Dice games have been around almost since about 6,000BC. Dice games are great fun, require little equipment, beyond the requisite dice, and can be played almost anywhere. So the next time you are looking for something fun for your family and friends to do together, try one of these fun family dice games.

• Poker Dice - The object is to throw the highest poker hand in either one or two throws.

Number of players - Any number can play

Number of dice used - Five poker dice, whose sides bear the playing card denominations: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten and Nine or regular dice, just determine which number corresponds with which playing card denomination before you begin. Generally the Ace is highest but it is sometimes played wild.

Game play - Each player throws one die to determine the order of play, highest man going first, next highest second and so on. After the first throw, the player may choose to stand pat or may draw, as in draw poker, by throwing one, two or three of the dice again. The object is to secure high poker hands which rank as follows: five of a kind, four of a kind, full house, straight, which is any five cards or numbers in numerical sequence, three of a kind, two pair, one pair. Keep in mind though that the extra die or dice not included in one of the above hands do not have any value. If a player throws 4 jacks, for example, the fifth die does not help to decide the winner in case of ties. Tying players throw off.

• Round the spot or Flower Petals - The concept of this game is that the scoring faces of the dice are those with the spots arranged around a central spot, like petals around the center of a flower. Scoring is determined by the number of spots around the center. For example, the five has four spots, or "petals", around its center spot, so it scores four points. The three has two "petals" and is, therefore, worth two points. The ace, with only its central spot, is worth one point. It is important to note that the even faces, two, four and six, have no central spot and, therefore, have no point value. This game’s simplicity makes it a great family game. It can be played as a gambling by having each player put money in the pot before the game starts.

Number of players – As few or as many as you like.

Number of dice used – Three

Game play - During one game, the dice will pass completely around the circle of
players four times. Each time a player gets the dice, he or she rolls them three times, totaling the scoring faces as described above. There is a rather interesting special exception: If a player throws a triplet of twos, fours, or sixes in any roll, then his final total for the current turn will be doubled. Also, the triplet roll does not count as one of his three rolls per turn. If, however, he rolls a second triplet of even numbers in the same turn, he loses the right to double his score. For example: Player one rolls 1-4-5 for five points (1+0+4), then follows with a 3-3-5 for eight more points (2+2+4). His third roll is 2-2-6, which is worth nothing, so his total for this turn is 13 points.

When trying to include small children in game playing, you may want to consider dice games. The main advantages of dice games is that they usually require little equipment and little game playing skill making them ideal for young children to play. So, if you are looking for some family fun or a great way to playfully educate your kids, here are dice games to play with small children:

• Beetle - Here is a fun dice game for all ages! The goal of the game is to be the first person to draw a beetle though no artistic skill is needed.

Playing time: 15 min to an hour

Number of players: as few as two

Number of dice needed: one

Other equipment needed: A pencil and paper for each participant.

Game play: The body of the beetle has thirteen parts all together including a body, a head, two eyes, two feelers, six legs and a tail which will make a complete beetle. Before drawing a body part, you must roll its corresponding number on the die:

1. is for the body
2. is for the head
3. is for each eye
4. is for each feeler
5. is for each leg
6. is for the tail

In order to win you must roll a 1, a 2, two 3’s, two 4’s, six 5’s and a 6. Also, you cannot draw any body parts until you have rolled a 1 for the body. Then you must roll a 2 for the head before you can use a 3 or 4 for the eyes and feelers. Players will each take turns rolling the die only once per round. The first to finish his or her beetle wins. There is also an option to play for points where a player gets a point for each body part. The first person to reach the agreed upon points total, 39, for example, wins.

• Centennial – Thought this is a simple game of chance which is great for teaching children addition, it can be a great, fun game for a large group of adults, too. Have everybody put some money in a pot, to add an element of fun. The player who finishes first wins the pot.

Playing time: 5 to 15 minutes

Number of players: Best for five or more players, but still fun for as few as two

Number of dice needed: Three

Other equipment needed: Pencil and paper for each player, with the numbers 1 to 12 and 12 to 1 written as below:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Object of the game: Be the first player to score the numbers 1 to 12, then 12 to 1, in numerical order.

To start the play: Each player rolls the dice to determine the order of play. The highest roller goes first. Play then proceeds clockwise.

A player has one cast of the three dice in each turn. The first number he must make is a 1. If any of the three dice on his cast shows a 1, the player crosses out that number on his score sheet. A player failing to produce a 1 on any of the three dice on his first turn has no move and must pass the dice to the next person.

While food and reminiscing are always great parts of any family gathering, playing games also bring families together. Dice games are a great choice for family gatherings since they require little equipment, besides dice; as gaming skills require few, if any, skills, they are accessible to players of every age. So, the next time your family is getting together, try some of these great dice games:

• Bingo - This is a simple dice game that can work for families with members of varying ages. This game can be played straight or as a betting game.

Playing Time: Bingo may be played for as long as there are players with sufficient funds and enthusiasm interested in playing.

Number of Players: Any number of players can participate. Bingo is actually a head-to-head contest between the Banker and each player, but the action is fast enough to accommodate even a large group.

Number of Dice needed: Two

Other equipment needed: Chips or coins for betting; dice cup is optional.

Object of Game: Make a higher cast than the Banker.

To start that game: The player who rolls the dice with the highest roller becomes the Banker. The players then place their bets in the center of the playing area and the Banker covers all bets. A House limit on the size of a player's wager may need to be enforced.

