DIY Giant Outdoor Tic Tac Toe; Your New Favorite Family Activity

by

Creating a giant outdoor tic-tac-toe game isn’t tough to make and it’s so much fun to play! Here’s what you’ll need:

a diy spray painted tic tac toe board on grass, with plates marked with X's and O's.

What You’ll Need

This project isn’t one that needs to break the bank, you can DIY your own giant outdoor tic-tac-toe game using materials you probably already have lying around.

Here’s what I used:

  • 4 pieces of rope (about 3 feet each) or paint to mark the grid
  • 9 flat stones, frisbees, or paper plates
  • Something to decorate and differentiate the game pieces
  • A bin/basket to store everything together for future use

Creating Your Game Board

You have a few different options depending on what you have on hand.

One option is to spray the grid pattern board on your grass. Another option is simply laying out your rope in a grid pattern.

For nighttime playing, you could also use rope lights or Christmas lights for a fun and festive twist.

Making Your Game Pieces

Honestly, this was probably my favorite part!

I collected large, flat stones from our local beach (a great excuse for a family outing, by the way). The kids helped paint half with bright blue Xs and the other half with sunny yellow Os.

No stones around? No problem! I’ve seen friends use:

  • Paper plates with handrwan Xs and Os drawn on them
  • Frisbees in two different colors
  • Large plastic cups from the dollar store

Setting Up Your Game

First, start by placing your grid on a flat part of your yard. Our lawn worked fine, but the patio gave the best playing surface.

The game board should be about 3 feet by 3 feet – large enough to be impressive but not so huge that its tough to reach the middle square.

Game Time!

The rules are just like regular tic-tac-toe (get three in a row), but there’s something about playing it giant-sized that makes everyone giggle.

For extra fun, try these variations:

  • Toss version: Players must stand behind a line and toss their game pieces onto the board
  • Relay race: Teams line up and take turns running to place their pieces
  • “Hot potato” style: Add music and when it stops, players must make their move

Final Thoughts

When you are struggling to find some fun family activities, Giant Outdoor Tic Tac Toe is sure to be a family favorite. It’s quick to setup and you likely have everything you need laying around the house.