Capybara Cuteness

Have you ever heard of a capybara?!

I didn’t know that this animal existed until a few years ago. Suddenly, they were everywhere! My daughter, a lifelong lover of animals, quickly latched onto the trend. Since then she has bought a capybara stuffy, a capybara iron-on-patch for a ballcap, and anything else capybara-themed she could get her hands on!

This giant rodent (I know, I know, but they’re kind of cute!) is native to South America and took the internet by storm a few years ago. Earlier this year, we did animal research essays as part of our Homeschool Writing Experiment, and my daughter chose to research capybaras!

The Capybara Colony Board Game

It was no surprise, then, when she was recently gifted a special DIY Board Game Kit for her eighth birthday, that she chose to design her game off of this adorable creature! I suggested to my mom that she get my daughter this kit, because I knew my daughter would love it. She’s the creative in the family, and invents her own games, stories, worlds and creations constantly!

You may already know that I created a personalized board game for our family, called Reyes Rascal Race, a few years ago. I wrote about that process here–I love using Board Game Design to push the bounds of my kids’ creativity! There are such amazing concepts to teach & learn through this process.

Ever the teacher’s daughter, my daughter started her process by jotting down a few quick ideas for her game! We used a DIY Board Game Planning Printable. I think this process really helps kids think through:

• Their favorite aspects of other games
• How they want their board game to look visually
• What type of theme & objective they envision
• What type of obstacles & surprises could be involved in their game
• Who they could ask to “test out” their game, before making a final product!

If you’d like to glance at a preview of the planning printable, you can check that out here.

Teaching Board Game Design

Now-if I were to do this planning template with a group of kids (for a co-op class, for example) I would probably fill out a sample template, full-group, for a game we already knew. For example: if everyone in your class has played Candyland, you could fill out the template as a whole group, commenting on the various elements. Then, you could lead them through creating their own board game, after reflecting on other common games they like.

Ok, back to my daughter’s game! She named it: Capybara Colony. (How cute is that?!) After a bit of brief brainstorming, she drew her own path and squares on the gameboard using Sharpie markers. We printed out some pictures of capybaras, which she then laminated and cut out. She loved making shortcuts, special surprise spaces on the gameboard, and her own Trivia cards with facts about capybaras!

As you can see above, she also designed her own spinner! The laminated capybara heads are tiny, but she hot-glued them onto the game pieces (which came with the kit). How hilariously cute are those?!

As the notoriously messy, creative child, she is not a perfectionist the way my eldest son is! Next time, I will probably have her use a ruler to plan out her game squares, and check her spelling before she goes to town with Sharpies. 😉 However… I also kind of love it, because it captures a moment in time. This is her exact self, right now, in second grade. The Capybara Queen! 🙂

DIY Board Game Options

The DIY Board Game Kit came with a hard game board, blank die, many blank playing cards, multicolored pawns, and a blank spinner. It is one of my favorite projects for kids, EVER.

If you’d like to try something like this with your kids, but this kit is not in your budget, try out these free gameboards! I created them in multiple colors, but also a black & white version. Black & white is easier on your printer, and it also encourages creativity for kids–they can color the spaces however they want! Maybe there’s a secret code or pattern within their unique design, that the player has to discover!

Multiple colors available for free, here.

If your family is into board games, I’d love to hear from you! Some of our favorites are Life, Trouble, Chess & Risk. We’re on more of a card game binge right now, and we are loving Sleeping Queens, Old Maid, & Moose Match Mayhem.

If you need a great way to review Story Elements with your elementary kids, I created a game that you can use with any storybook! We play year-round, and my preschooler and 2nd grader enjoy it most.

If you use the free templates or planning guide, I would LOVE to hear how it goes! Drop me a line here, if you use it. Have a great weekend!

Cait