I’ll tell you what: spittle-flecked rages and ear drum shattering cries of anguish when it seems like forever since one kid or the other has won a hand. Not so subtle attempts at cheating by trying to substitute the next card in the stack for the current because the kid took a peak and knows they’re about to lose another hand. Long, wailing laments about how it isn’t fair that they haven’t won a ‘war’ in “forever.” Longer, louder wailing laments when they haven’t won a game in “forever” and it should be “their turn” to win. Accusations of cheating, bending of the rules by pulling a clump of cards off and then “just happening” to pick the highest one out.
It’s also good for early bed times, under the right conditions.
In short, it’s good for building character,
One reply on “War- What’s it Good For?”
Consequences:
1. Forbid playing any games since they can’t handle a loss.
2. Make a conscious effort to point out how professional athletes take the effort to congratulate the end of the game, regardless of who wins/looses
3. Let them ‘play’ with a much younger opponent and see if there is any change in their demeanor
4. Google old episodes of ‘Mr. Rogers Neighborhood’ and/or “Sesame Street” to see if the issue is highlighted
5. Perhaps ‘community service’ at a soup kitchen to see the difference between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
6. Sit down and watch ‘WAR GAMES’ and see if they understand the superior intelligence of WHOPPER and the futility of Tic/Tac/Toe
7. Another good movie would be: “Searching for Bobby Fisher” – in addition to any Walt Disney movie …
8. IF they play a game and do not have the maturity to be ‘honest’ and ‘a good looser’, perhaps take something of higher value away so they could see the true meaning of ‘loss’
9. Perhaps there is an appropriate ‘badge’ in Cub Scouts that might help with this issue – since I’m rather confident that it is not unique to the ladd/lass
10.Remember: Despite their size – they are still kids and some lessons are just harder to learn than others; their egocentric behavior is, sadly, just part of the cycle.
Sometimes it just ‘seems’ like all the parent does is: yell, punish, deprive, and get frustrated. The smarter the kid, the greater the challenge. You’ve got your hands full ! !