Game Play: The Banker makes the first cast of the dice. Then the player to the Banker's left has one roll to see if he can beat the Banker. The player whose cast produces the highest total wins that round. In case of a tie, the Banker wins. Play then proceeds clockwise, with the Banker making a separate roll against each player. In each case, the Banker rolls first and then the player. It is important to note that if the Banker's cast produces the cast known as boxcars, 6-6, he has an unbeatable cast and the player does not throw. Conversely, if the player's cast produces 6-6, the Banker pays off at double the amount of the player's bet. The role of Banker proceeds clockwise.

• Pig - This is an amusing game of chance and strategy suitable for a family or social gathering.

Playing Time: 5 to 15 minutes

Number of Players: Any number of players may participate.

Number of Dice: Two

Other equipment needed: Score sheet and dice cup
Object of Game: To reach 100 points

Score Sheet: A score sheet that indicates a running total should be used.

Game Play: The first player rolls two dice. If he throws an ace (1) he does not score and must then pass the dice to the next player. If he throws any other
number, he scores that number of points or he can continue to roll. Points are totaled by adding together the face values of all dice thrown in a player's turn. A player may make as many throws as he wishes in each turn; but if he throws an ace on any cast, he loses all his points for that turn and has to pass the dice to the next player. A player can stop his turn at any time, scoring his total for that turn and passing the dice to the next player. The first player to reach 100 points is the winner but the complete inning must be played out. If the players continue to outscore each other despite reaching 100 then the highest scoring players wins. Strategy comes into play when players must determine when the optimal time for them to stop rolling the dice.

Dice games involving skill

While most games rely on simple luck to be played successful, there are dice games that involve a level of skill. If you are looking for a challenging game to play here are a couple of great examples of dice games involving skill:

• Yacht - This game accommodates any number of players and uses five dice. Each player, in turn, may cast the dice three times per round and twelve rounds make a complete game. After his first two casts in each round a player may pick up and cast over as many of the dice as he wants to. The faces of the five dice showing on the table at the end of his third cast, or at the end of a previous cast, if he chooses to stand on what he has, must be scored in whichever of the following categories the player chooses:

Yacht, or five of a kind, scores 50.
Big Straight, 5 numbers in a row, scores 40.
Little Straight, 4 numbers in a row, scores 30.
Full House, three of one number and two of another, scores 25.
Four of a Kind, 4 of same number, scores total of all dice cast.
Chance, any five dice, scores the total of all dice.
Sizes scores as many times six as there are sixes among
the five dice; likewise with Fives, Fours, Threes, Twos and Aces.

With each turn a player must select a category not previously selected; so at the end of the game he will have selected each category once. He may select a category even though it will make his score zero for that turn; thus, having tried for Little Straight and missed, he may select Aces even though his dice show 2-2-3-4-5, because the most he could ever score for Aces would be 5 and it is the cheapest category to forego. Having wound up with 6-6-5-4-3 when trying for Big Straight, he may select Choice and score 24, which is close to the maximum he could make with five dice in any case. A special score sheet is usually ruled off, to keep track of the categories each player has previously selected and the scores he has made. The maximum scores possible are:

Yacht 50 Full house 28 Fours 20
Big Straight 30 Choice 30 Threes 15
Little Straight 30 Sixes 30 Twos 10
Four of a Kind 29 Fives 25 Aces 5

• Six-Six-Six - This is a game of bluffing that enjoyed lots of popularity on college campuses in the 1960's. "Six-Six-Six" may be played as a gambling game, but is also
a great party game.

Playing Time: About 5 minutes for each round.

Keep in mind, though. that some rounds take only a minute or two while others may last up to 10 minutes.

Number of Players: Two will work but four or more are best.

Number of Dice: Three

Other equipment needed: Two dice cups and chips, if gambling.

Object of the Game: You want to play the game in a way to induce an opponent to challenge an honest call and allow bluff calls to pass unchallenged.

To Start: Each player casts the dice. The highest roller begins the game. Play proceeds clockwise.

Game Play: The first player casts the dice by shaking them concealed in the dice cup and then turning the cup over on top of the playing surface, thus concealing the result of the cast. The player then checks the dice by tipping the cup back and shielding the dice from the view of his opponents. He then makes a "call." The highest possible call is 666, the lowest is 111. Keep in mind that the dice are always read in descending order. The bluffing aspect of this game means that a player may make any call he chooses, regardless of the dice he actually has or sees under his cup. After the player has made his call he carefully slides the hidden dice to the player on his left without upsetting how the dice lie. The player receiving the cup must decide to accept or challenge the call of the previous player. If he accepts the call he is allowed one throw of the dice on his turn. He can recast as many dice as he wants to. The process continues with each player’s call being higher than the player before. Any player receiving a pass of the dice may challenge the previous call. He does so by announcing his intention to challenge, then lifting the cups to reveal the dice. The challenge is successful if the three dice do not read at least as high a number as the number called. The player who made the call, having lost the round, begins the next round with a fresh throw of all three dice. If the three dice read as high, or higher than, the call the challenger loses the round and begins the next. When a player calls 666, the player on his left must challenge, since he cannot make a higher call on his turn. Players may also change seats every so often to provide a variety of caller-challenger conflicts during the course of a game.

I am writing an column for Surfnetkids.com about homemade polymers, and I realized that the longer I researched, the more names I stumbled upon for the homemade goop. Here's the list so far: goo, goop, gak, slime, flubber, oobleck.

Do you know of any others? Let me know by commenting below.

Mother's Day is over, and that means that Father's Day is just around the corner. And we have started a series of Father's Day gift ideas: gifts that can be handmade by little fingers (along with some grownup help.) Enjoy, and keep coming back because will have more ideas over the next week or two.

To celebrate Play Doh's 50th anniversary, Hasbro has released a Play Doh Perfume. It is available online from Demeter Fragrance and it should be available in Sephora stores by this summer.

Enjoy!