Points and boxes. Pencil and paper game for children

Classical games are the ones that work best among children, not only because their educational content makes them ideal for parents, but because they are so simple that we can play at any time, only with pencil and paper. This is the case of the game 'unite the points' or 'connect the points', also

Classical games are the ones that work best among children, not only because their educational content makes them ideal for parents, but because they are so simple that we can play at any time, only with pencil and paper.

This is the case of the game 'unite the points' or 'connect the points', also called 'points and boxes' or 'timbiriche'. This game not only serves for children to develop fine motor skills, it also has other advantages for their intellectual development.

How to play 'Points and boxes' with the children

Recommended age:After 8 years

Players:2 or more

How to play:On a piece of paper, seven rows of vertical points and as many horizontal lines are drawn . The players, in turn, will draw vertical and horizontal lines to connect two adjacent points that have not yet been joined. When one of the players makes a stroke that closes a group of four points (forming a "box") he places his initial inside.

When the points to connect are finished and all the boxes are closed, we proceed to count how many boxes have the initial of each player, which gets one point for each one. Win the one that gets the most points.

You can increase the difficulty of the game or adapt it for more players by expanding the number of rows of points.

Benefits for children:It is ideal to strengthen fine motor skills, since it requires precision to make the strokes. It is also a good way to help children develop strategies, thinking in the long term about the best way to get the boxes, stimulating their attention and concentration.