War makes an
easy introduction to card playing for kids without too many rules to complicate the game.
Number of Players:
2
Age Range:
6+
Cards:
Standard deck of 52 cards
Instructions:
To start, the cards are dealt to the players and kept face-down. Neither player
must look at their cards.
Then, both players turn over the top card in their piles and put them face-up in
the centre, next to the other player’s card. Whoever has turned over the higher
ranking card, never mind which suit it is of, takes up both cards and adds them
to the bottom of his pile.
This then continues until two cards of the same value (eg 2 fours) are placed
down together. This constitutes “War”. Both players then take two more cards and
put one face-down on top of the card they have already placed in the middle, and
one face-up. Whoever puts down the higher ranking face-up card wins all six.
If, of course, two more same-ranking cards are put down, the
state of “War” continues until there is a winner.
The game is won by the player who manages to collect all the cards.
Variations:
War for Three
This is nearly the same as War for Two, except that the last card in the deck is
not given out, to make sure that all the players have the same number of cards.
Then, if two cards of the same rank are turned up, all three people have to go
to “War”.
If, however, three cards of the same rank are turned up, the players play
“Double War”, where everyone puts two cards face-down in the centre and on card
face-up. If the cards happen to match, they continue with “Single War”
Make A Ping Pong Bat And Net
The Chinese introduced table tennis to the world and have always been extremely
good at the sport. You can make your own ping pong bats and net and have a go!
Make A Name Book
More of a craft activity than a game, this is a great way for kids to get to
know each other at the beginning of the school year.
Fishing (Tiu-u or Chinese Dominoes) This game of Chinese dominoes sounds a little complicated to
begin with but is in fact very simple to play. The name ‘fishing’ comes from
the idea that players ‘fish’ for matching dominoes. You can either print out
our dominoes or make your own more authentic version with popsicle sticks
(instructions included!)
Matching Game cards can be used to play Memory
(Concentration), Go Fish and many other card games, as well as played with
our sorting mats by one child on their own. Printable Games
