My kid and his friend both learned chess at after-school and they do play each other. Their games are a bit chaotic and they sometimes (well often) bend the rules chess but they're having fun?

We are a huge board game family but my kid doesn't do it on play dates.

I don't remember playing board games or cards frequently with friends until college, although we played at home all the time, and it was mostly the same for my kids.

There were some brief exceptions but this seems totally normal.

Developmentally, 7 year olds aren't ready to do a lot of strategy. They'll get there.

A lot of times kids are too hyped up and excited to play a board game or cards with friends. They want to jump and yell. (sigh)

I find that games work well when played with people you are familiar with. Kids are able to remain calm and focus better. My 7yo loves Battleship, Clue, TacoGoatCheesePizza and I have started her on our 'family game' of Hand & Foot (canasta) so we can have many years of playing together as she grows up.

Depends on the kid. Our first was a run around and crash into things type into his teens. Had no patience for board games.

Our second was about 6 or 7 when I realized he was going to beat me at board games if I didn't stay sharp on every move. By age 10 he almost never lost at game night. He's now a senior and is considering whether to go to work for $20 an hour or go to a state school and study...something

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just do it with family, not on playdates. My 7-year-old has been playing cards (Rummy, Crazy 8s, Spoons, Go Fish, Uno, Exploding Kittens) since he was about 4. He can hold his own, more or less, but he's a very sore loser. I usually bring a deck on vacation and sometimes to a restaurant if it's going to be a long meal.

Why is your 7 year old still a sore loser? You need to teach him to be a good sport.

I'm not the PP but I have a DS who is a terrible loser, and one who is fine. Some kids have a very low frustration tolerance and have a very hard time with it. He knows it's not okay. He knows he's doing the wrong thing, but the emotion just gets the best of him. We're working on it, but not all kids are created equal in this way.

We're a huge games family. My 7 year old and I sit down to multiple games of cribbage every night. But in no world would I ever expect him to sit down with his friends who come over and bust out a deck of cards.

I’m an ES teacher and I started an after school club where I teach the kids how to play board games. They are in grades 2-5 and this year, only 1 of them had ever played any board game at all.

Anonymous wrote:We just do it with family, not on playdates. My 7-year-old has been playing cards (Rummy, Crazy 8s, Spoons, Go Fish, Uno, Exploding Kittens) since he was about 4. He can hold his own, more or less, but he's a very sore loser. I usually bring a deck on vacation and sometimes to a restaurant if it's going to be a long meal.

Why is your 7 year old still a sore loser? You need to teach him to be a good sport.

I think it's hard on play dates as they have to explain the games to each other. My two kids are 5 and 9 and play cards together ends a few games. Almost always at the suggesting of the younger one as she wants her sisters attention.

Anonymous wrote:I can't remember playing board games or card games with friends. always family time.

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