Paint-A-Game Kit

Name: Paint-A-Game Kit
Brand: Summer Squash
Price: 54.0 USD
Availability: InStock

$54.00

With Paint-a-Game, kids design and paint their own board game, build a game path, and create characters from blank wooden game pieces.

Artists get to shape the path, invent boosts and traps, and guide their characters through a world they’ve created. Then it’s time to share it and play with friends and family!

What's in this kit?

Step-by-step instruction booklet
Blank board game ready for painting
Wooden game pieces and die
Gouache paint & high-quality paintbrush set
Set of 12 paint markers
Stickers for creating the game path
Prompts for continued making & play

What age is this best for?

This kit is best for kids ages 7 and up for independent making, and ages 3.5+ with adult guidance.

How much time, help, and cleanup does this project need?

This project will take about 2-3 hours to complete. Because it involves the use of paint and paint markers, things can get messy and it is recommended to use a covered surface in a designated making space. While the gouache paint set is washable, the paint markers are not. They are best handled with adult supervision.

Paint-A-Game Kit

$54.00

Kids are the artists here!

With Summer Squash kits, the kids get to choose. The colors, the scenes, the characters, and the story are all theirs to invent and create.

We provide a blank board game, paints, game-making supplies and instructions—but these are just starting points. With just enough structure to support them, kids are able to create a world completely their own.

As they bring their game to life from start to finish, making begins to feel more personal—something shaped by their own choices, imagination, and artistry. Kids develop confidence knowing they built a unique game they can share with their friends and family.

Why kids (& parents) love it

We are obsessed with these art kits. I'm not exaggerating when I say my kids went nuts.

Mom from Los Angeles, CA

Kiddos: Ages 9 & 11

My daughter did a cat and dog board game and we had a lot of fun making it and thinking up the theme, boost and trap. We had even more fun playing it after.

Mom from Salt Lake City, UT

Kiddos: Ages 7 & 9

We really enjoyed this kit - both of my kids could participate and it was good practice for them to learn to collaborate. They did well sharing ideas and allowing each other to contribute and it was a great experience.

Mom from Salt Lake City, UT

Kiddos: Ages 4 & 7

FAQ

Are the paints washable from skin, clothing, and furniture?

Yes, the paints included in the kit are washable, water-based gouache paints from Himi. Though they are designed to wipe up and wash out, it is advised to use a covered surface to reduce risk of staining.

The paint makers, however, are not washable from fabrics and surfaces. We recommend using these with adult supervision, and again, with a covered surface.

Can my child do this independently, or will they need adult help?

Most kids ages 7+ can complete Paint-a-Game independently, depending on their comfort with scissors, basic craft materials, and following written instructions.

Younger children (around 3.5–6) will likely enjoy the project more with adult guidance. Many families treat it as a shared activity—a fun way to spend focused creative time together, whether with a parent, grandparent, or babysitter.

Are these materials safe for kids?

Yes—this kit includes paints, markers, and adhesives that comply with U.S. and European safety standards, along with kid-safe craft materials and child-safe scissors.

Markers are not washable, so we recommend protecting surfaces and clothing during use.

Some components are small or require careful use, so adult supervision is recommended for younger children.

Is everything I need included in the kit?

Yes. The Paint-a-Game kit includes everything your child needs to make the project.

We recommend having a few extra items on hand to make the experience smoother: a cup of water, a paint palette (or small plate), and a surface cover for painting. Paper towels are also helpful for minimizing mess.

Kids are also welcome to introduce materials they already have at home if they’d like to expand or personalize their creation.

Is there replay value, or is it a one-and-done project?

Yes! While Paint-A-Game begins as an art project, it becomes a homemade toy your child can play with again and again.

The instruction booklet includes instructions for playing their game with their family & friends. It also shows kids how to recreate the project later using simple materials from the recycling bin.

There’s also a good chance your child will have leftover art supplies to keep experimenting with on future projects.

Will my child be following strict instructions or creating their own designs?

Our instruction booklet includes step-by-step guidance and plenty of examples to inspire. For this kit, there are a few key steps to help the game function smoothly, like assembling the path and using certain materials in specific ways.

Beyond that, the creative direction is up to them. They choose the colors, themes, materials, and characters, shaping a game that feels personal and exciting to them.

We want your child’s personality to shine!

What makes this art kit different from others?

Many art kits look and feel pre-designed by adults. Ours are different—we believe the most important design work should be done by kids.

They shape the look, feel, and story of their own creations. Developed by a practicing artist and licensed, experienced educator, each kit is designed to offer structure without limiting creativity—so kids can take the materials we provide and make something that truly belongs in their world.

What if my child isn’t very ‘artsy’?

That’s completely okay! Many kids who enjoy this kit might not start out seeing themselves as artists.

Paint-A-Game isn’t just art project—it’s a toy that they first create and then get to play! Instead of following a pre-made game, kids invent their own boosts and obstacles, and draw from worlds that already excite them for the overarching theme of the game. Art is simply the vehicle helps their ideas materialize.

The instruction booklet also includes examples, prompts, and step-by-step ideas for kids who prefer more creative guidance rather than starting from a blank slate.

Created by Artists for Artists

Summer Squash Art Kits are designed by Brooklynn Johnson, a practicing artist and experienced educator with this simple belief: kids are artists, too. Instead of guiding them toward a polished, adult-looking result, these kits are built to celebrate the choices kids naturally make—the colors they choose, the marks they draw, and the way they see the world.

Directions to start, freedom to go anywhere

Our instruction booklet is designed for all kinds of makers—kids who crave clear steps and kids who prefer to do things their own way. We offer simple, step-by-step guidance plus plenty of open-ended prompts, examples, and ideas so they can layer in their own interests and style—there’s no “wrong way” to make your board game.

Create again with supplies from home

One of our favorite sections in the instruction booklet is the “Make it Again” section. Here we invite kids to remix their theater using found materials. It shows them how a project like this can be made from everyday objects—old sheets of cardboard, scraps, and whatever catches their eye.

It encourages kids to see creative potential in ordinary, even discarded things—and to feel confident recreating what they’ve learned with or without the kit.

Learn while you play

Working with their hands helps kids to slow down, focus, and learn the patience of making. As they cut, paint, glue, and build, they develop confidence with materials and the satisfaction of creating something real.

Along the way, they begin to think like storytellers—shaping characters, settings, and themes as their ideas take form—all while building fine motor skills, strengthening creative problem-solving abilities, and cultivating an understanding of how materials behave.