This dialogue was often heard between a dad and a five-year old boy who were playing the Snakes and ladders game. In the end the game had to stop.
Is there anyone out there still playing Snakes and Ladders while smart phone games are so popular?? Many experts have commented on the negative effects on children of smart phone games and other electronic gadgets, so why not consider this old game. It is economical and it also fosters better parent and child relationship.
The rules for Snakes & Ladders are very simple. There are a hundred grids on the board and a die. You throw the die to get the number to move. If you meet a snake, you slide down; if it is a ladder, you climb up, closer to your win. The one reaching a hundred is the winner.
For me, I treasure this quality time with my son. No matter whether it is before dinner, after dinner or before bed time, I love to play a game or two with him. Besides that, it is also a good time to teach a child. After a year of playing the game, my five year old son has learned the following:
1. Learning numbers
In order to know the rules of the game, he needs to know how to count the dots on the die and make his moves accordingly. At first, he needed guidance on how to move. Often the child would move in the wrong direction or wrong number of grids. That was because he had not made the connection between the number on the die and that on the grid board. Soon practice makes perfect. After some time, he easily moves straight to the right grid with no sweat.
2. Fast doesn’t mean winning
According to the rule, you start off by throwing the die and the number shown on the die will decide who moves first. In the beginning, the boy would always cry if he was not the first one to make a move. Or he would feel discouraged if either mom or dad was leading far ahead of him and wanted to disqualify the game. He thought that the first one to start or those moving faster would surely be the winner. This is a good opportunity to explain to him, it is not always true. After many times, he now understands that, an early starter or one who is ahead doesn’t always necessarily win the game.
3. Follow the rules
Some experts in education said we should not nurture a “Spoilt brat” or “A little king”. He might survive at home but fail in the outside world. Through this game, we found that the boy refused to be bitten by the snake or to move down the snake to the tail grid. He would tantrum for us to make exceptions for him not to follow the rules. It is indeed a battle of wills. If we parents gave in to him, he would think that it would be okay to skip the rules. However, when he grows up, how can he face failure in the real world? Thus, parents need to be firm and fair to abide by the rules. If he refuses to cooperate, then no one is willing to play with him. He soon learns the hard way!
4. Character building
Every player in the game of Snakes and Ladders will meet two situations.
I) You will meet the ladders and head up.
II) You will meet the snakes and feel unlucky.
Like the little boy, when others are moving way ahead, he would be unwilling to lag behind; seeing others bitten by the snake, he would gloat over it. He would be ecstatic when he meets a ladder and ‘curses’ others to have the same fate if he himself is bitten by snakes. This is another way to show him that life is full of ups and downs, we can’t be “lucky” all the time and perhaps one may continue heading for a downfall with multiple losses.
5. Acceptance of failure
Everyone wants to be a winner, especially children. However, successes and failures are part and parcel of life. Thus, it is important to teach them the fact of losing and this is not easy. While playing the game, we teach him by not scolding him when he loses nor give in to his tantrums. Slowly, he learns to tearfully accept defeat. He continues playing the game or goes to the next round. He has also learned to choose another activity like drawing to soothe his emotions after losing.
A simple game like Snakes and Ladders has taught a young boy of five many important facts of life and his parents are his best tutors. Why not choose this fun game which is economical and helps to foster closer family relationships while at the same time teaching the child some tough but necessary facts of life?