About Dots and Boxes
A grid of dots waits on a white sheet. Your child and Oomi take turns drawing one line between two dots, and whoever draws the fourth side of a box claims it and goes again. The player with the most boxes at the end wins.
How to play
- Tap the gap between two dots, or drag from one dot to the next.
- Close the fourth side of a box to claim it and go again.
- On a computer, move between gaps with the arrow keys and draw with Space.
What your child practices
- Planning ahead
- Squares and their four sides
- Guessing the other player's move
- Taking turns
How it grows with your child
LittleAges 4-6
Nine boxes, and Oomi often draws a random line. A helpful line glows after a pause.
YoungAges 6-8
A board of 16 boxes. Oomi takes boxes when it can and avoids giving any away.
Big KidsAges 8-11
A big board of 25 boxes, and Oomi gives away as few boxes as it can.
Play together
Draw a small grid of dots on paper and play together, counting the sides of each box out loud.
