Best Dice Games for Kids: Have Fun and Learn New Skills!

Dice games are not just an excellent way to while away the time. The benefits of playing dice games for kids are many! Playing these games will expose kids to the wonders of probability, put math calculation skills to use, improve visual perception and manual dexterity,

Not only that, while playing dice games, your children will be improving their social skills. They will need to learn patience, turn taking and good sportsmanship! Below you will find a collection of all our favorite dice games. Most of them are for 2 or more players, and use anywhere from one to six dice. All of them are easy dice games.

Players of all ages can enjoy these games. Preschoolers may need the extra help of a kind adult and can still work on their number and quantity recognition skills. Handling the dice will work those fine motor and coordination skills.

Elementary school aged children will continue to practice basic math facts and can play independently with their peers, which gives them a great space to work on social and communication skills.

Parents and grandparents (and other adults) will enjoy the bonding time that comes with playing a game with their children. It offers a relatively relaxed opportunity to connect with your child, talk about the day, guide them in learning new skills and to just have fun without worrying about "getting something done!"

Which one will be your favorite?

NOTE: further down you will find instructions to get printable instructions!

How to Play Passage

What you need: 

• 2 dice
• 2 or more players

Objective: to be the first player to reach 11 points.

Instructions: 

To set up the game each player rolls a die. The highest scoring roll will be the player who begins the game. The player who rolled the lowest number will now roll a second time and the number on the die becomes the "point number."

Starting with the first player, players take turns rolling two dice. If he rolls the point number, he gets one point. If he rolls doubles of the point number he gets two points. Each player gets only one roll per turn.

The first player to get 11 points wins.

Need help? Watch the video:

How to Play Run for It

What you need: 

• 6 dice
• 2 or more players

Objective: to be the first to reach 100

Instructions:

Alternating turns, each player rolls 6 dice. Looking at the dice, the player attempts to organize them into runs. A run is a sequence of numbers, such as 1-2-3-4-5-6. For each number used in a run, the player scores 5 points. Dice may only be used once when creating a run. Runs must begin with the number 1.

For example, a roll of 1-2-4-5-6-6 scores 10 points for the run 1-2.

For example, a roll of 1-2-1-2-3-4  scores 10 points for the run 1-2, and 20 points for the run 1-2-3-4 for a total of 30 points.

If there is no run, no score is recorded. For example, a roll of 1-3-4-4-5-6 scores zero points.

Play continues until one player has reached 100 points.

Watch the video to see how it's done.

How to Play Fifty

What you need:

• 2 dice
• 2 or more players

Objective: be the first player to reach 50

Instructions:

Taking turns, players roll two dice, one roll per turn. If they do not roll doubles, they do not score for that turn.

If they roll doubles, they earn a score as follows:

• Double 1s, 2s, 4s, 5s = 5 points
• Double 6s = 25 points
• If they roll double 3s, their score up to that point is wiped out and they must restart accumulating points.

The first player to reach 50 points wins.

Surprise! I even have a video for you:

How to Play Knock Out

What you need: 

• 2 dice
• 2 or more players

Objective: to be the first player to reach 100; or have the highest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds. (We prefer to play for 10 rounds.)

Instructions: 

To set up the game decide if you will play to 100 or for a number of rounds. Chose 6, 7, or 8 as the "knock-out number." The knock out number can be the same for all players, or each player can have a different knock out number. We find the best way to play is with 7 as everyone's knock-out number. A round is complete when all players have had one turn.

Taking turns, players roll both dice, if they do not roll the knock-out number the total score is recorded for that turn and the pass the dice to the player on their left.

For example, if the roll is 2-3, the player earns 5 points.

If player rolls the knock-out number they receive no score for that round. But not only that, the player's accumulated score is "knocked-out" and the player must start again on their next turn.

Only one roll per turn. Play until one player has achieved the game objective.

Is there a video? Why yes, yes indeed there is!

How to Play Three or More

What you need: 

• 5 dice
• 2 or more players, the more the better

Objective: to have the highest score at the end of a predetermined number of rounds. We prefer to play ten rounds.

Instructions: 

Players take turns rolling all 5 dice. The goal is to roll at least 3 of a kind.

On a player's turn one of the following will happen:

1. If the roll contains no matches, the score is zero and the player's turn is over.
2. If the roll contains 3 or more of a kind the score is recorded and dice are passed to the next player.
3. If the roll contains 2 of a kind, the player may re-roll the remaining three dice. If, after the second roll, there is not at least 3 of a kind, the score is zero. If the roll has 3, 4 or 5 of a kind, record the score.

Whoever has the highest score at the end of the predetermined number of rounds, wins.

Rolls score as follows:

• 3 of a kind = 3 points
• 4 of a kind = 6 points
• 5 of a kind = 12 points

Here's a video to show the game in action!

More Easy Dice Games for Kids and Families

I have plenty more dice games for kids on the blog, for full written instructions, click on the links below, or watch a video if available!

Play the Hawaiian dice game of Lu-Lu for some fun math practice.

Aces in the Pot is related to the well known LCR game.

Learn how to play Sevens!

Find out how to play Drop Dead here, (it's not as scary as the name!) or watch the video!

You definitely want to learn how to play Pig dice game (<<click on that link for more). This fun and easy dice game will teach kids how to take turns and be patient!

Read my post on how to play Martinetti. I also have the video, below if you prefer to watch.

Learn the rules of Sequences dice game here, and watch the video below!

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