Penny Games – 5 Super Easy Games to Play Right Now!

Do you have a jar of pennies at home? If yes, did you know that you can use them to play some penny games? I don’t know about you, but in our house of six children we are always on the look out for new games using stuff we have around the house. We are big game players (and the pandemic has increased this for sure) but sometimes we get sick and tired of the activities we have at home.

My kids love to create games and I love to play anything new instead of another round of War or Scat (a favorite card game here but so sick of it right now LOL). So grab some pennies and test out these games and encourage your children to create their own penny games.

Penny Games: Penny Lucky Six Game

For this penny game, give each player 12 pennies. The object of the game is to be the first player who gets rid of all 12 pennies. You will need one die and the playing board below. You can download and print it for free.

Player one rolls the die. Whatever number they roll, put the penny on the board in the matching column. For example, if you roll a 2, put one penny in the box under the number 2. Player two rolls the die and repeats the same. For example, roll a one and put one penny in the square in the number one column.

There is one rule – you can not have more than ONE penny in any column1 through 5. You can have as many pennies as you want in column #6. If you roll a die and there is a penny in the number that you roll you have to pick up all the pennies in the 1 through 5 columns. Leave the pennies in column 6 on the board.

The next player goes. Using our example, if they roll and one or a two they have to take all the pennies on the board except the pennies in column 6. If they roll a 3, 4, 5,or 6 they put the penny on that number.

Remember, you can have as many pennies as you want on the #6 column. But if there is already a penny on the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 square you have to take all the pennies in those columns. Leave the pennies in the #6 column.

The first person to get rid of all their pennies is the winner!

Download Your FREE Copy of the Game Board Below

Sign up to receive the weekly email newsletter and other announcements from Growing Play. You will be redirected to the PDF to download the gameboard below with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the columns and play the game.

Penny Games: Stack It

Grab your penny jar and say go! You have one minute to stack the highest tower of pennies on top of each other. Be ready – this is harder than you think!

Looking for more games to play like this?

Set the Record is a digital download that includes 25 different fine motor, gross motor, oral motor and visual motor challenges. Pick a challenge and see who can set the record for the fastest, longest, most, shortest and tallest skills! Write down the top scores to keep track of who holds the records for each challenge. Print as full size pages or smaller cards for travel size. You will need some household items to complete the challenges such as paper, pencils, coins, etc. Download a free challenge page and try to be the fastest.

Penny Games – The Unlucky Penny

Here is a fun game to play while you are waiting or just looking for a simple game to play with the kids.  All you need are at least 15 coins.  If you do not have coins, you can use any objects you have around the house, in your purse or at the restaurant table.  Put the 15 coins or objects on the table.

Object of the game is NOT to pick up the last coin.

Directions:  Player one picks up 1, 2 or 3 coins.  Player two picks up 1,2 or 3 coins.  Continue taking turns.  If it is your turn and there is only one coin or object left you lose the game.

Super easy and engaging for the young and old.

Penny Games: Fill the Bank

You will need a bank and one die for this game. If you do not have a piggy bank you can make one by simply cutting a hole in the top of a recycled plastic container (ie Pringles Can, Oatmeal container, Margarine Container).

Give each player 30 pennies. Player one rolls the die. Whatever you roll, put inside the bank. Player two takes a turn. Continue playing. The winner is the first player who runs out of pennies!

Penny Games: Flip the Penny

My one son loves super simple games (think Pig for dice games). This game is so easy to play. Each player take one penny. The object of the game is to see who can get flip the penny and get the most heads in a row. You can stop at any time.

Player one goes and flips the penny. If it lands on heads that counts as one time. If it lands on tails the turn is over. Player one can choose to continue to flip or stop and take the one. If player one continues, flip the coin. If it lands on heads now player one has two points. If it lands on tails player one is out of the game. Player one continues to make decisions whether to continue to risk it or freeze.

Player two goes and flips the penny. Player two is trying to get more “heads” in a row than player one.

This game is fast paced and you just keep starting rounds over and over again. See who can set the record to get the most heads in a row.

More Games to Play To Pass Time at Home During the Pandemic

Waiting Games includes twenty games to play while on a road trip, waiting for an appointment or sitting around a campfire.  This collection of activities encourages children to develop self-regulation, creativity and communication skills while they wait.

This packet includes games such as 60 Seconds, Reverse 20 Questions, Let’s Debate, Outside the Box and more!

This is an electronic document so immediately following payment you will receive an email with the link to download the book.  You can print it and toss it in the car so you have something to rely on during those times when the kids start to get antsy.  If you don’t want to print it, just save the PDF to your smartphone or tablet and take it with you to reference wherever you are.  FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.