The Ultra Super Fantastic Magnificently Marvelous Marble Dice Game

OK, so maybe all those wonderful words aren't necessary but the game is so simple and so easy to transform into something that works for your family that the words all apply. While probably not an original idea, I came up with it to help my youngest with counting and recognizing numbers in groups. We started out using only a handful of marbles and one die but we've expanded our game to include /lots/ of marbles and two dice so that the whole family can play.

Step 1: Gather as many marbles as you can find.

Step 2: Get at least one die. If you have tons of marbles, you're gonna need to have 2 or more dice...or a heck of a lot of people playing along.

Step 3: Youngest plays first (or you can roll a die to see who plays first). Roll the die/dice. Collect marbles in that amount and keep them in front of you. Play goes clockwise.

Step 4: Continue play around the circle until all the marbles are gone. The number on the die has to equal the number of marbles you take. If it doesn't (say you roll a 6 but there are only 2 marbles left) your turn is over and play passes to the next person until all the marbles are gone.

Step 5: When all the dice are gone, play continues clockwise around the circle. "How?" you may be asking. Play continues because you want to get rid of all the marbles you've collected. Roll the die/dice and replace that number back into the center of the play area.

Step 6: The game is finished when one person is out of marbles. That person to end up marble-less first is the winner!

We have one child who is so competitive that games are usually out of the question. She takes them way too seriously and ruins the fun for everyone. This game works well because the fun goes all throughout the game and you never know who is going to win until the game is over. It usually works out well for all of us...even the losers. ;)

I hope you enjoy this game! It's easy to modify it for any group of people. All you need is a little bit of imagination and enthusiasm. Happy game play!

P.S. DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO STILL THINK EVERYTHING IS FOOD. MARBLES ARE NOT FOOD BUT THEY CAN HARDLY BE BLAMED FOR MISTAKING THEM FOR CANDY...

Laugh a Lot!