stick
Letter stickers
Markers
Pen
Number stickers
Photos of family members and objects
Figurines, plastic discs, buttons or coins

Instructions

- 1
  Design the picture game board on an 8.5-by-11-inch piece of cardstock. Make the game spaces by using a paper trimmer to cut 15 2-inch squares of cardstock in a color that contrasts with the game board. Use a glue stick to affix the squares to the game board in three rows of five squares---center the squares on the cardstock, leaving space between the squares so they're not touching.
- 2
  Use letter stickers to create the word "start" on the upper-left square and "finish" on the lower-right square. Write "move ahead two spaces" and "move back two spaces" on two random spots on the board with colorful markers. Embellish the rest of the squares with pen doodles.
- 3
  Create the picture game cards by cutting a third color of cardstock into 80 3-by-5-inch cards with a paper trimmer. Adorn 26 of the cards with individual letter stickers. Decorate 20 of the cards with number stickers from 1 to 20. Affix photos of family members or objects such as foods, animals and shapes to the remaining cards with a glue stick.
- 4
  Gather objects to use as game pieces such as toy figurines, plastic discs, buttons or coins.
- 5
  Begin the game by putting the game pieces on the "start" square and letting one child draw a card. If the child can name the object in the picture, she can move ahead two spaces. If you have to ask the child a question like "Is that a cow or a cat?" the player only moves ahead one space for getting the answer right. Players move back one square for incorrect answers, and the first child to reach the "finish" square wins.

Kids Games