Craft your own games: exciting tips & first ideas

There are many children's games with which you can keep your little ones entertained can. Whether together or preferring to play alone, your children decide for themselves how they want to let off steam through play. It doesn't necessarily require many toys or a big budget, because even with everyday household items or homemade creations, the greatest play ideas put into practice and defeat boredom.

Crafting your own games isn't difficult. Even with just a few materials, creative ideas can be implemented. Particularly popular are useful upcycling craft ideas. Which children's games your little ones enjoy most depends entirely on their interests. Also the age and the already existing abilities should play an important role in your selection. The same applies to your craft projects, in which you implement your favourite game ideas. Therefore you should choose crafts and craft instructions so that they do not overwhelm your children.

Your children will be amazed once they find out how they can change games they already know and give them a personal touch. Crafting and playing means creating effective self-experiences in images, thoughts and actions, which is particularly important for children's development. In the process, social and physical abilities such as the sensory perception and fine motor skills are strengthened equally.

Through the joint crafting and designing of games your family cohesion is strengthened. And the best part: No one can take away this valuable \"crafting, play and family time\" from you!

Practical tips for homemade games & toys

• Set fixed crafting and play times in which you, as a family, focus only on each other. When playing, pay attention to Crafting with toddlers darauf, dass es nicht zu lange dauert. Wenn die Konzentration nachlässt, solltet ihr aufhören und zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt weitermachen.

• Choose play ideas, crafts and instructions according to your children's interests, age and existing skills.

• Start with small crafts and then gradually move on to more demanding and longer projects.

• Everyday household items can be used in upcycling projects to create great games.

• You should choose game instructions appropriate to your children's age.

• Let your children explore the world playfully without interrupting their flow. Give them enough time to get familiar with the play materials.

• If something doesn't work out as you hoped, patience is required. Don't be discouraged and try again. Practice makes perfect!

Materials for making games yourself

To make the best board games yourself, you'll need, besides lots of crafting fun, of course also the right materials and the appropriate tools. To give you a good overview and orientation, we have compiled a list of the most important craft materials. You can make simple paper games with just a few materials. If you want to make more elaborate board games yourself, you may need to get some materials. But you may already have some things at home, in which case you can start crafting right away and implement your creative game ideas!

Basic equipment:

• Blank paper

• Cardboard, cardboard box

• colored construction paper

• tracing paper

• felt

• needle & thread

• wool

• ropes

• craft glue

• hot glue gun

• pens & paints

• finger paints

• acrylic & watercolor paints

• paintbrushes

• craft scissors

• clay & modeling compound

• beads

• marbles

Don't throw away:

• paper plates

• egg cartons

• kitchen & toilet paper rolls

• bottle caps & champagne or wine corks

• mason jars/screw-top jars

• bubble wrap

• PET bottles

• chip cans

Natural materials:

• moss

• pine cones

• acorns

• chestnuts

• wood

• stones

Make games yourself with children: indoor game ideas

Now you probably want to get started right away and make your own games. For example, you can make board games yourself or other games – using paper it's super quick and easy. Just do what you like, as long as you are creative and inventive – from family games, where your skill is required, to social games, which demand everyone's team spirit!

You want to make a few fun games yourself, but are you still missing play and craft ideas? We have compiled great craft instructions and do-it-yourself games for you:

Dice game

Materials needed:

• craft template

• craft scissors

• craft glue

• craft knife

• pens

How to:

1. First print out your craft template and cut out the outline of the cube.

2. Then fold each side once along the lines so you can press them together more easily later. Tip: You can also score the folds with a craft knife so the cube folds more easily later.

3. Now take craft glue and coat the tabs on the three squares with it.

4. Fold all ends together so the tabs can be pressed firmly on the inside. When all ends are glued together, you have a great cube that is just waiting to be used.

5. For your dice game, which is perfect for little children, you only need enough time. Just roll the dice cheerfully and see what to do next together. Whether cuddling, cooking or exploring the world - let the dice roll.

