Last month, Beth MacKinnon wrote a blog about one of our guidance classroom lessons: expected behaviors while playing a board game. These behaviors include choosing a color pawn, deciding who goes first, taking turns at the right time and good sportsmanship. There are many skills that children learn during game play that will benefit them not only while playing games, but in life in general. In this post, we will explore these skills and the skills they teach.
For some children, this is the first obstacle to playing a game. Two people want the same color and neither wants to give. Being able to navigate this first challenge can teach children negotiation skills, flexibility and problem solving. Here are solutions to calling a truce to this problem
- Roll a die. Whoever gets the highest number, gets the pawn this game and the other player gets the pawn the next game.
- Choose their second favorite color.
- Put all the pawns in an opaque bag. Without looking, each player pulls out a pawn. This is the pawn they will use in the game.
Going first 
This is another tough hurdle for children to overcome. Everyone likes to go first. There's a reason that there are line leaders in elementary schools. It makes children feel important and special. However, not everyone can go first all the time. Again, in solving this dilemma, children learn negotiation and problem solving skills which they can use in many situations. Here are some tried and tested ways to get the game started:
- Roll the die/spin the spinner/pick a card. Highest number goes first. This is the most popular, easiest, and quickest way to solve this age-old problem.
- Play rock, paper, scissors. If you are unsure or don't remember how to play, click here.
- Go in order by birthday months of the year (rather than age).
- Flip a coin.
Being a good sport a.k.a. Learning to lose gracefully
Face it, no one likes to lose. Some children seem to handle losing well, brushing off the loss and continuing on with their day. For others, losing a game is hard: they get upset, quit the game, even overturn the board. It all depends on two factors: their frustration tolerance level and how invested they are in the game. Our culture emphasizes winning, and thus, some children view winning, and losing, as being tied in with their self-worth. Losing helps build resiliency in life and strategies to handle defeat. So what is a parent to do? Here are some tips to help:
- Acknowledge that it's okay to be disappointed or frustrated. This validates their feelings and makes them feel heard. It helps them deal with losing and moving on.
- Remind them of why they played in the first place--not to win, but to enjoy their time together.
Will things go smoothly every time they play? No. Will their skills, and how they handle these obstacles improve over time? Yes. Just like when children learn to walk, tie their shoes, or ride their bike without training wheels, it takes time and practice. But remember: The skills and strategies they learn will last a lifetime!
Resources
So, are you ready to have a Family Game Night yet? Here are some of the more popular games we find the children like to play when they attend lunch or snack groups. Not only are these games fun, they can also teach additional skills such as math, verbal and social skills and can lead to some interesting discussions:
1. Sorry Sliders--number recognition, addition, eye-hand coordination
2. Don't Wake Daddy-- color/number recognition, counting, handling the unexpected (Disclaimer: Daddy sits up at various times which may be startling to some children)
3. Candyland--color recognition, counting, handling disappointment (when needing to move back spaces or miss a turn)
4. Chutes and Ladders--expected/unexpected behaviors (expected=up the ladder, unexpected=down slide), responsibility, making good choices
5. Kids on Stage (a charades game)--reading body language, critical thinking, planning
6. Uno-number/color recognition, matching, planning ahead, strategizing
For additional resources:
Resources
So, are you ready to have a Family Game Night yet? Here are some of the more popular games we find the children like to play when they attend lunch or snack groups. Not only are these games fun, they can also teach additional skills such as math, verbal and social skills and can lead to some interesting discussions:
1. Sorry Sliders--number recognition, addition, eye-hand coordination
2. Don't Wake Daddy-- color/number recognition, counting, handling the unexpected (Disclaimer: Daddy sits up at various times which may be startling to some children)
3. Candyland--color recognition, counting, handling disappointment (when needing to move back spaces or miss a turn)
4. Chutes and Ladders--expected/unexpected behaviors (expected=up the ladder, unexpected=down slide), responsibility, making good choices
5. Kids on Stage (a charades game)--reading body language, critical thinking, planning
6. Uno-number/color recognition, matching, planning ahead, strategizing
For additional resources:
