All the old childhood games are the best! Especially if you get to re-create and make your own. This is a favourite that we had tucked away from when my son was little. Bug tic tac toe!
We called it noughts and crosses when we were kids. However I know that it is better well know as Tic Tac Toe worldwide now. Whatever you call it, kids will love this little twist on the game.
Rock Painting
My kids love rock painting and are always looking for ideas of what to paint. There are lots of ideas online and different techniques when it comes to rock painting.
Here are a few items you need for this activity;
- Rocks (Try to find smooth rounded rocks)
- White out
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes
- Wooden plaques/squares
- Googly eyes
- Permanent marker
- Tape & scissors (optional)
Painting Technique
Painting rocks can be tricky and there are some ways to getting good coverage. In the past we’ve always given them several coats, which can be frustrating to kids who have to keep leaving them to dry several times.
You may also need to wash your rocks beforehand.
Our secret is to apply white out before we coat it with paint! Not only does it give good coverage, but the white out dries super quick so there isn’t really much waiting around. Another great tip is to paint outdoors when the weather is warm!
Creating A Game
To make the board for this bug tic tac toe game, we used a wooden plaque which came in a pack from the craft store. Acrylic paint seems to coat wood better. I gave our square a couple coats but you can also coat it in Mod Podge to give better protection from the paint chipping.
For your Tic Tac Toe board, there are 9 equal squares that are used for playing pieces. Using a marker draw lines horizontal and vertical to create your squares across the board.
*The tape is optional and you can use this to make your lines instead of drawing them on. However I tried it and found it was a little fiddly.
The marker worked just as well.
Creating your bugs
To make the bugs for this game, your rocks will need some detail added to them. Depending on which bugs you choose to do, you will need a marker. Preferably a permanent marker. This works better over paint.
For our original bug tic tac toe game, my son and I chose to do two different colours of ladybugs, red and blue! Adding spots to each bug. However we decided we needed another type of bug to add to our game.
So we chose bumble bees 🐝
Of course you can get really creative and do whatever bugs you’d like. You don’t want to pick rocks that are too big as you will need to be able to fit them onto the board. Adding googly eyes to your bugs will make them come to life! We used stick on eyes.
The Games begin
Your game is ready and you can begin to play. Depending on how old your kids are, they may need a couple practise runs. My 4 year old daughter is still learning the concept but using the bugs makes it a fun learning tool for her.
If you’re not familiar with this game, the aim of the game is to get a row of 3. This can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal. Its not always easy to see your opponent about to get a line. Even as an adult you can still get beat playing this game.
However the important thing is to teach your kids it’s not all about the winning, but all about the fun of the game. These little bugs make Tic Tac Toe a fun way to learn strategy, patience and fine motor skills.
If your kids like creating and making their own games, check out our post on making board games. A great way to get children using their imagination and strategy skills.
1
