With Tek
How to make a board game
This course shows your kid how to make a board game the whole family can play at the table. In 4 short films, Tek covers picking the goal, drawing the board, adding special spaces, and writing the rules, then a family game night to test it. It takes about 3 minutes of films and an hour or so of making, all on paper.
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What your kid makes
Your kid ends with a paper board game, rules included, that the family has played at least once.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 4 films, about 3 minutes, then about an hour of making and a game night
- You need
- Paper, pencil, one die, or a paper spinner you make, small toys or paper tokens for pieces
- Host
- Tek
The 4 lessons
Lesson 1. Race, hunt, or chase?
Every board game needs one clear way to win.
- Pick a goal: first to the finish, most treasure, or catch the runner
- Pick a theme, like pirates, dragons, or space
- Say how someone wins, in one line
Where: Paper
Lesson 2. Draw the board
A winding path with a start and a finish, and a die or a paper spinner to move.
- Draw a start and a finish
- Draw a winding path of about 30 spaces between them
- Decorate the edges with your theme
Where: Paper
Lesson 3. Special spaces
A few surprise spaces make every turn exciting.
- Pick five spaces to make special
- Draw a shortcut, a go back, and an extra turn
- Keep most spaces plain, so the surprises stand out
Where: Paper
Lesson 4. Rules and game night
Short rules a new player gets in one read. Then play it with family and fix one rule.
- Write how to start, how to move, and how to win, one line each
- Make a piece for each player and play a full game
- Ask who had fun, then change one rule and play again
Where: At home
Take the quiz
Tek asks 3 questions about the films. Get 2 right and you finish the course.
Lesson 1 transcript: Race, hunt, or chase?
Let's invent a brand new game for game night! All you need is paper and a pencil.
A board game is a path, some pieces, and a few rules. But first: how does someone win?
Pick a goal. A race: first to the finish. A hunt: grab the most treasure. A chase: catch the runner!
I pick a race. Now pick a theme. Pirates? Space? Dragons!
Here's my game. Race to the dragon's cave!
Now say how someone wins, in one line. First one to the cave wins!
Your turn. Pick a goal. Pick a theme. Write how someone wins, in one line. Then press Next.
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
Is this mostly screen time?
No. Your kid watches about 3 minutes of films and does everything else on paper and at the table, with the family.
What age is this for?
Kids 6 to 13. Younger kids do well with a race game and three special spaces. Older kids often add cards, teams, or a second way to win.
What else does my kid need besides paper?
A pencil, one die, and something to use as pieces, like small toys or paper tokens. No die at home? Draw a circle split into six numbered parts and spin a pencil on a paperclip in the middle.