{Sponsored}
In just a few weeks, my son will finally get a week-long break from school. Spring Break is always a joy for us because we get to spend time together while receiving some reprieve from the busyness of our hectic daily schedule. I’ll admit that because our weather has been so nice, we’ll likely spend lots of time outdoors. But I also like to have some engaging indoor activities on-hand when my kids need a bit of downtime. Since we’re a board game-loving family, I thought I’d take some of the felt I picked up at Walmart and put together a few DIY Felt Board Games.
As a little girl, my mother and I often played board games together since I was an only child. My children love this opportunity to play together as a family and the academic benefits are numerous, including “number and shape recognition, grouping and counting skills, letter recognition and reading, visual perception, color recognition, eye-hand coordination, and manual dexterity (Scholastic).” Board games also teach my children concepts such as rules, taking turns, and cooperation. While we have a ton of board games here at home, I thought it might be fun for us to make up our own games (including the rules). What is nice about felt games is that they last. So many of my childhood board games fell apart because they were made of cardboard.
We decided to make two different felt board games. The first is a spring version on the classic Tic Tac Toe and we’ve changed the rules up just a bit to make it interesting for my son. The second is a simple matching game with 2 different types of play (easy and medium).
Here is what you’ll need for these easy DIY Felt Board Games:
- Felt
- Straight edge
- X-acto Knife
- Felt Stickers
- Glue
Spring Tic Tac Toe:
1. Use a round bowl to cut out a circle for the center of the flower
2. Glue circle into place
3. Use felt butterflies and flowers to play
Game Play:
- Each player receives 5 butterflies or flowers (in the same color).
- Each player takes a turn by placing his/her flower/butterfly on one of the flower petals.
- In order to place a flower/butterfly in the center, he/she first needs to have in place 2 flowers/butterflies next to each other.
- Each player can place “bump” a flower/butterfly in the center position by placing 2 flowers/butterflies next to each other.
- The player who successfully places 3 flowers/butterflies either next to each other or directly across from each other, wins.
Animal Matching:
1. Using an X-acto knife and a straight edge, cut out 3×3 inch square boxes in 3 colors
2. Adhere 2 matching animal stickers to each of the 3 colors
Game Play:
- Each player takes a turn by flipping over 2 squares.
- If a match is made, that player can continue an additional play.
- If a match is not made, both squares must be flipped back over and the next player takes a turn.
- Easy: This option is great for younger players and simply involves having them find matching animals, regardless of color.
- Medium: This option is idea for older, school-aged children and involves having them match not only the animal but the color of the square.
My kids had as much fun “making” these games as they did playing them because they were involved throughout the process. We also involved them in making up the rules, something that was easier for my school-aged son than it was for my preschool-aged daughter. We’re already dreaming up new ideas for felt board games.
How do you tame boredom during Spring Break? Have you ever made your own board game? I’d love to share your ideas in the comments below!
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Cute ideas. I will be making a few of them.
Omgoodness! You are a genius. Seriously. There isn’t too much that I love more than beautiful and functionable toys for kids. 🙂
What a fun activity and wow, your kids are getting big!! Crazy how time flies!
Hello Caryn, I came across your site doing some reaserch for my post. Since your post is about diy felt board games, I would like to share a felt game I recently made. Please, let me know your insight.
Agnes