Let the board games begin
I didn't come from a game-playing family. Well, I take that back. There were a lot of head games, but definitely no board games. Or card games. And only one video game (PONG!).
As a kid, I was envious of my friends who played Monopoly and Hearts and more with their families. I felt a little cheated that I never got to be part of what seemed to be such a fantastic family activity, one that bonds, teaches fairness and encourages humor and humility. I longed for that kind of stability, that kind of learning to play by the rules. That kind of family.
Sure, I received a few games as a kid. I remember having Trouble and Operation and Mousetrap. But they were given as gifts to play with friends, not family. My family didn't do that.
At least not the family I grew up in. The family I created with Jim did play games -- and still does.
When my three daughters were little, we had Chutes and Ladders and Candyland. I have to be honest in admitting I don't remember much about playing those games with the girls. Three little ones of (basically) consecutive ages creates a bit of a haze around the early years. But we had the games, and I know we played them.
As the girls got older, our game stash grew. We had Life, Aggravation and Rummikub (a fave game for New Year's Eve for many years, thanks to Gramma Darryl). As the girls became teens then young adults, we added Outburst, Trivial Pursuit, Movie Lines and others.
When Megan married Preston, he taught us card games: Hearts and Euchre (although I hate Euchre ... and readily admit that to Preston).
Our most recent game additions include Imaginiff, Fact or Crap, MadGab and -- the newest family favorite -- Bananagrams (thanks to Grilled Grandma Susan's suggestion).
We are far from being the kind of family that has scheduled family game nights, but when we get together for longish visits, it's more likely than not that a game will be played. To my delight, we have become one of those game-playing families I once envied.
Which is why I was so thrilled that for Bubby's second birthday he received his first board game. It wasn't from me, and it wasn't the traditional toddler standby of Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. It was Goodnight Moon Game. And Bubby loves it!
Goodnight Moon Game game play for two-year-olds is pretty basic. It's a matching game focusing on learning to take turns. And everyone wins (which keeps adult players from having to patronize the little ones by pretending to suck at a game). That's good enough for now. The rules can be adjusted according to age, so Bubby will learn about fairness and strategy later.
So with Goodnight Moon Game readily available during my recent adventure with Bubby, I enjoyed my very first board game with my grandson. He was the perfect game player, happily taking turns and even assisting me when I took a bit longer than necessary in finding matches because I kept snapping pictures. He took the matching tasks quite seriously and glowed with pride upon completing the matches with Gramma.
Twice during my visit, Bubby and I played three or four rounds of Goodnight Moon Game. Because Bubby concentrated so hard in his search for matches, we didn't speak much during the game, other than his exclamations of "There it is!" or "My turn!" and "Your turn!" But even without the jovial conversation that typically accompanies playing games, my first games with Bubby will go down in my memory as some of my favorite ever.
Without a doubt, in playing our first real game together, Bubby and I both came out winners.
Today's question:
What is your favorite board or card game?
Friday, August 27, 2010
Reader Comments (19)
How sweet! Your Bubby is such a cutie :-)
My kids liked "hi-ho cherry-o" or some such name - picking "cherries" off the tree, putting them in your pail or on your own tree depending if the pail is knocked over, or something. And endless Candyland runs as well as Chutes & Ladders. Don't forget good old-fashioned Crazy-8s and Slapjack!
My sister and dad are world-class Monopoly players, a game I still hate to this day! Haven't played a board game with the kid in a while, your post reminds me it's time :-)
He is beyond adorable Lisa!!!
I have always loved playing those games (with the exception of Monopoly...can get pretty ugly when all that fake money is involved).
My son has been crowned junior Rummy card king and I always have a willing partner. Wish I would have known about that Good Night Moon game way back then. I used to read it to him all the time (-:
Growing up we played Yahtzee! a lot -- my mom and brothers and me, Dad didn't play. I hated Monopoly and Sorry, because my brothers would gang up on me with those games. As an adult, I really like Scrabble (because I'm a word nerd) and any kind of "party" game I can play with a group of friends -- like Imaginiff, Fact or Crap and MadGab.
We were a game playing family when I was growing up and I made sure we had family game night when the kids were growing up. My favorite games today are Scrabble and Yahtzee. When the kids come to visit they like to bring Risk for us to play. Unfortunately Mr. Memories doesn't like to play games and although he did with our young kids, he doesn't now with our adult kids! :(
Our family has played games for 4 generations. My grandma taught me Canasta and jacks, which she played with me on the kitchen floor. My grandparents played bridge with my parents every Thursday night and my mom still plays bridge to this day. We played hearts and poker on family vacations. Also, cribbage.