Scent memory

Materials needed:

• empty film canisters (at least ten)

• scent items like foods or plants

• kitchen knife

• blindfold

How to:

First decide which scents you want to use. Everything is possible, from oranges and lavender to lemons or peppermint leaves.

Once you've chosen your scent samples, cut them with a kitchen knife small enough to fit into the film canisters. A scent sample should always be split between two canisters so you have pairs like in classic memory. Tip: You should fill at least ten canisters to be able to guess five scent pairs. Depending on your preference and the age of your children, there can be many more scent pairs.

When all the canisters are filled, close them well and mix them up.

Now it's time to guess: Put a blindfold on your children and let them sniff the canisters. Who will smell the most scent pairs?

Bottle cap duel

Materials needed:

• bottle caps

• acrylic paints

• paintbrushes

How to:

1. First clean the bottle cap lids of dirt. Press any sharp edges inward so your children don't hurt themselves while playing.

2. Now it's your children's turn: Depending on how many teams you want to form, you need different colors. Paint the insides of your bottle caps accordingly.

3. Let your 'game pieces' dry well. Only then can the duel begin.

4. Clear a table for your dexterity game. Now a team may start, with the first player trying with great fingertip skill to push a bottle cap to the edge of the table.

5. Now it's the other team's turn. Here, too, a teammate tries to move a bottle cap to the table edge. The opposing team's bottle caps may be knocked off the table.

6. The team that has the most bottle caps at the table edge at the end wins the dexterity game.

Marble maze

Materials needed:

• cardboard box (e.g. a shoebox)

• marbles

• pencil & eraser

• craft scissors

• craft glue

• utility knife

How to:

1. First draw inside a shoebox how you want to lay out and design the paths for the maze. The width of the corridors should be at least two centimeters. Tip: If you want to make the dexterity game a bit more challenging, you can plan small holes in some parts of the maze. These are cut out with a carpet knife. This task is best done by the parents. During the game, of course, no marbles should fall into them.

2. Then it's time to craft: Cut cardboard pieces into small and large rectangles so that they match the lines of your pre-drawn maze and you can attach your walls easily in your shoebox.

3. When the walls of your maze are cut to shape, attach them one by one with glue in the shoebox. Tip: For especially good hold, you should use a hot glue gun. To prevent your children from burning their little fingers, parents should also take on this step.

4. If you want the maze to shine in different colors, you can do that before the game starts. Paint the box in your favorite colors. You can also draw small details like start and finish on your playing field.

5. Then let your marble maze dry well before you put your dexterity to the test.

6. When everything is dry, you can start. Take turns playing your marble maze. Try to get from start to finish with skill – and as quickly as possible.\n\n

Upcycled 'Mensch ärgere dich nicht' (Don't Get Angry)

Materials needed:

• cloth bags or other older fabrics that can be reused

• bottle lids

• acrylic paints

• fabric paints

• paintbrushes

• felt-tip pens

• ruler

How to:

1. First choose a fabric that you want to design as a playing field. Draw the individual spaces on it with a pen. You can base it on the original 'Mensch ärgere dich nicht'.

2. With a brush and four colors of your choice for all players, you can make your playing field colorful. Individual spaces that are reserved for the tokens of each player can be decorated individually with details. Funny faces or other motifs give everything a personal touch – there are no limits to your creativity!

3. Now it's time to design the game pieces. There should be four per player. Use old bottle lids, which you can nicely paint with acrylic paint. Make sure the colors of the game pieces match the colors of your fellow players' playing fields.

4. Let everything dry well. Only then: on the game pieces and off you go!

5. The rules for your 'Upcycling Mensch ärgere dich nicht' are the same as the original game. All players must move their pieces as quickly as possible from their start space across the board to the finish. It is allowed to remove opponents' pieces from the way so they have to restart and therefore reach the goal more slowly.Idea: By the way, the homemade 'Mensch ärgere dich nicht' is also great as a travel game for on the go.

Make children's outdoor games yourself

Not only can you really let off steam indoors and make board games yourself, but you can also create great movement games, such as tag and throwing games – on a larger playing field, in in all weathers!

