Child’s Play

Linus(aka Caroline aka Liney) and I were playing Memory this weekend. Only she was cheating. She’d get a lot of matches legally. But then if she messed up, she’d keep looking till she found the match and then celebrate. I never know when to clamp down on the rules of games with kids. Because Linus is 3.

But still, I feel it’s important! And mostly, I think it’s more fun when you play Memory by the rules. So I would tell her that was cheating and try to get her to play right. But mostly, she didn’t. Am I a stick-in-the-mud uncle? Or merely, a defender of fun? I still can’t decide.

But it’s pointless really. All little kids cheat. Kayla, my other niece(who’s 6), likes to cheat at Candyland. And sure, it can be tempting to skip over the molasses the swamp if you draw that card. But it’s not fair. And so I remain vigilant. Ready to cry foul. As I play children’s games, with children. Someday they will thank me. Until then, I will possibly cause tears and temper tantrums. Such is the lot for Uncle Nay.

When do you think is too old to innocently cheat? 10? 12? I think maybe 10 should be the cut-off.

Also, do you let little kids win? Do you let girls win(I don’t mean little girls, I mean big girls, I mean grown-up girls I should say)? Maybe I’m hardcore, but I don’t. I feel like it’s better if I try, because then when they do win, it’s a feat! (I should note, I mean with little kids when you play board games, where anyone can really win. Not like say, playing basketball or something. I’m not going to reject my nieces and nephews shots in their faces or anything, so don’t worry.)