How to Play Skip-Bo Junior
Skip-Bo Junior scales the classic game down for young children. It uses lower numbers and smaller stock piles so kids can actually finish — and win — a game, while keeping the same satisfying build-and-empty core.
Its clever feature is two levels of play: an easy mode for the youngest players and a step-up mode that plays much closer to grown-up Skip-Bo.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- A shorter deck of lower-numbered cards plus Skip-Bo wild cards
- Kid-friendly character artwork
- Instructions for two difficulty levels
Setup
- Deal each player a small stock pile and turn the top card face up.
- Form the shared draw pile in the middle.
- Choose Level 1 for the youngest players or Level 2 for a bigger challenge.
- The youngest player goes first.
How to play — the rules
Same idea, smaller numbers
As in classic Skip-Bo, you build shared center piles in order and race to empty your stock pile. Junior simply uses lower numbers and shorter stock piles so turns are quicker and the goal feels reachable for kids.
You still draw a hand, play cards onto the center piles, and end your turn with a discard.
Two levels of play
- Level 1 — the simplest version, with the easiest number range and no tricky extras, ideal for first-time players.
- Level 2 — adds more of the classic feel, including the Skip-Bo wild cards and a slightly larger challenge, as children grow into the game.
A turn, step by step
- Draw up to your hand size.
- Play cards onto the center piles, working to advance your stock’s top card.
- Use Skip-Bo wilds (in Level 2) to fill any missing number.
- End your turn by discarding a card.
How to win
Just like the grown-up game, the goal is to empty your stock pile before anyone else.
The first child to play the last card from their stock pile wins — usually in a fraction of the time of the full game.
Strategy tips
- Start young children on Level 1, then move to Level 2 once they’re comfortable.
- Encourage kids to always look at their stock’s top card first — that’s the card that wins.
- Point out when a Skip-Bo wild can finish a stuck pile.
- Keep discard piles tidy so useful low cards stay on top.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Skip-Bo Junior for?
It is designed for ages 5 and up, with a Level 1 mode simple enough for the youngest players and a Level 2 mode that grows with them.
How is Skip-Bo Junior different from regular Skip-Bo?
It uses lower numbers, smaller stock piles, and kid-friendly art, plus two difficulty levels. The core race to empty your stock pile is the same.
Can older kids and adults enjoy Skip-Bo Junior?
Level 2 plays close enough to classic Skip-Bo that the whole family can join in, though older players will likely graduate to the full game.
Do you use wild cards in Skip-Bo Junior?
Skip-Bo wild cards feature in the Level 2 rules, letting players fill any number just like in the classic game.
House-rule ideas
- Mixed levels: let younger players use Level 1 rules while older ones play Level 2 in the same game.
- Play open-handed for the first few games to teach the sequencing idea.
- Shorten the stock pile further for very young children’s first wins.
Buy Skip-Bo Junior
Skip-Bo Junior Card Game
The kid-sized Skip-Bo with two difficulty levels that grow with the child.
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