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Ages 5–10
Dots and Boxes
Roll a die, draw lines between the dots, and claim squares with your initials.
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What your child practices
Planning ahead, spatial reasoning, counting, and taking turns together.
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What you need
One printed dot grid, one pencil or pen per player, and one six-sided die.
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Get ready
Choose an initial for each player and keep the die between you. The grid has 81 squares to claim.
How to play
- 1Take turns rolling the die. The number rolled is the number of lines you may draw.
- 2Draw each line between two neighboring dots, horizontally or vertically. Use one side of a square for each line.
- 3When you draw the fourth side of a square, write your initial inside it. Keep using any lines left from your roll.
- 4After drawing the lines from your roll, pass the die. When every square is claimed, the player with the most initials wins.
Make it easier or trickier: For a shorter first game, agree to play on just part of the grid. Younger players can take turns drawing one line each without the die.
Dots and Boxes
Cut out the cards before playing
Xamil School✂ Paper Games