The Glade 4.0

As a new-ish parent (son is 3 1/2, daughter is 7mo.), I hope that in time, my children will learn to enjoy the things that both myself and Oonagh enjoy.

For me, I hope that I can interest my kids in playing tabletop boardgames with me. Mainly because I barely have the time to get together with friends to do so anymore and I want a built-in player 2. Having such a terrible relationship growing up with my parents, I have so little to relate to in this aspect. I attribute almost nothing positive in my life to any efforts they put forward. Perhaps my love of sports to my dad, but that is about all. In other words, I have to good way to relate sharing something I love to my kids because I have no memory of it with my parents.

My son is still young and obviously not too attentive, so maybe I'm jumping the gun here. From any more experienced parents, is there any "best" way to get kids interested in what we enjoy. I think I may know the answer to my own question and that is probably just be the best, involved parent in your kids' lives and interact with them. They'll take to anything that parents lovingly present them and involve their kids with it (I hope).

Honestly, what this truly boils down to is I am afraid that my relationship with my children will resemble the one I had with my parents. I know my fears may be unfounded because, of the few positives I can attribute to my parents, I will be a much more involved parent than my own (learned by opposite example from them)

Anyway, this post turned into more than I expected it to. But the crux of it is probably this...Is there any way to get a 3 1/2 year old on the path to being interested in boardgaming, or is that just too soon? His interest is only in seeing what we are doing and touching the pieces/cards so far, but I hope that will blossom as I try to include him as he gets older.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Find something designed for his age group that fits the activity you enjoy. In the case of boardgames, Hi-Ho CherryO, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, etc. Play those with him now, make it Dad and Sean time. Do the same thing with your daughter when she's ready. Eventually you'll have enough players for a good game of Risk or Diplomacy.

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"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." - Alice R. Longworth

"Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun." - Ash Williams

Hm ... Do you play other boardgames with him? I'm thinking Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, that kind of thing. Given that I just introduced my kids (7 and 10 at the time) to Kingmaker, I think you need to start slowly. And even that will take a few tries. They started playing Stratego a year ago, I think, probably because of my enthusiasm and because it's pretty easy to pick up. The other day, I heard them talking and looked into the family room to see them playing Stratego. I don't think they finished the game, but they did pick it up independently of me, and that was pretty cool.

So, I guess the progression is Candyland-Stratego-Avalon Hill. (Although France 1940 was kind of a big step up and was a bit too complicated for a seven-year old boy). They do enjoy Settlers of Catan, though, come to think of it, and asked if we could all play soon.

The important thing, I would think, it to just spend time with him playing games, perhaps the ones he wants to play that can shape his mind to enjoying what you want to play, eventually. So, games with strategy of some sort, however rudimentary, and some thinking versus just flashy lights or pretty pieces and sounds.

Edit: Of course, Kairtane says in one paragraph what it took me three.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Don't forget card games too, starting with the simpler ones. Easier to carry around for those impromptu games. Kids will want to play anything that involves a parent. It's all about involvement.

Probably the best explanation. I want to be everything my parents weren't to me. I want my kids to look at me in a way that I don't remember ever looking up to my parents, with respect and caring.

I'll be involved with what they want to do and hopefully be able to involve them in what I want them to enjoy with me.

I have a lifetime with them and I guess I shouldn't hurry things. Just enjoy every moment of it.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

There's that...and there's also the fact that if you push them to "like" something, they're probably going to go the other way with it.

It's a thin line to walk.

Oh, trust me. Completely aware of that. I'll not try to force anything on them, only try to inspire interest by involving them and letting them make the decision if they like it or not.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Also remember that it's in our genetic code to want to differentiate ourselves from our parents, which is why dopamine levels shoot up in pre-teens when they hear new music that is different than what their parents listen to (and we lose that high as we age, which is why new music doesn't cut it anymore as we get old).

You can do everything right and your kids may still choose to walk a different path. There's nothing wrong with that and it absolutely doesn't mean you've failed as a parent.

To me, a successful parent is measured by them loving their kids and giving them the tools to make decisions on their own (regardless of the outcome of those decisions). Beyond that, it's out of anyone's control but the kids'.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

Phe and I both live in fear that our inevitable child will grow up to be a jock. Not because we'd be any less proud of him or her, but simply because we have no idea how to relate to that.

Let them see and hear Oonagh and you playing games and having fun doing it. At their age fun is demonstrated by smiling and laughing, not gloating and trash talk (that comes In the pre-teen years). Maybe hold one of them on your lap as you play something simple and laugh whether you win or lose. I started off with checkers, then chess. I was good enough at the latter to beat my father regularly before I hit pubescence. Your son is close to old enough to understand and play games like Go Fish and Old Maid. There are lots of matching games that teach numbers and use pictures. Blocks, Tinker Toys, and Lincoln Logs are things I remember well from about that age, Duplo Blocks (big Legos) are still pretty well received by most three and four year-old kids. You still have a generous window, but playing with them is always going to be key to their developing interest in gaming.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Whatever iit is you want them to do, forbid them from doing.

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Ezekiel 23:19-20 

Get a racing game...put a controler in his hand.

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Raell Kromwell

My son is eight, and lately we've been playing these: http://www.lego.com/legogames/en-us/Pro ... fault.aspx

The Heroica games specifically. He has a lot of fun with it.

Best way to get kids to like something? Tell them it's illegal, immoral or unethical :p

(only slightly kidding)

Ooh, that Creationary seems kind of cool. But only if it will let you make a 5 assed monkey

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Darksiege
Traveller, Calé, Whisperer
Lead me not into temptation; for I know a shortcut

NSFW: Language

[youtube]kqxtaJfH7UA[/youtube]

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

We have that one too, but it's not as fun. There's not really any rules or points, you basically pick a card and try to build what's on the card. There are three levels of difficulty cards.