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Watching the Big Game can be a great family activity — but keeping kids engaged can be a challenge. To make game day more entertaining for little ones, try this Football Bingo game. It’s simple, fun, and gets kids involved in the action while adults enjoy the game and snacks.
We enjoy watching football together as a family and inviting friends over, but kids often lose interest in the broadcast. They like snacks — especially Goldfish® crackers — yet their attention tends to wander. This Bingo game brings them into the event by turning simple game moments into chances to mark their cards. It’s a great way to combine screen time and play so everyone has a good time.
The Big Game Bingo cards differ from standard Bingo: instead of letters and numbers, each card features pictures and football-related words. Items include footballs, players, cheerleaders, pom-poms, and other recognizable images, so kids of various ages can play without confusion. The visuals make it easy for younger children to spot and mark items, while older kids still enjoy the competitive aspect.
How to play:
- Give each child a bingo card. I created four unique cards so not everyone wins at the same time, which keeps the competition going.
- Kids watch the game and mark off pictures or words they spot. For instance, when a team scores a touchdown, children mark the “touchdown” square — a Goldfish cracker makes a tasty and easy marker. If you prefer a more controlled calling method, cut up the bingo calling cards, place them in a bowl, and draw them at random.
- The first player to get five in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins that round. Play multiple rounds throughout the game and reward winners with small prizes or extra snacks.
Click HERE to download the Big Game Football Bingo Printables (PDF)
Tip: To add an extra layer of fun, split the kids into two teams — for example, Team Cheddar vs. Team Pretzel — and give each team its own snack supply. A large mix carton makes it easy to keep snacks on hand and creates team spirit.
Using Goldfish crackers as markers is convenient and adds to the fun because kids can snack while they play. We usually buy larger cartons so there’s plenty for lunches and after-school snacks. In many stores, the big cartons are stocked in the seasonal or back-to-school sections on lower shelves.
Our favorite variety is the Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar/Pretzel 34 oz. carton because it satisfies everyone, but we also buy a 30 oz. cheddar carton that’s perfect for packing in lunches. Keep an eye out for store promotions and coupons if you want to save on bulk purchases. There are sometimes sweepstakes and promotions tied to product campaigns, which may offer additional incentives for participating families.
Football Bingo is an easy, low-prep game that turns game day into a family-friendly event. It keeps kids entertained, encourages observation, and creates extra moments of excitement during the game. Try it at your next gathering — with a stack of printable cards and a few cartons of snacks, you’ll have a winning combination for a fun, memorable day.