Rainy Day Games

Fun for All the Family

There are a wide range of rainy day games to keep children entertained. Some great ones to play, even with younger children, are board and dice games. They are easy to set up (and pack up!) and have simple rules which are easy for young children to follow. Different games will help children with either the alphabet or counting, or sometimes both. Both styles of game are good for all the family and are a great way to spend time together (away from the tv!).

Other suggested rainy day games include Card Games, Puzzles and Traditional Parlour Games which are also fun for all the family, at home or on holidays.

Board Games

Scrabble

Recognised as the world's most popular word game, Scrabble is popular with adults as much as it is with children. It is more suited to older children but can be played as a learning tool for younger kids. You can play in pairs, one adult with each child, with the adult lending a helping hand with spelling when necessary. A perfect rainy day game as it can fill a whole afternoon or even be put aside to finish another day.

Players- Two to four if played individually, more if played in pairs (younger children)
Duration- About an hour
Equipment- Scrabble board, letters, tile racks and pouch.

The game consists of the Scrabble board, 100 tiles each marked with a letter, four tile racks and a letter pouch. Each player randomly takes seven tiles from the pouch and places them on the tile rack. Each player then draws one more tile from the pouch to determine who will go first. The player with the letter closest to the start of the alphabet begins the game. Players each have a turn to make a word using their own tiles, and one (or more) tiles on the board. Words can be created horizontally or vertically and it is generally a good idea to keep a dictionary handy as there are usually disputes over the validity of words (especially with children playing!).

Snakes and Ladders (Chutes and Ladders)
Players- Two or more
Duration- Half an hour or less
Equipment- Board, die, four coloured counters.

The board has coloured squares counting from one to one hundred with snakes and ladders scattered around the board. Each player throws the dice and moves the corresponding number of squares along the board. By landing at the base of a ladder the player ascends up the ladder, but by landing at the top of a snake (chute) a player must slide to the bottom. Play continues until a player is able to land exactly on the number 100. If a player throws a number that takes them beyond 100 they must count back the extra digits, thus landing back on square 98, 97 etc.
The game is won when a player lands exactly on 100.

Dice Games

Aces in the Pot
A good family rainy day game that requires luck rather than too much skill.
Players-Two or more
Duration- 20-30 minutes
Equipment- Two dice, two counters for each player (can use buttons or similar)

The aim of the game is to be the last person to hold a counter. Each player can throw a single die to see who goes first. Upon starting each player throws both dice- trying to avoid throwing aces or 6's. If an ace is thrown, one counter is put into the kitty in the middle of the table. For two aces (snake eyes) both counters go to the kitty. For each 6 that is thrown a counter is passed to player on the left. As each player runs out of counters he/she is temporarily out of the game.
The last person left holding a counter must make three throws of the dice without rolling a 6. If a 6 is thrown then the counter is passed to the left and that person now attempts to do the same. Play continues until someone is able to roll three times without a 6.

Drop Dead
Another rainy day game that requires luck rather than skill.
Players-Two or more
Duration- Only a couple of minutes for each round- play continues until players have tired of the game.
Equipment- Five dice, pen and paper or each player can keep their own score.

The aim of the game is throw the highest score without rolling the faces of 5 or 2. After deciding who will begin, each player throws all five dice. If a 2 or 5 do not appear then all five faces are added together to give a score. Eg 3-3-6-1-4 gives a score of 17. The player continues throwing the dice with the 2 and 5 being removed from the game whenever they appear and the throwers score being zero. Eg for the next round the player throws 2-4-1-5-6. Two of the dice are removed from play and the player's score remains at 17. He now continues with three dice and his turn only ends when all five dice are out of play. Whoever ends up with the highest score is deemed the winner.

Help Your Neighbour
Players-Two to six
Duration- Allow an hour
Equipment- Three dice and ten counters per player.

In this game players are trying to get rid of all of their counters. Each player chooses a number appearing on a face of a die. When there are less than six players the 6, 5 and down are taken out of play. If there are three players they can take two number each.
Each player throws three dice and each time her selected number(s) appear she throws a counter into the pot. The first player to throw in all of their counters wins the pot.
The game can be over very quickly if only being played by two or three players, so usually several rounds are played.Pig
Players-Two or more
Duration- Allow half an hour
Equipment- One die and pencil and paper.

The aim of the game is simple. Players are attempting to throw the dice until they reach a score of one hundred. The first player throws the die, notes the score and throws again. She can continue to throw until she decides to stop or throws a 1 which takes her score back to zero. The name 'pig' refers to a player who keeps playing until they throw a 1. The first player has an obvious advantage, so play usually continues until all players have taken a turn once a 100 has been reached. The player who then has the highest score of 100 or above is the winner.

Shut the Box
Also known as Round Dozen this game plays a little like bingo until all boxes are covered.

Players-Two or more
Duration- An hour
Equipment- Two dice, twelve counters for each player, pencil and paper.

Each player draws twelve boxes, numbered from 1 to 12. Players take it in turn to throw both dice, and then using the total in different ways attempt to 'shut' all of the boxes.
For example if a total of 7 is thrown the boxes that can be shut are 6-1, 5-2 or 3-4. The numbers appearing on each die are disregarded, it is the TOTAL score that the player uses. Once the boxes from 7-12 are shut for a player, one of the die is removed. A player's turn ends when there are no open boxes that can be shut.
Once each player has had a turn, the winner of the round is the player with the least open boxes.

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Board & Dice Games . Parlour Games . Learning Games . Puzzles