How to Make Game Pieces

Kids are notorious for losing tiny game pieces that belong to their favorite games. If you are plagued with a variety of games that having missing parts making it impossible to play the game, don't throw them out. Challenge children to create their own game tokens and missing pieces from craft supplies or parts of other broken toys. Not only will you save a bundle, your children will learn that being creative can be practical too.

Things You'll Need

• Old game pieces
• Card stock (index paper)
• Printer
• Molding clay
• Pebbles
• Small wooden pieces
• Miniature toys
• Plastic lids
• Clear contact paper

Instructions

1. Examine your child's games to determine which have missing pieces. Be sure to check all the games, as you may find missing pieces really aren't missing after all. They may have been stored away in another game box.

2. Sort the games into two stacks—those that are complete and those that require additional pieces. Once you have done this, enlist your child's help in determining which games are likely to be played again and which he has outgrown or become bored with. Get rid of those that no one ever wants to play, but be sure to remove all game pieces first. This includes cards and dice as well. Place all excess game pieces in a plastic storage bag.

3. Evaluate the actual game pieces that need to be replicated. Be sure to check in the bag of extra parts to see if you have a similar piece that can be easily substituted for the missing item. Most children's games use similar items for tokens or game pieces. Many can be adapted by adding a fresh coat of paint or changing the image or wording on cards. New characters can be made from heavy cardboard and displayed on the base used for other stand-up pieces. If the stand-up base is missing, dismantle one to use as a pattern and create one out of heavy cardboard or lightweight plastic cut from plastic lids or disposable storage containers.

4. Look around your home for small items that can be used as tokens or game pieces. Miniature animals and people are often small enough to function as game pieces. Small pebbles or miniature wooden blocks can be painted to fit the need of the game. Pawns from an old chess game are the right size for a token. Simply give them a coat of brightly colored paint to match the missing item.

5. Create new game cards by printing designs, images or words onto index paper and cut to the right size or allow children to draw right on the card stock to create their own variations.To prevent the cards from tearing, cover with clear contact paper or have them laminated.

6. Provide children with a variety of craft supplies and allow them to create their own game pieces. Use play dough or air-dry molding clay to make figures or miniature pom poms to glue together to create characters. Your child may find that making his own game pieces is so much fun that he will want to discard the original pieces and replace them with his own personalized versions.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep game pieces simple and use old pieces to substitute for missing parts whenever possible.

• Encourage your child to look for items that he already owns to replace missing parts.