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For me, it's always a challenge to play board games with my kids. They are now 8, 6 and 4, and none of them wants to lose. It always ends up with someone cryin

For me, it's always a challenge to play board games with my kids. They are now 8, 6 and 4, and none of them wants to lose. It always ends up with someone crying, sometimes with all of them crying (including the winner). For other parents who have the same issue: I was able to "fix" this situation by declaring the winner as the person who is able to take defeat without crying. After that I mostly can declare all of them winners. Sometimes I'm able to end the game nicely like that. Just saying that playing a board game with small kids is not always as easy as your imagine it to be. EDIT: One more thing: there are some nice co-op games for kids, and with those I never have a problem. A real recommendation!

quadcore 9y ago
Thanks for sharing the anecdote. I think you should ask yourself why are they crying. Is it because they are hurt or because they expect something to happen by doing it, like you declaring them winners? I'll bet they still playing the "game"...
- koonsolo 9y ago
  Kids are always playing the "game" ;). In this case, they won't get anything out of crying, so I guess it is purely out of frustration. A lot of times, the winner also enjoys rubbing it in, and making the others cry. Kids have all the survival emotions, and none of the social skills to hold back on them. But that's probably our job as a parent, to teach them the social skills. Better they learn it now, that when that colleague got that manager job they thought they were entitled to.
5_minutes 9y ago
Hah! Definitely have the same problem, there's always someone crying. Which are some of those co-op games?
- tialaramex 9y ago
  Pandemic is THE classic of the group. Other things to try, keeping in mind this is for kids (or I'd suggest Legendary Encounters: Alien and Shadowrun: Crossfire) might be: Forbidden Island (or Forbidden Desert, they're similar) The Dresden Files deck building game
- rubinelli 9y ago
  Forbidden Island, Castle Panic, Forbidden Desert, and Pandemic, from less to more complex.
- koonsolo 9y ago
  Whoowasit? is the one I mainly play with my kids. They love it. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33643/whoowasit https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33643/whoowasit
- Chris_Jay 9y ago
  My favourite by far is defenders of the realm. Apparently it's very similar to Pandemic (which I've not played), but with an '80s D&D theme. In my experience it really sparks the imagination.
EdwardDiego 9y ago
I love Pandemic with my kids - saving the world together? Hell yeah!
qznc 9y ago
I believe dealing with your emotions (especially frustration in the case of losing) is one of the big teachings of board games. At least, this believe is my only reason for playing certain games with my kids like Snakes-and-Ladders. I fail to recognize them as actual games because there are practically no decisions to be made. With most games, I can let my kids win by making stupid decisions. With Snakes there is no such option. The dice can force me to win and my kids have to deal with losing.
wallace_f 9y ago
Years ago when I was younger and overseas, I played Monopoly with a group of European 20-something girls and one of them ended up crying as defeat became clear.
- Y_Y 9y ago
  Years ago I was younger too! Anyway monopoly makes people of all ages and different sorts want to cry.
Angostura 9y ago
For playing with kids try Forbidden Island. Has elements of Pandemic apparently (I haven't played Pandemic) cooperative, games typically don't take more than about half an hour.
- james-skemp 9y ago
  Much easier than Pandemic though; I've never won in all the games I've played. There's a desert version as well where you build a ship, which is fun no matter the age.
arichard123 9y ago
If they cry that means that they are invested and you are doing something they care about. I can't think of a better way to learn about how emotions can control you than surrounded by family in a safe environment where nothing truly important is on the line. You are doing grade A parenting right there.
BrandoElFollito 9y ago
When playing games, my children somehow never cared when they lost (we never made a big deal of it). They were enjoying the game itself (and sometimes ended up upset one on the other, but not because they lost but because the other one laughed, cheated, breathed the wrong way or whatever). Two boys, 2 years apart, from 5,7 to now (11,13). They were astonished when they played with their cousins (whom they like a lot) and the cousins started to cry when they lost. Mine told them that they (the cousins) can "take the victory" if they want cause this is just a game.

quadcore 9y ago

Thanks for sharing the anecdote. I think you should ask yourself why are they crying. Is it because they are hurt or because they expect something to happen by doing it, like you declaring them winners? I'll bet they still playing the "game"...

koonsolo 9y ago
Kids are always playing the "game" ;). In this case, they won't get anything out of crying, so I guess it is purely out of frustration. A lot of times, the winner also enjoys rubbing it in, and making the others cry. Kids have all the survival emotions, and none of the social skills to hold back on them. But that's probably our job as a parent, to teach them the social skills. Better they learn it now, that when that colleague got that manager job they thought they were entitled to.

5_minutes 9y ago

Hah! Definitely have the same problem, there's always someone crying. Which are some of those co-op games?

tialaramex 9y ago
Pandemic is THE classic of the group. Other things to try, keeping in mind this is for kids (or I'd suggest Legendary Encounters: Alien and Shadowrun: Crossfire) might be: Forbidden Island (or Forbidden Desert, they're similar) The Dresden Files deck building game
rubinelli 9y ago
Forbidden Island, Castle Panic, Forbidden Desert, and Pandemic, from less to more complex.
koonsolo 9y ago
Whoowasit? is the one I mainly play with my kids. They love it. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33643/whoowasit https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/33643/whoowasit
Chris_Jay 9y ago
My favourite by far is defenders of the realm. Apparently it's very similar to Pandemic (which I've not played), but with an '80s D&D theme. In my experience it really sparks the imagination.

EdwardDiego 9y ago

I love Pandemic with my kids - saving the world together? Hell yeah!

qznc 9y ago

I believe dealing with your emotions (especially frustration in the case of losing) is one of the big teachings of board games. At least, this believe is my only reason for playing certain games with my kids like Snakes-and-Ladders. I fail to recognize them as actual games because there are practically no decisions to be made. With most games, I can let my kids win by making stupid decisions. With Snakes there is no such option. The dice can force me to win and my kids have to deal with losing.

wallace_f 9y ago

Years ago when I was younger and overseas, I played Monopoly with a group of European 20-something girls and one of them ended up crying as defeat became clear.

Y_Y 9y ago
Years ago I was younger too! Anyway monopoly makes people of all ages and different sorts want to cry.

Angostura 9y ago

For playing with kids try Forbidden Island. Has elements of Pandemic apparently (I haven't played Pandemic) cooperative, games typically don't take more than about half an hour.

james-skemp 9y ago
Much easier than Pandemic though; I've never won in all the games I've played. There's a desert version as well where you build a ship, which is fun no matter the age.

arichard123 9y ago

If they cry that means that they are invested and you are doing something they care about. I can't think of a better way to learn about how emotions can control you than surrounded by family in a safe environment where nothing truly important is on the line. You are doing grade A parenting right there.

BrandoElFollito 9y ago

When playing games, my children somehow never cared when they lost (we never made a big deal of it). They were enjoying the game itself (and sometimes ended up upset one on the other, but not because they lost but because the other one laughed, cheated, breathed the wrong way or whatever). Two boys, 2 years apart, from 5,7 to now (11,13). They were astonished when they played with their cousins (whom they like a lot) and the cousins started to cry when they lost. Mine told them that they (the cousins) can "take the victory" if they want cause this is just a game.