DIY Games That Kids Can Make At Home

Kids love games, right? But buying them? That’s a whole other story. What if your kids could whip up their own games using simple stuff from around the house? Imagine the hours of screen-free fun they could have, plus a bit of creativity thrown into the mix. In this post, we’re diving into some easy, low-cost DIY games that kids can make and play at home. Whether they’re getting crafty with cardboard, using recycled bits, or even whipping up a simple treasure hunt, we’ve got ideas that’ll keep them busy (and entertained) for hours.

Let’s jump in!

DIY Treasure Hunt

Ah, the classic treasure hunt—every kid’s dream game! You don’t need to buy a kit or even leave the house to make it happen.

What You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Pens/Markers
• Household items for clues (toys, spoons, books, anything goes!)

How to Make It:
Start by writing up some simple clues that lead to different spots in your house or yard. For example, you could say, “Find me where you brush your teeth” for the bathroom, or “I’m the soft place where you rest your head” for the bed. Scatter little items (or snacks!) along the way for them to collect. Want to add a bit more fun? Turn it into a photo scavenger hunt—kids love taking pictures!

Feel free to get as creative (or as simple) as you want with the clues. The beauty is in how personalized you can make it. You could even hide a grand prize at the end, like their favorite snack or a homemade medal.

DIY Board Games

You don’t need to shell out money for a new board game. Let your kids design one themselves!

What You’ll Need:

• Cardboard or sturdy paper
• Markers
• Dice (if you don’t have any, just use numbers written on paper!)

How to Make It:
Start by letting the kids decide on the theme. Is it a fantasy world? Outer space? An underwater adventure? They can draw the board with different pathways and obstacles. Then, they can make some playing pieces using buttons, coins, or any small household objects.

For extra fun, let them create “challenge” squares where players have to perform silly tasks like “hop on one foot” or “sing a song.”

DIY Card Games

If your kids are feeling particularly inventive, they can make their own deck of cards for a simple matching game or even a custom version of “Go Fish.”

What You’ll Need:

• Index cards or thick paper
• Markers, crayons
• Scissors

How to Make It:
On each card, let your kids draw a picture or symbol. The goal here is to create pairs—like matching pairs of animals, colors, or even family members! Once they have their deck of cards, they can shuffle and play a memory game or something like “Go Fish.” The beauty of this is that they can make the game as simple or as complicated as they like, depending on their age or interests.

Bonus tip: Why not use family photos for a “Guess Who?”-style game?

Outdoor Games: Ring Toss and Obstacle Course

Stuck inside too much? Take the games outside for some active fun with a homemade ring toss or an easy obstacle course.

What You’ll Need for Ring Toss:

• Paper plates (cut a hole in the middle for rings)
• Empty bottles (for tossing rings over)

How to Make It:
Set up your “bottles” at different distances and let the kids toss their paper plate rings. Make it harder by adding points to each bottle, so the further it is, the more points it’s worth.

For the Obstacle Course, all you need is chalk, a few ropes, or other household items like pillows or pool noodles. Use the chalk to mark start and finish lines. Then, set up fun challenges like jumping over a rope, balancing on a line, or crawling under a chair. Kids will love racing through the course again and again. It’s a win-win: they’re moving, and you get a bit of quiet time!

Printable Games: Quick and Easy Fun

Printables are perfect when you’re short on time but still want to offer some creative fun. These games are fast, easy, and need just a printer and some paper.

Popular Printables Include:

• I Spy Games: Print out an I Spy sheet with pictures or words for the kids to find around the house.
• Word Search or Crossword Puzzles: Great for rainy days, and they sneak in some learning, too!
• Dot Games: Simple grid games that keep the kids busy for hours.

No printer? No problem. Hand-draw your own word search or dot game—it’s just as fun and keeps kids entertained longer.

DIY Marble Run

Let’s not forget about physics! Marble runs are not only a blast to play with but also easy to make.

What You’ll Need:

• Cardboard tubes (from paper towels or toilet paper)
• Tape
• Marbles or small balls

How to Make It:
Tape the cardboard tubes to a wall or door, creating a maze for the marbles to run through. Let the kids experiment with different heights and angles to see how fast (or slow) the marbles can go. If you don’t have marbles, small balls or even rolled-up paper will do the trick.

The more creative your kids get, the longer the run becomes. Want to take it to the next level? Add in obstacles like small paper cups for the marble to bounce off!

Sensory Games: Slime and Sensory Bags

For younger kids, sensory games are a hit. They’re easy to make, and they give those little hands something to do.

What You’ll Need for Sensory Bags:

• Ziplock bags
• Hair gel or shaving cream
• Small toys

How to Make It:
Fill the bags with gel or shaving cream and pop in small objects like buttons or toys. Seal it up, and let the kids squish and move the objects around. It’s perfect for toddlers who love the texture but hate the mess.

For Slime, all you need is glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution. Mix them together, and you’ve got yourself a squishy, stretchy game that kids never get tired of. They can even add glitter, food coloring, or tiny toys inside to make it extra special.

DIY Puzzle Creation

Why buy a puzzle when your kids can make their own?

What You’ll Need:

• Cardboard or thick paper
• Scissors
• Magazines, photos, or drawings

How to Make It:
Have your kids draw a picture on a piece of cardboard or glue a magazine photo to it. Once it’s done, let them cut the picture into puzzle pieces. The more pieces they cut, the harder the puzzle! They can challenge their friends or family to put it back together.

Balloon Games: Balloon Tennis or Balloon Pop

Balloons are cheap, and they’re a guaranteed hit with kids. Let’s put them to good use!

What You’ll Need:

• Balloons
• Paper plates and sticks (for tennis paddles)

Balloon Tennis:
Blow up a couple of balloons, hand the kids some paper plate paddles, and let the tennis matches begin. Set up a net (even a rope works!) and have them bounce the balloon back and forth. It’s a perfect indoor game on rainy days and a lot less destructive than regular tennis!

Balloon Pop Challenge:
Write small challenges on slips of paper, pop them into balloons before blowing them up, and then let the kids pop the balloons and complete the tasks. It’s always a fun surprise!

Conclusion

There you have it—a list of easy, fun, and budget-friendly DIY games that your kids can make at home. These games don’t just pass the time; they spark creativity, encourage movement, and, most importantly, keep kids entertained without a screen in sight.

Ready to get started?