Spaghetti Box Kids

An excellent strategy for battling boredom is to teach your child to play classic card games like go fish, old maid and crazy eights. Card games engage your child in calculation, pattern recognition and strategy. They invite her full attention and strengthen her ability to remain focused. There are no buzzers, lights or buttons. There’s nothing to plug in. No batteries are required. Most of the activity in card games is abstract. The action consists mainly of figuring probabilities. Because card games so effectively captivate your child’s attention, there is next to no stress. They provide simple, calm activity. You’ll find plenty of satisfaction in seeing your child execute strategies unique to her thinking. You’ll also have the pleasure of watching her skills rapidly develop. (It won’t take long for her to legitimately challenge the outcome.) As those skills are unfolding, you can easily move up the food chain of card games. The numerous variations of rummy provide endless hours of card playing fun and are enjoyed by people of all ages. By the time your child gets good at rummy, she’s capable of playing just about any card game, so if you have some old-time favorites, it’s time to brush up on the rules. And don’t forget cribbage!

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