When it comes to classic event games, “Bingo” is a staple.
It’s the game where you use a bingo card filled with numbers, and you win by completing a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line.
But did you know that handmade bingo cards using things other than numbers have recently become popular?
There are all kinds of bingo themes: items found in nature or around you, as well as seasonal events like Christmas and Halloween.
There are even educational ideas, like using hiragana or numbers.
We’ll introduce a variety of handmade ideas, so please use them as inspiration—make your own and have fun playing!
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Handmade bingo card ideas (1–10)
Multiplication Table Bingo Card
This is a bingo game where you write your favorite numbers in the squares and check off the numbers that match the answers to specified multiplication table problems.
Because you can’t proceed without knowing the multiplication facts, it’s also educational to think about what answers might appear while creating the card.
However, some products in the times tables have the same answer, and some numbers never appear no matter how you calculate, so if children are playing, you’ll need to provide guidance depending on their proficiency.
From preparing the card to finishing the game, this bingo offers a fun way to study.
Bingo Cards Made with Excel
Bingo is a game that liven ups parties and recreational events.
You can easily find cards at 100-yen shops, but if you can use a computer, you can quickly and easily make your own bingo cards in Excel, a spreadsheet program.
Excel has functions you can use to efficiently create bingo cards.
It’s also a good idea to look online for ready-made files you can use.
If you design each card in colorful ways, you’ll end up with something fun that you can use for bingo tournaments at events.
Hiragana Bingo
It’s great not only for first graders who’ve just learned hiragana, but also for preschoolers who are just about ready to start learning.
How about a hiragana bingo game? It’s very easy to make: instead of numbers, just fill a 3×3, 5×5, or any size grid you like with hiragana characters! Since kids can learn in a game format rather than through studying, they can join in while having fun.
If you prepare small prizes, they’ll get absorbed in playing and the characters will stick in their heads—two birds with one stone.
Spring Bingo Card
Bingo is a game that livens up parties and other gatherings.
The usual rules involve matching numbers, but why not try replacing those numbers with something else? There are plenty of ideas, but how about a seasonally themed bingo game? Think of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
For example, in spring, the organizer can prepare several keywords that evoke the season, such as cherry blossoms, canola flowers, and flower viewing.
From the prepared list of spring words, participants choose a set number of items.
That completes their cards.
You now have an original bingo game that even older adults can enjoy with peace of mind.
Have fun with your handmade bingo!
Kanji Bingo
Here’s an idea for a Kanji Bingo card that makes learning kanji fun.
Instead of numbers, the squares contain kanji.
Fill each square with one character you want to learn.
When calling them out, try writing the character on the blackboard or whiteboard one stroke at a time.
This helps learners pick up the correct stroke order, and the suspense makes it more exciting.
For children, choose age-appropriate kanji; for adults, you could try difficult-to-read kanji or kanji used for types of fish.
Motivation Bingo
You’ve got something you need to do, but you just can’t get motivated.
The “Motivation Bingo Card” might be what helps you break through that slump.
It’s a bingo card where each square lists an action that could boost your motivation—for example, “drink an energy drink” or “declare your goal.” It’s true: getting a bingo with this could really get you fired up.
It also sounds fun to create your own custom Motivation Bingo by incorporating your personal routines.
Fraud Prevention Bingo Card
Losses from special fraud, which are reported in the news daily, are significant.
In 2022, it was announced that damages exceeded 8.8 billion yen.
To help avoid becoming a victim, how about creating a “fraud-prevention bingo card”? Instead of numbers, the squares feature phrases that suggest possible scams.
Examples include “Go to an ATM” and “You have a refund.” Working with this bingo game ahead of time might prove useful when the moment comes.