Playing Games Can Bring You Closer to Family and Friends
When we were growing up my sisters and I couldn’t wait to get out of the house to play hide and seek, jacks, and jump rope routines with our friends and neighbors.
I don’t remember playing games that included adults and children. Now, as a mom and grandma, however, I can see a tremendous benefit to family members of all ages playing games together.
Some families regularly play board, card and other types of games after dinner or during holidays. After big family dinners we usually gathered around the piano to sing since my mother was an accomplished pianist and organist. That was certainly fun, but I don’t remember games. So I decided to introduce games.
Games have to be introduced carefully when they aren’t common in your family. Some members will be suspicious and fearful that they will be embarrassed. Others will get so competitive that they can turn it into a war. One experience we had recently was lots of fun.
At my adult son’s birthday party last month we played a bowling game on the patio. Pint-sized bottles of water were the pins and a $1 plastic ball was the bowling ball. We had 3 rounds that increased in difficulty. First, they could throw the ball the regular way. Second, they had to turn their back to the pins, lean over and throw the ball through their legs. In the third round each bowler had to stand on one foot.
This game was hilarious because my teenage grandsons were overly confident that they would ace this game. After all, it seemed so simple. But they threw the ball too hard making it bounce over the pins.
We laughed with each other, because nobody was expert at this game. Even those who are good bowlers found that trying to control a ball that was light weight and would bounce is very different from the heavy bowling ball with the finger holes.
The prizes were simple items like a pack of gum, pencil, notepad, snack mix and candy.
This game was a big success for a number of reasons.
- It was simple. Nothing ruins a new game more than complicated rules.
- It gave skilled and unskilled bowlers an equal chance.
- The prizes were simple removing any undo competition over prizes.
- We played enough rounds and had a playoff to allow for multiple winners.
- We laughed together in a nonthreatening activity that even the hesitant players enjoyed.
- Even though it was a competition, we were each pulling for each player to score well.
- The children enjoyed seeing adults participating in a child’s favorite pursuit: having fun just for the sheer joy of it. Of course there’s the added bonus of seeing adults being vulnerable, even if it means looking foolish.
- It’s a pleasant memory that will be with us forever.
What games do your family enjoy? What have been the benefits?
October 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I like the idea of playing games too. We play monopoly, scrabble and guessing games at home. By playing them, my kids learn how to manage money, solve puzzles and good attitudes to adopt if they lose!
October 27th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
That’s wonderful Evelyn. I love Scrabble. Monopoly takes too long for me, but my grandkids love it.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I remember when we were kids we used to play Monop’ly. Nowadays those the board game are replaced by hi-tech ones!
I agree that playing games with the family forms special bonds. I wish more people had time to spend such quality time with the family.
October 28th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Shamelle,
We have so many choices these days that we have to make time for games that can engage all of the family.
Of course, it’s a real hoot for an older family member to try playing one of those high tech games. My grandsons had a great time laughing at me as they tried to teach me how to avoid being “killed” in one of their video games. They couldn’t believe how hard it was for me to master what was so easy for them. It was humbling for me, and eye-opening and entertaining for them.