Playing Games...Literally

Over the past few months, the kids and I have begun to play more board and card games together.  For a long time, the younger kids' language/comprehension skills weren't strong enough to play more than the most basic of games, but that's changing.  Even during the challenging weeks just past, one of the things that seemed to help on occasion was when I pulled out a game and called everyone together at the kitchen table.

Matthew has also showed considerable patience in teaching Seth how to play checkers.  I don't take his patience for granted, because when Seth is learning something he often asks the same questions over and over (as if he's never asked it before), and it can be quite frustrating for the other person.  But teach him Matthew did and they have played many a game of Checkers since.

Very recently Seth also taught Lizzie how to play checkers and that's been an interesting process to watch.  Lizzie doesn't always understand a rule and she often also likes to play the way she wants to play rather than according to the rules, so I've been working with Seth in building his patience and teaching skills as he navigates these nuances with Lizzie.

There have been a few games (literally) tossed up into the air out of frustration, but increasingly all three kids are drawn to these kinds of amusements.  Checkers, Blokus, Skip Bo, Sorry/Trouble, Chutes and Ladders, Balloon Lagoon, several games from Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks, and various card memory games are all currently favourites; and, of course, Matthew loves playing a game of chess with his Dad.  Whatever the game, I'm loving it - I think games are a great way to teach so many things.

(below)

Matthew showing Seth a move that he can make...and overseeing the process!