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22 Aug

Easy DIY Life Size Board Games To Create & Play with the Kids

Gross Motor
Math & 123sAll Ages




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It’s easier than you think to take those sit-still board games and make them life-size to really engage our little wiggle worms!

Little ones aren’t made to sit still; and yet those stationary board games offer so many great lessons like taking turns, counting, and following directions.

While we’re thinking big-scale, be sure to check out how to create a big chalk maze for your preschoolers.

Make your own life size board game for your kids with this simple activity idea that only needs paper, marker, and dice! Or try the outdoor version with chalk and stones!

Supplies for Simple Life Size Board Games

  • Construction Paper & Marker (Indoor)
  • Chalk (outdoor)
  • Dice, Spinner, Deck of Cards, or pebbles (for advancing along the board)

Indoor Life Size Board Game for Kids

This can be adapted to many situations and use a variety of materials, but first let’s start with what I did.

First, I cut construction paper into quarters

Then I wrote a variety of activities on them (leaving some blank).

I asked my preschooler to set up a “board” in the play room like a winding path on the floor.

We rolled a single die, advanced that number of spaces, and performed the activity written on the card.

Voila! You now have a life size board game right in your home to play with the whole family!

Create a life size board game for the whole family to get the wiggles out and learn about taking turns and counting using simple household supplies.

After you’re all done with the game you can save the paper spaces for next time, or recycle them with this simple paint-with-water art.

Download FREE Week of Active Indoor Fun for Kids!

Steps to Make It Your Own Indoor Game

Step 1: Prepare your board!

Use construction paper to create your life size board game spaces.

Make them big enough to stand at least one foot on.

You could also skip the paper entirely and use Uno cards, or make use of your already symmetrically laid kitchen tiles.

Step 2: Decide on the actions.

My next step was to write different activities on each board space (see end of post for a list of ideas).

But you could easily designate activities for each number rolled on a die or each color on a spinner.

Be sure to coordinate your spinner colors with paper colors if you’re going to play this way.

Step 3: Design your board.

Lay out your life size game board as you wish.

Have the kids lay out the design, make it neat, make it messy, add chutes and ladders with painter’s tape, design it after a favorite family game, etc.

You just need to have a clear path.

Create a life size board game for the whole family to get the wiggles out and learn about taking turns and counting using simple household supplies.

Step 4: Determine HOW you’re playing.

Are you drawing colored cards like Candyland and advancing to that color?

How about spinning a spinner or rolling dice for a number count?

Will you be advancing one space on each turn and rolling an activity die to decide what to do?

In general, use what you have and have fun with what you use!

After burning energy with your life-size game, you can then learn how to create small-scale board games.

Outdoor Life Size Board Games

Apply all the same ideas above, but draw it with chalk!

I first picked out some favorite chalk colors.

Next, I colored chalk scribbles across the driveway in a path.

Lastly, it was time to assign an action to each color.

Make your own life size board game for your kids with this simple activity idea that only needs paper, marker, and dice! Or try the outdoor version with chalk and stones!

I didn’t have dice outside with us, and it wasn’t worth the effort of bringing my toddler inside to search for some when I decided to play this (am I right?).

Instead, I picked up some pebbles and we tossed them along the board (hop-scotch-style).

Take your favorite board game and make it life size with this simple idea that works indoors and outdoors for tons of fun with the kids!

Ideas for Life Size Board Game Actions

Here are some ideas to get you started with your own life-size game board!

Gross Motor Activity Ideas

  • race around the house
  • jumping jacks
  • front roll
  • toe touches
  • burpees
  • high kicks
  • arm circles
  • squats
  • lunges
  • spin around
  • high knees
  • calf raises
  • plank
  • dance
  • hops
  • jumps
  • leaps
  • skip in circle
  • side stretches
  • bum/heel kicks
  • star jumps
  • and don’t forget traditional game spaces like “move ahead” or “move back”.

Other Ideas

  • sing a song
  • say the alphabet
  • count to 10 or 20
  • skip count by 2s or 5s
  • find something that begins with the letter …
  • find an object in the shape of a …
  • find something that begins with a “buh” sound
  • say something kind to your brother/sister
  • count the flowers/balls/pillows
  • ask trivia questions, or quiz older kids on spelling words or simple math

What is your favorite family board game for little ones? Comment below and we’ll brainstorm how to make it LIFE-SIZE!

Take your favorite board game and make it life size with this simple idea that works indoors and outdoors for tons of fun with the kids!

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About Emily Onufrak

Emily is the mother of three rambunctious, young boys who love to run, jump, climb, and explore. This music-teacher-turned-SAHM loves to incorporate high-energy activities with her kids, get outside as much as possible, and share her love of reading while trying to survive motherhood in the trenches!

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