Ring a Ring of Roses is a heartwarming hand-in-hand domino-style game made just for children aged 4 and up. First published in 1991 by Ravensburger, this game is all about helping a group of mitten-wearing children form a big circle. Players take turns matching mitten colours and heights to build a line of happy children all holding hands. It’s thoughtful, gentle, and perfect for younger players learning to take turns and spot patterns.
How to Play Each player gets a set of cheerful child figures, each with coloured mittens. On your turn, you try to add a figure to the growing line in the middle of the table by matching the colour and height of the mittens with the ones already in play. If you can't match, you draw another child from the box and wait for your next turn. Children with white mittens are wild cards and can match with any colour!
You win by being the first to place all your figures into the circle — or, in some cases, by having the fewest left when no more can be played. Advanced players can try to form a full ring by matching both ends of the line!
Why Rent Ring a Ring of Roses is gentle and nostalgic — ideal for quiet afternoons, early learners, or family play where competitive energy isn’t the goal. It’s especially brilliant for solo play too. Whether you're building a chain or making one big circle, this game encourages patience, matching skills, and that warm fuzzy feeling of everyone holding hands.
