Parenting in Fluxx

There are so many different card games. Some use standard decks - like Gin Rummy, Spades or even Poker. Other use specialized decks - like Old Maid. Today I'm going to describe one of our favorite specialized deck games.

Let me start by stating - I think it takes a special personality to like card games. I've got family members who aren't big game players - but they will tolerate board games. But try to get them to sit down for a game of cards - they would prefer to gnaw their hands off.

If you have someone in your family who is anti-card games - then I suggest you try a game of Fluxx. Fluxx is a series that comes with all different themes to play around. In our game closet we have the following versions of the game:

It's early - so time to talk Chickens

I noticed an acquaintance on facebook post pics of their family playing Jenga. It's a fun family game of steady hands and frustration (especially resetting the game for play).  Just kidding, we do have a couple versions of Jenga in the house - even one which features Donkey Kong.

But we have a different game we like to play to practice steady hands, it is called ChickyBoom. We first got ChickyBoom when our eldest was 3 years old. It actually was the first game she picked out herself from our local (favorite) game store.

She was drawn to the brightly colored box and funny looking wooden purple 'chickens'. We were drawn to the 'skills' the game said it would build: Balance; Manual Dexterity; Risk Assessment; Arithmetic (and yes, I was drawn to the wooden game pieces).

So game play goes like this.

Can't get enough of The Kids of Catan.

I never knew the popularity of Settlers of Catan until a friend of mine, trying to bridge the normal-nerd divide, started talking about the game to me.  She hadn't played Settlers of Catan yet - but she was eager to try it out. So I, of course, invited her over.

See - we are fans of all things Catan. In fact, we have 5 different versions of the game:

• Kids of Catan
• Catan Junior
• Settlers of Catan Dice
• Settlers of Catan Star Trek
• Settlers of Catan

For those unfamiliar with the franchise, the mighty Wikipedia explains:

Players assume the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. Players are rewarded points as their settlements grow; the first to reach a set number of points is the winner. At no point in the game is any player eliminated.

Ok, well - um - maybe something is lost in translation - because that sounds rather bland. So let me introduce you to the world of Catan the way we introduced our then 3 year old - via The Kids of Catan. Then in some later posts I'll talk about the other versions.

So many things about The Kids of Catan appealed to me - besides being part of the Catan universe. The game pieces, how the board looks/functions, and game play time all contributed to why I liked it. It's a perfect little package for tons of fun for players of all ages. Here let me explain:

Let's get this out of the way...

The first board game or card game you play with your child will be painful.

Not for the child mind you - but for you.

Your child will love spending the time with you. Even if the game only lasts 5 minutes - your little one will love the special intimacy that is created when people gather around a table to game.

You on the other hand - especially if you are one of those brilliant people all gamers have in their lives -- the one who memorizes the rules and then argues the tiniest detail for interpretation...you my dear -may find yourself preferring to listen to fingernails repeatedly drag over a chalkboard while having a migraine. I'm not joking. 

Do not start with Star Trek Catan either

So, the thing to keep in mind is that first game will set the mood for all other games to come. Do not start our your child's gaming experience with a weekend long D&D session. Don't do it. Not even with some sort of modified rules. Don't do it. Even Candy Land with modified rules will cause you pain and suffering.

Instead start small.