My granddaughters love to play Candyland, Monopoly, and Hello Kitty. Recently, I bought them UNO and they played it when they went camping. We always play Tic-Tac-Toe at restaurants.
Sometimes the biggest challenge is who gets to win! My 7-year does not like to lose. So I wrote a post on my GaGa Sisterhood blog called: Teach Your Child How To Be a Good Loser. Here's the link:
http://bit.ly/bdcRjj
How great that you created a family that plays games! We played them as a child quite often. My mother was quick to teach us "humility," because she never "let" us win ... we had to do it on our own.
Playing games with your grandchild must be quite a thrill. Indeed, you were both "winners." What a lucky kid!
Looks like a fun time! Bubby is so lucky to have such a fun grandmother!
Our family has game nights quite often, and actually I was thinking of having one as a bit of end-of-summer-fun. The kids, even the older two, really enjoy the time together.
That precious little face clearly defines the word "concentration".
Jerry and I (second marriage, the good one) loved to play Scrabble with the kids who were still at home; don't play any board games now because Jerry's deceased these past fifteen years, the kids are all grown and gone, and the two cats and two dogs all cheat.
We are a game playing family. A favorite is Guesstures we always end up laughing until our sides hurt. Spoons is also a fast pace card game we love. The Barbie board game is one that I grew up loving. I lost it throughout the years but they came out with a new retro one and I purchased it for my girls. I now play it with my granddaughters.
I have always played Scrabble with my father. He and my mother have played three or four games a day of Scrabble during the last thirty years or so. My father (90) lost his sight and he misses his Scrabble dearly. I continue to play scrabble with my mom (87) who has dementia but because the game is so familiar to her she does quite well.
What a great game for Bubby! As for me, I like Scrabble, like Pam, and I love Scattergories. I don't know if they make that one anymore, but I kick butt at that game.
We are a game playing family too. Growing up I remember sitting around the table and playing The Game of Life and Yahtzee with the whole family, which are still my all time favorites. We had a regular game night cause it was cheap, especially with six kids. I still play board games with my two grown children, their significant others and my granddaughter. Whenever my son is in town we have game night. And of course game night with you and Jim is always a blast!
I grew up playing games and we played games with our children. Still do. My favorite game is Boggle (or Scrabble). Love those word games. Then comes Spoons (like Grandma Shelley mentioned). I recently organized our game closet where we have three huge shelves stacked high with games. We probably have 30-40 games! And that's not counting all of the card games we play.
That's so sweet! We played a few board games while I was growing up but everyone in my family is SO competitive that it really wasn't all that much fun because we all wanted to win. Ha!
On the other hand - I love, love, love Trivial Pursuit. On occasion, I'll talk (beg, plead with) Mitch into playing with me even though he ALWAYS wins. For some reason, I don't mind. I just like hearing the answers to the questions, even if I get them wrong.
Oh, and yesterday, I found out one of our companies is going to be advertising a game called "Snakes and Ladders." WTH? I don't know if it's a twisted take on Chutes and Ladders or what. I asked if it came with real snakes but no one knew.
Blackjack! Or did you mean something I played as a kid?
I'm gonna go with Monopoly then.
We weren't big game players in my family or the family I have built with my husband. I wish we had made more of an effort to spend time playing games with our kids. They grew up too fast!
I've just hopped over from LBS and am so glad I did!
The story was so reminiscent of my childhood too. Your fun with your own kids and Bubby mirrors how I've played with nieces and nephews.
My absolute favorite game in the world (besides poker) is Chutes and Ladders. I love making the vroom sound going up the ladders and the whoosh sound sliding down the ladders. I'm 53. Go figure.
I, too, envied game playing families when I was a child.
My mother would occasionally play Scrabble or Yahtzee with me, but not on a regular basis.
I so envied my friends who had games like Mousetrap and Operation. Sigh.
I hope that the games that we play now, Chutes and Ladders, Memory, and Candyland, evolve as our children grow and that we always make time to gather together to connect over a game and the laughter that accompanies it.
Such a great post!
I love to play board games and card games with my grandkids. I also get together frequently with friends to play card games. Right now my favorite is Five Crowns but I also love Phase Ten.
I totally get it, growing up we never played too many games. We would always try to impliment that "Friday night game night" And it would only last for one friday. Then when we did play games, no one (meaning me and my sisters) could get along long enough to last the whole game. I totally envy board game people!
Stopped by from Lady Bloggers :)