🟡 Remember Connect Four? Here’s How to Play It — and Make a Giant Outdoor Version for Your Kids
Before screens ruled playtime, we had games like Connect Four — fast, competitive, and surprisingly strategic. It was a staple of kitchen tables and rainy afternoons. If you had siblings, you definitely fought over who got to be red or yellow. And when you finally dropped that winning disc in place? Nothing felt better.
Let’s revisit how it works — and how to make it even more fun for today’s kids with a giant backyard version (plus a DIY option you can make on the cheap).
🎯 How to Play Connect Four (Classic Rules)
Goal: Be the first to connect four of your colored discs in a row — horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
👣 Setup:
- Two players
- One vertical grid (usually 7 columns x 6 rows)
- 21 red discs, 21 yellow discs
✅ Turns:
- Players take turns dropping one disc into any column.
- The disc falls to the lowest open slot in that column.
- First player to connect four of their discs in a line wins.
If the grid fills up with no winner, it’s a draw.
🏡 Modern Twist: Giant Outdoor Connect Four
Bring the nostalgia into the backyard! Giant Connect Four is perfect for garden parties, school fairs, or just screen-free outdoor time.
🧒 Why Kids (and Adults) Love It:
- Active and social
- Great for motor skills and strategic thinking
- Makes for a fun, decorative garden piece
🛒 Where to Buy a Giant Version
Here are some current options available on Amazon:
Maxmass Giant 4 in A Row Best Values
3 In 1 Giant 4 in A Row, Four Connect Board Game Set
GYMAX Giant Connect 4 Game
Maxmass Giant 4 in A Row
🛠️ DIY Version: How to Make Your Own (Giant or Tabletop)
✅ For a Giant Outdoor Version:
You’ll need:
- A large wood or plastic frame (or build one with plywood + dowels)
- 2 sets of large discs (cut from foam board, cardboard, or plastic lids)
- A backboard and support legs
- Paint (red and yellow)
Steps:
- Cut holes into a large vertical board in a 7×6 grid.
- Attach dowels or guides inside to catch the discs in rows.
- Create a drop-in slot at the top.
- Paint your discs red and yellow.
- Add a sliding release at the bottom to reset the game!
Or: Use an old wooden pallet, cut holes with a jigsaw, and mount on legs!
🧾 For a Tabletop DIY (Kids’ Craft Style):
- Draw a 7×6 grid on a cereal box or cardboard.
- Cut out coins or use bottle caps (red/yellow)
- Use plastic sleeves or strips of clear plastic to guide them down.
- Cheap, fun, and fast!
💭 Final Thought: Simple Fun, Supersized
Connect Four was never about flashing lights — it was about quick thinking, laughs, and revenge rematches. Now, with a giant outdoor version, you can bring that same energy back to life, scaled up for modern kids (and big kids too). And if you’re crafty, your own DIY version is just an afternoon away.
Want more childhood games made big again? Check out our Games Revisited section, or tell Freddy (our AI assistant) what game you remember… we’ll bring it back to life.
