The weather outside is indeed frightful, and cabin fever may be setting in among your family members. Today I’m sharing my own version of Loteria, the Mexican Bingo style game, perfect for entertaining the whole family. My mom is a Spanish teacher, so she taught me how to play the original Loteria as a kid and I’m starting a new tradition this year with my family. If you’ve never played Loteria before, the game is incredibly easy to learn and can be played by anyone ages 2 and up, and even younger with help. Toddlers and adults alike can get in to it and it would be a great game night tradition to start during the holidays. I’ve created a set of twelve cards for you to print free of charge, as well as a call sheet. This game is perfect for family night, long days during school break, and to teach matching skills with preschoolers. Everybody loves bingo!
Everyone gets a Loteria sheet and a handful of beans or candy to mark the objects called. As the caller shouts out the object drawn, the player placed their bean on top of the matching picture on their card. The goal is to get four in a row in any direction, much like Bingo. You can also play cover all, four corners, and 4 square to mix it up. Beans are traditionally used, but I like to use little candies like chocolate chips or M-n-Ms, and eat them at the end of the game. You could have a big game with prizes for the whole family or use it as a teaching tool with your preschooler.
Click this link to head to the files in Google Drive. Each image contains two playing cards. Print each sheet and cut in half to create two cards. You can leave the call sheet whole and just call objects out at random (marking them with a bean after they’ve been called), or cut it in to pieces and draw each object out of a bowl. When a player gets four in a row they yell, “Merry Christmas!” and win that round. I hope your family enjoys this fun little game and starts a new holiday tradition.
How do you keep your family entertained during the holiday season?
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My free printables are for personal use only.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Love this! So cute…will probably print and play with the kids over the next few MISERABLE WEATHER days!
These cutest things make our children happy
Thank you
Definitely I will give these thing to my childers to fulfill their christmas with lots of joy
This is the best! Thank you! I’m a teacher. My high school kids will love it!