How to Retain Players in a Toddler Game

M is  a competitive guy; we have to negotiate the rules for flash card drills before we begin.  When K received the Goodnight Moon Game for Christmas, I thought that no one would ever play it with her but me – most of its variations are non-competitive.

So many educational games are non-competitive, that I used to think that was the way all games should be.   B was four when I read Boys and Girls Learn Differently, I kept looking up from the text to ask DH if all those suggestions were true.  It was sort of like my first winter as a gardener (or wanna be gardener) when I memorized a seed catalog.  Most of the annual seeds were described as compact, bushy plants with many large flowers  – and I thought that for my first garden that that was the only form I should look for.  Once I started reading books and magazines about garden design, I had to re-think that.  (I’m still not to good at vegetables).

So I was pleasantly surprised when M anxiously asked if it was too late to join in K’s game.  He cheerfully turned over the cards, and matched them to the large cards, cheering for each person as they took their turns.

“You know how I made this fun Mom?” he said.

“No M, I have no idea.” I replied.

“I secretly made up some rules where you could earn points, and then I made sure that I won.  You and K tied for second place though.”