Games that are free, or don’t cost much:
- Deck of Cards (or two for more complex games): With one deck of cards, there are hundreds of games that are fun for the family! Try googling these games: rumi, kings in the corner, spoons, play or pay, hearts.
- Dice: Also so many games you can play with dice!
- Bingo Dice: Make a set of bingo cards by creating a grid of lines (5×5, or more) and write random numbers between 1 and 12 (for two dice, or add more dice for more variation). Leave four squares blank, and make those black or put stars in them-free spots! Take turns rolling the dice, or designate one player as the ‘game host’, Whoever makes a full line first, wins!
- Thrift Stores, Buy Nothing, Marketplace: You can almost always find board games that are low cost or even free! Ask around – even if a few pieces are missing, a little imagination can replace them!
- Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of items to find, and whoever finds them first, wins! (You can add a bonus item for extra points, knowing that if you don’t make it first, you win nothing–including the bonus!) Come up with a prize that doesn’t cost much, or anything, for the winner. Hugs, a compliment, a foot massage, winner gets to choose one of next week’s dinners, winner doesn’t have to do one of their chores next week, etc.
- Name Five things: Everyone writes three topics down. One person picks a topic, and has to name five things in that topic, within 15 seconds. (For example- desserts that have chocolate-chips in them, sports that use a round ball, things that are blue, types of trees). Keep score by number answered per person.
Great Games to Play on Zoom:
Even if you aren’t in the same room, there are lots of fun games to play virtual! Here are a couple:
- Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of items, go find them, and bring them to the screen! (Tip: Make sure the list has a story or interest behind it, like: Your favorite _, three things in the _ of your _, your most interesting _, something you love that is the color _, a poem/book that you hated, your most recently acquired item, the last photo you took, etc)
- Name Five things (above) – but type them in chat, and then use a random number generator!
