Make New Games from Old Ones

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

16 May 2006 04:35 AM

If your kids have played all their existing games so many times that they have grown bored with them, teach children to get creative and make up simple new games using pieces from the old ones. For example, instead of playing a typical game of checkers, your kids can play checkers race.

Checkers Race

Items Needed:

• Checkerboard
• Checkers
• Dice

Instead of having your kids set up as they would for a typical game of checkers, have them sit near the same side of the board. Have each child place four checkers on the back row. One child will place four red checkers beside his or her opponent's four black ones.

Each child will roll the dice once to see who goes first. The child with the highest total begins.

Each child will then take turns, rolling the dice to see how many spaces he or she should move. Children may move one checker at a time, or split the total to move more than one per turn. The object of the game is to reach the other side of the board then go back to return each checker to the starting position before the opposing player does.

Chess Capture

Items Needed:

• Chessboard
• Chess pieces
• Paper
• Tape

Start by having each child make a small flag from paper. In this game, each chess piece will still be moved according to the regular rules. The difference is that each opponent will choose one piece to mark with a paper flag. The object of the game is to capture your opponent's flagged piece. All pieces can be taken during this game, including the king, since the object of the game is not to secure a checkmate. Children will strategize to protect their flag from the opponent. The first player to capture the other player's flag wins.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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