There’s something uniquely satisfying about the simplicity of pen-and-paper games. Not only do these games ignite creativity and strategic thinking, but they are also extremely convenient. Here are three classic pen-and-paper games that are perfect for children.
Hangman
Hangman is an excellent game for improving vocabulary and spelling. One player thinks of a word and draws a line for each letter of the word on a piece of paper. The other player guesses letters in an attempt to uncover the hidden word. For each incorrect guess, a part of the hangman drawing is added.
Dots and Boxes
Dots and Boxes starts with an empty grid of dots. Players take turns adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two unjoined adjacent dots. The goal is to complete the fourth side of a 1×1 square (box). Every time a player completes a box, they must put their initial in the box and play again. The game ends when no more lines can be placed, and the winner is the player with the most completed boxes.
Pictionary
Players draw a picture of a word or phrase without using any letters, numbers, or verbal cues, while others guess what it is. You can create your own simplified version of Pictionary with just a pen and paper by writing random words or phrases on pieces of paper.