To be able to play outside, you naturally need a little preparation. There are many ways, make fun kids' outdoor games yourself. We have compiled the most popular outdoor game ideas with instructions to replicate put together for you. Get started and get creative right away:

Blow racing with cork boats

Materials needed:

• 3 corks

• toothpicks or skewers

• colored construction paper

• empty toilet paper rolls

• craft scissors

• craft glue

• hot glue gun

• laundry tub or a small paddling pool

How to:

1. First heat up the hot glue gun well so you can glue the three corks together with the liquid adhesive. This creates the hull. Tip: Parents should do this step so your children don't burn themselves.

2. Next, attach a toothpick in the middle of your cork boat. For a larger boat you can also use a skewer. Skewers can also be broken into various sizes so you can make smaller and larger boats.

3. For the sail of your ship, cut a square or a slightly larger rectangle out of paper – the exact size is up to you. However, it should be proportional to the hull of your cork boat. Tip: You can also make a sail out of toilet paper rolls. To do this, simply cut a roll lengthwise down the middle. Now you have a longer piece of toilet roll that you cut lengthwise down the middle again. The resulting piece is your sail, which you only need to slide onto the toothpick.

4. When you've cut your sail into shape, push it onto the toothpick at the top and bottom. Your first little cork boat is ready. Make a little boat for all players.

5. Now it can begin: Two players play against each other at a time. Place your two cork boats in a laundry bowl filled to the top with water.

6. At the start signal it's on: Both players must propel their boats to the opposite side as quickly as possible by blowing vigorously. Whoever reaches it first wins. Have fun!

Tic Tac Toe

Materials needed:

• cord

• cardboard

• Blank paper

• craft scissors

• pens

• craft glue

• acrylic paints

• paintbrushes

How to:

1. First make the grid. To do this, tie your cords together so that nine equally sized squares are formed.

2. Before you make your X and circle symbols out of cardboard, it's best to draw them on a white sheet of paper first. Then cut them out and you can use them as a template for your cardboard. This ensures the symbols are the same size and as similar as possible.

3. Now use your templates to draw the X and circle symbols on your cardboard. You need at least five of each. After transferring the templates to your cardboard, cut out the individual symbols.

4. In the next step, paint them with your favorite colors.

5. Let them dry well and then you can start.

6. Whoever first places three of their symbols in a row or diagonally next to each other has won.

Twister on a picnic blanket

Materials needed:

• picnic blanket

• fabric paints

• paintbrushes

• cardboard

• plate

• Blank paper

• felt-tip pens

• craft scissors

• paper fastener

How to:

1. First spread out your picnic blanket and then draw four rows of six circles each. Try to make the circles as equal in size as possible.Tip: You can also use a plate as a template for the circles. Place it on the blanket and trace it with a pen so you only have to fill the circles with color afterwards.

2. Now paint all circles in the first row red, the second row blue, the third row yellow and the last row green.

3. Let the picnic blanket dry well before you start the game. In the meantime, you can make a spinner.

4. For the spinner, draw a circle on a white sheet of paper. Carefully cut it out. Now divide your circle into four quarters. In each quarter draw four small circles in the colors of your Twister game. In the top right quarter write 'right foot' and in the bottom right quarter 'right hand'. Do the same on the left side (left foot top and left hand bottom).

5. To use your spinner, you of course need an arrow. Draw it on cardboard and then cut it out.

6. Carefully insert the paper fastener into the middle of your spinner, then fold it over on both sides on the back to secure it. But not too tight, otherwise you can hardly turn the arrow.

7. Now it can begin. Have fun with your homemade board game!

Ring toss

Materials needed:

• empty PET bottles

• wooden box

• acrylic paint

• paintbrushes

• rope

• rings

How to:

1. First find empty PET bottles. You need up to ten bottles. Rinse them thoroughly before painting them.

2. Paint your bottles in the colors you like best. There are no limits. You can even paint funny faces on the bottles. Note: Depending on the color there are different points – you set these before the game.

