Dice Games

Explore our collection of dice games for kids. You will find instructions, printables, score sheets where necessary – and lots of fun! Dice games can be played quietly or noisily, with one or two kids or a crowd – and they are great for learning number and addition skills too.

Dice games are fun! They are also one of the oldest of all kinds of games: there are records of dice being played over 5,000 years ago! Dice have been found in Egyptian tombs and were very popular in Roman times.

Dice games are versatile. They can be based on luck, or on skill and planning. You can find games to play with two players or twenty, on a table or on the floor, with 3-year olds and with 70-year olds!

Dice games are educational. They are educational in obvious ways, for example encouraging counting and numbers in little children and quick mental addition in older children. But they are also excellent at reinforcing the concept of taking turns, scoring (both mental and on paper), winning and losing gracefully, patience and so much more. By the time your child reaches 7 or so they may even be able to resist hurling the dice onto the floor or all over the table on each and every go (although it is at this point that the temptation to try and manipulate the dice also begins to show itself!) Most of the dice games featured at Activity Village here below depend mainly on luck, although some of the later games begin to introduce strategic thinking and planning.

Dice games are portable. You can always find room for a few dice in the bottom of a handbag or pocket, and most games require no more than a paper and pencil to go with them. Or you can “pre-package” some of your favourite games with a stack of print- outs, small pencils, dice and any other necessary equipment in a re-sealable plastic bag or box and include it easily in an overnight case for travelling.

Dice games are satisfying. There are so many different kinds of dice to choose from now readily available in the shops or by mail order. Most children love the look and feel of dice and are happy to build up a collection – and are likely to choose a few particular dice to be their favourites, too.

Dice are cheap. You probably have a number of interesting dice lurking in existing family games, and you can certainly pick up more very cheaply these days through stationers, discount stores, gaming shops, educational catalogues or garage sales. We have been known to buy an old board game for cents from a garage sale just to acquire its dice.

Dice are collectible. Build up your store and keep them in their own box with a stack of counters and favourite playing pieces (unusual beads, plastic figures and animals, etc) and perhaps a shaker or two. Encourage the children to get them out and make up their own games with them … .anything goes!