Gift Wrapping Idea: “Make Your Own Game”

Games have become quite fun at home now that our children are beginning to understand many of them and the strategies that go along with them.  They are a great opportunity to develop social skills as well-whether it be turn taking, working cooperatively to reach a goal or respecting another person’s ideas.  The children like giving games as gifts for friends, schoolmates etc. and we add a “Make Your Own” component to encourage the child’s own creativity. 

Materials

• Muslin bags
• Fabric Dye or food colouring/shallow dish
• Deck of cards, dice, bingo chips, game markers, spinners, play coins, egg timer etc. (You could choose any or a combination of these items often found at educational and dollar stores, whatever you like for game components)
• Notepad, small pencil (optional)
• Ribbon
• Print-out of gift tag MakeYourOwnGame (with multiple copies for future use) or letter stamps/permanent stamp pad

Directions

• For an adult: Dye the bottom of muslin bags with fabric dye.  Follow the directions on the dye and be sure to use old containers (like a clean yogurt tub) and rubber gloves. Cover any surfaces that may come in contact with the dye (including under where you hang them to dry).  With a child: Dye the bottom of the bags, using diluted food colouring.

• Once you have let them dry overnight, you can then stamp onto the bags “Make Your Own Game” using letter stamps and a stamp pad intended for fabric.  We provided a simple tag should you like to use that instead.

• Fill the bag with a deck of cards, dice, bingo chips, game markers, spinners, play coins etc.

• Include a little notepad and pencil for them to write down and/or draw illustrations of how to play the game they create.

Purpose

• Encouraging creativity
• As many games use various math concepts such as probability, addition/subtraction (moving your pieces) they are a great way for kids to engage and apply their skills
• A meaningful opportunity for writing- if they write down the instructions and see others follow them, this gets them seeing the value of communication.

Safety Notes

• Many of the materials suggested (dice, bingo chips, play coins) are choking hazards, therefore they are not recommended for children 0-3.  Be sure to store the materials in a safe space.