Entertaining Kids: Bringing the Board Game Life(R) to Life

If you're alive, chances are at some point you'll be forced to entertain a group of kids. After you run out of hiding places in "Hide and Go Seek," and "Ring Around the Rosie" isn't holding anyone's attention anymore, consider trying some more creative solutions. In this first article of the series, we'll explore the wonderful possibility of bringing your favorite childhood board-games to Life.

You have two great things going for you. First, you already know the basic premise of the game, and second, adapting it is generally easy and cheap. Here are five basic steps of adapting a board game to real life.

1) Pick the Game

You want to choose a game you know well, is fun, and will involve a lot of movement. You're not going for complexity here; in fact, the simpler the better. Remember, competition is key-choose a game that will get the kids excited to win.

2) Adapt the Rules

Figure out how you're going to make the game life-sized. If the game has pieces that move around a board, for instance, you might put out sheets of construction paper to make a path for the players. Or, if the game has players who can get each other out, you might have the kids use soft balls or crumpled up pieces of paper to throw at each other. Make sure you incorporate a clear goal, competition, and some amount of strategy or skill. Again, keep it simple.

3) Prepare the Supplies

Gather cheap materials lying around the house-dice, balls, etc. If you're making a game-board, you might want to consider construction paper for squares, and masking-tape or rope to mark off different areas. If your game needs random things to happen, write down events on notecards, such as "Lose a turn". Set up the entire game in advance so you won't be running around at the last minute.

4) Teach the Game

Go over all the rules, and show the kids how it will be played. Make sure to ask for questions; the kids might point out something you overlooked, and you can make a last-minute decision.

5) Play It