Did you play pick up sticks as a child? I have many memories playing on summer afternoons with my grandmother…she was some kind of stick flipping genius…seriously, she was SO GOOD.
In an effort to scale back on my littles’ screen time, I’ve been trying to come up with more classic fun for us to do together. This game fits the bill, and you can make your own set with supplies you probably already have in your home!
You’ll need:
30 wooden skewers {available at most grocery stores}
scissors
masking tape {optional}
craft paint {traditionally colors are black, red, blue, green, and yellow…but I chose my own!}
fine grit sandpaper {optional}
clear sealant {optional}
Start by clipping the pointy ends off the skewers. If there is any splintering, gently sand until smooth.
Tape off each stick into a striped pattern, if desired. I grouped my patterns by color.
Traditionally, the game has 1 black stick {worth 25 points}, 7 red sticks {worth 10 points each}, 7 blue sticks {worth 5 points each}, 8 green sticks {worth 2 points each}, and 7 yellow sticks {worth 1 point each}…but again, group them how you like!
Also, we alter our rules a bit to fit my children’s abilities…we just count how many sticks we’ve collected at the end of the game rather than go by points. Do what works for you!
After you’ve taped, paint your sticks.
After the paint has completely dried, carefully peel off tape. Coat each with clear sealant if desired.
You’re ready to play!
