Domino rules
How to teach kids dominoes
Dominoes makes a great first game. The rules are short, and every hand is a little adding practice.
Start with matching
- 1Spread the tiles face up and play a finding game: find a tile with a 3, find a double, find a tile that adds up to 7.
- 2Build a line together, with matching halves touching.
- 3Show how doubles go crosswise.
Play with open hands
For the first few games, everyone lays their tiles face up. Talk through your choices out loud: “I could play here or here. Which is better?” Kids learn the rules without the frustration of guessing.
Keep it short
Play to 50 instead of 150, or just count one hand. With two or three players, use the draw game, so nobody sits out passing turn after turn.
Let them count
Counting leftover pips is real addition, and heavier tiles make bigger numbers. Pipside's tap-to-count screen is another way: tap each tile and watch the total climb.
When they're ready
Move on to hidden hands, then passing and blocked games. The Learn lessons walk through each step with pictures and practice questions.
New to dominoes?
Short picture lessons take you from your first tile to winning partner play. Free, no sign-up.
Start the lessonsCommon questions
- When can kids start playing dominoes?
- Once they can match numbers and count to 12, they can play a simple matching game. Scoring comes a little later, once adding feels comfortable.
- Is dominoes good for math?
- Every hand is addition practice, and counting tiles later on teaches some simple logic.
- Which dominoes game is best for kids?
- The draw game with two to four players. Everyone plays more tiles and nobody waits long.