3. Let the bottles dry well.

4. In the meantime, build your rings for the throwing game. Take a rope you no longer need. Cut it into several pieces. Tie the individual rope pieces together into a ring. Make as many rings as you need. Depending on the number of players, the number of throw rings may vary.

5. When you have all the game materials ready, you can begin. Put the bottles in a wooden box and position yourselves a few meters away from the box. With a remaining piece of rope you can also mark a start line on the ground.

6. From this line you now try to hit the bottle necks with your rings so that they stay on. Count the points by color for everyone

Bowling with self-designed chip cans

Materials needed:

• 10 empty chip cans

• Blank paper

• acrylic paints (link)

• brushes (link)

• felt-tip pens (link)

• craft scissors (link)

• craft glue (link)

• (soft) ball

How to:

1. First clean your empty chip cans.

2. On a white sheet of paper draw a pin. Cut it out and use it as a template for your cans. With the help of the pin template, trace the outlines onto the chip cans so that you can begin painting in the next step. Now choose your favorite acrylic paints and paint the chip cans with a brush. The areas around your painted pins will be a single color; the pins themselves you design in white with details you can create with felt-tip pens.

3. Let your chip cans dry well before starting the game. Set your chip-can pins in a pyramid formation one behind the other (with the tip towards you).

4. Draw a start line on the ground that no one may cross. From there try to knock down as many pins as possible with as few throws as possible using a ball. Whoever does it best wins.

More ideas for fun garden games

Your own garden is a true play paradise for children. Whether small or large, it only depends on your creative ideas and game instructions in. This way the smallest garden becomes a huge amusement park that can be visited around the clock. Whether running, tag or throwing games – there are so many play possibilities in the garden that boredom doesn't have to arise. We'll tell you how to easily make fun garden games yourself.

Bonus idea: By the way, not only games are possible in the garden. When gardening together gardening with your children everyone can let their creativity run free.

Play ideas for different occasions & situations

Children's games are not only a lot of fun at home. They are also a great activity and distraction on the go – turning waiting times into enjoyable hours without boredom. But not only on the go are games a great activity. Also for special occasions family and children's games are popular. We've put together an overview of possible play situations that you can use as a guide:

Great car games for the road

After weeks of preparation, it's finally time: you're setting off to your outing or vacation destination. Everyone is excited, if it weren't for the endlessly long car ride. To make it a pleasure for the whole family there are fun games that are guaranteed to banish boredom and pesky troublemakers.

We'll show you games you can play right away:

Fun games for kids' birthday parties

A kids' birthday party without games is hard to imagine. Children's games are simply part of a lively birthday celebration with family and friends. They create a great atmosphere and lots of laughs that make your celebration extra special. Look forward to moments that will be fondly remembered for a long time. We've put together for you the most popular game ideas with instructions for the next kids' birthday party compiled.

Image credits

Three children wearing sunglasses playing together © Aboltin - stock.adobe.com

Mother makes Easter bunnies from construction paper with her daughters © gpointstudio - stock.adobe.com

Mother spending time with her children © zinkevych - stock.adobe.com

Asian child holding a strawberry © yoshiji - stock.adobe.com

Craft made from bottle caps © Clarini - stock.adobe.com

Cardboard maze where marbles roll along © poh kim yeoh/EyeEm - stock.adobe.com

Child holding plastic screw caps in hands © Roy - stock.adobe.com

Raft made of corks and twigs, with a paper sail reading 'Paula' © kristall - stock.adobe.com

Tic-tac-toe on grass © nagaets - stock.adobe.com

Children playing Twister © Miljan Živković - stock.adobe.com

Children with plastic rings on their faces and heads © Maria Sbytova - stock.adobe.com

Can of chips in a hand © AndriiKoval - stock.adobe.com

Children playing with homemade kites © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com

Children sitting in a car and laughing © Jacob Lund - stock.adobe.com

Decorated table, children playing in the background © pressmaster - stock.adobe.com