Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Losers


I was playing Chinese Checkers with Evelyn the other day. I love Chinese Checkers.
I played a lot when I was a kid, and when no one wanted to play with me,
I played against myself. I think I'm a pretty good player, I can get from one side to the other quickly.


I played two games with Evelyn and won both times.
She got quite upset.
I told her to keep trying, to pay attention to how I play and she may pick up some winning moves.
The third game, she just started imitating my every move, but it only confused her and she lost again.
I showed her some tricks, that it helps to make what I call a "ladder" with her marbles.
The fourth game was close, I helped and moved a few of her marbles to help her understand the ladder trick, and it ended with her one marble behind me when I put my final marble home.


She nearly burst into tears because I won again, but I gave her props for being so close behind me and almost winning. She started feeling better when I told her that we'd play again the next day and she just might beat me then.


I don't believe in letting kids win all the time.  It was different when they were toddler-aged, when winning a game encouraged and motivated them to play more and in playing, they learned sportsmanship and whatever else the game taught.  As they get older, they need to learn that there are winners and losers. Sure, it'd be nice to win all the time, but it isn't realistic and it doesn't teach them anything, except maybe to get cocky.

Of course I don't like to see my children cry, but I also know that I can't hand them everything they want. Losing gracefully now, at a child's game, may someday teach her how to deal with something in real life, when she is older. We don't lord it over them when we win, we give encouragement and compliments on a game well-played, and offer tips and tricks for next time. Hopefully they get fired up and try harder next time, learn from their mistakes and someday, they'll beat us for real, not because we let them win.

5 comments:

barefoot gardener said...

I totally agree that kids need to lose at games now and again to prep them for not always winning as adults. Yay for you, both as a great mom and a great chinese checkers player!

Nice games, by the way...

Cheyenne said...

Great post...again. Yes, children need to learn these things.

This was one of my favorite games as a child, even well into my teens and beyond. I played against myself often, and won every time. You can't lose...guaranteed.

jenny said...

Barefoot-- Thank you! I keep an eye out for old chinese checker boards when I go yard sale-ing. I have 6 up on the wall in the dining room. They're so colorful and fun to look at! I do hope the kids take away good sportsmanship and that it's ok to lose now and then.

Cheyenne-- LOL! That's a funny, but true, way to look at it! Maybe some day we'll play a game together! :o)

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I think this is great a child that is let to win all the time will be surely disappointed in adult life best to learn how to lose gracefully now. B

jenny said...

Buttons-- I agree! A few tears now will hopefully teach them a thing or two for the future. :o)