Games You Can Make at Home Quickly to Entertain Under 6’s

Do you find it hard to keep your young children occupied? Hate relying on technology but running out of new ideas? If so, then you have come to the right place.

Discover three simple and fun games that are perfect for kids under 6 that you can easily make at home with only a few craft supplies.

1. Emotions memory game

If you’d like to make an educational and fun game for your little ones, then this is a great choice. Easy to make using just a few simple materials, the emotions memory card game can help to improve their memory skills and develop their emotional intelligence.

All you need to make this game at home is a few pieces of white card, some marker pens, and a pair of scissors.

To make:

• Mark out six squares of the same size on a piece of white card
• Draw a different emoji within each square and write the name of the emotion underneath.
• Repeat on three more pieces of white card.
• Cut out each square and lay them out on the floor facing down.

Alternatively, if you have access to a computer and a printer, you can print out emoji images directly onto the card rather than draw them yourself.

2. Indoor bowling

Visiting a bowling alley can be expensive, but you can easily recreate this fun game at home for a fraction of the cost. All you need is ten cardboard tubes, some poster paints, coloured pens, and a small ball.

To make:

• Paint each cardboard tube in a bright colour and allow them to fully dry.
• Then write the numbers 1–10 on each one in pen.
• Set up the tubes as if they are in a bowling alley.
• Try to hit as many tubes down as possible using the small ball.

If you don’t have a small ball, then a rolled-up sock can be just as effective, or some tin foil scrunched up into a ball.

3. Find the Owl

For rainy days when you’re stuck in the house, this is a great DIY game that can be made in under half an hour. This game involves printing animals on sticky labels then sticking them on cardboard boxes. The adult shouts “Find the Owl” and the child has to move around the box to find the animal.

All you need is access to a printer (or you can draw your own animals), cardboard boxes, and some plain labels.

To make:

• Find a selection of animal images, including an owl, on your computer and save them.
• Place your label sheet into your printer and print the animal images onto them.
• Take a large cardboard box and cover it with the animal sticky labels.
• Set a timer and then see how long it takes them to Find the Owl.

Alternatively, if you have more than one child, then you can do multiple boxes, or you can see who can find the owl first.