DIY Wooden Card Holder for Playing Cards
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Card games are fun to play with kids, but little hands may struggle to hold the cards. Make a wooden card holder for playing cards so no one gets frustrated.
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Uno is a classic card game that kids have enjoyed for decades, but game play can get a little wild if you’ve got too many cards to handle. Not a big deal with honest parents, but somewhat disconcerting once you’ve got older siblings to contend with!
Whether your players include little ones with small hands, an adult holding the baby, or older adults with a touch of arthritis, having a set of playing card holders can make game play much more fun.
Our six kids span 11 years and they all love playing games. Early on we discovered that it was difficult for young children to hold all their cards without sharing their hand with the whole world.
You can use a large chip clip to hold cards, and I’ve seen a fabric type holder, but I love these hands-free playing card holders — perfect for when you’re holding the baby or wriggling toddler!
You Need a Card-Board or Card Holder for Playing Cards.
Bryan created a set of these “card-boards” for our toddlers and younger children to use. Similar to the Scrabble tile holders, these card-boards hold any number of cards so that little people can see their cards without laying them all out on the table.
I recently busted them out to play Quiddler with my teens and young adult kids. The card holders for playing cards are perfect for adult card games as well as the classic uno. (Great game, by the way; it’s like Scrabble with a twist!)
If you’ve got a handy man — or woman — in the family, these are quite easy to make. Well, sort of. I mean, I didn’t make them. But, Bryan assures me it’s simple if you’re tooled up.
You can find similar card boards on Amazon, but it is cheaper to make your own.
How to Make a Wooden Card Holder for Playing Cards
- Cut several large planks out of 1×6 or 1×8 clear pine.
- Cut the channels with a table-saw set half-way through the material at about a 10° angle. A thin-kerf blade works best. (That just means that the blade is thin so that it doesn’t make too wide of a cut.)
- Sand and smooth any rough edges.
See? That wasn’t hard, was it? And you’ll have so much fun playing cards with your kids once you get tooled up with card holders for anyone who wants one!
A set of wooden card holders makes a great Christmas Gift packaged with a favorite card game. Be sure to check out some of our favorite games to play as a family as they are some of the best frugal gifts to give.
Good Ideas for Family Fun
What do you think?
I’d be honored if you chimed in the comments section. What do you think?
This post was originally published on June 29, 2010. It has been updated for content and clarity.
What a great idea!!
That’s a neat idea. My kids aren’t old enough for card games yet, but when I used to nanny they always had trouble. I have a slightly different problem of my own. I am sort of ambidextrous, but I can only seem to fan my cards in a lefty way, making it impossible to actually read which card I have. I have to hand-place each card in my hand in order to fan the traditional way. They probably make “lefty” cards for us weirdos, but who would want to play with us? 🙂
FishPapa needs to make these and you should sell them! We would gobble these up in no time!
We just turn a puzzle box upside-down and stick the cards in the cracks for the littles!
I know several in our family that could benefit from one of these! And I’m not just talking little people, either…
So, can I order 2 from FishPapa?
Laura
@Laura Aridgides, Yes, I’m thinking the same thing!!
What a great idea!
I totally need one of these! i need to get the husband to make some, thanks for the idea!
I haven’t tried it, but read somewhere to staple two coffee can lids together – just the bottom 1/2 or 1/3, and with the “lips” facing away from each other. The cards can then be held in the top 1/2 in the same way an adult would hold the hand.
LOVE THAT IDEA!!!! It so funny when I play cards with my daughter. She hides behind the ottoman to lay her cards on the floor because she can’t hold them all. So, she is constantly “jumping” back and forth looking at her cards. Especially when playing Uno Attack and she has 15+ cards in her hands! Thanks for the idea!