Connect the Dots
This is a great game for a rainy day, or while waiting in a restaurant for your food to arrive. All you need is a piece of paper, a pencil, and at least two players. It’s a simple game of strategy that helps develop spatial relation skills as well. The best part is that games can be ongoing and stopped at any time and saved for later, which makes it perfect for a long trips.
- Our downloadable template (below) or a piece of paper
- Pencils or pens for each player (different colors per person are best)
- Hard surface to write on (clipboard, desk, book)
Download our template and print it out, or use your own piece of paper and create a grid of
dots. Placing 10 dots per row, with as many rows as you would like. You should leave
about ¾ of an inch between each dot.
The object of this activity is simple: make as many boxes as possible. Players take turns connecting the dots two at a time, eventually getting to the point where they are creating squares. The player who completes the square gets a point.
1. Player 1 connects two dots to make a line, then passes the sheet to Player 2.
2. Player 2 connects two dots (anywhere on the page; it does not have to be anywhere near Player 1’s line).
3. Play continues back and forth with each player connecting dots to make lines. Eventually
what will happen is that the act of connecting two dots will make a square. Whichever player created the square claims that square by writing their initial or a symbol (like a heart of smiley face) or, if using different pen colors for each person, placing an “X” in the square.
4. A person who creates a square gets to take a second turn for free. Each time a square
is created they get a free turn (ultimately they could continue making multiple squares - this is called a “run”).
5. Play can go on as long as there are dots to connect.
6. At the end, tally up the number of squares each player has created. The one with the most is the winner!
1. Instead of making boxes, make triangles (this will mean one additional diagonal line). Although it’s true that you could connect both corners of each square to make 4 triangles, this is not advised since the triangles would be so small, and it would get very confusing since both players would be claiming the same square!
2. When a player wins a square have them color in the square with their pen (you will need a different colored pen for each player). Then have them make their ultimate goal to see how many squares they can create that are connected (either side by side or diagonally) - see what kind of picture or shape forms (since in a way you are creating pixels).
1. Keep a couple pre-made sheets in the glove compartment for long road trips.
