The prevalent public opinion about games of chance is that most of them are potentially harmful. Hence, many argue that children should by no means be allowed to lay their hands on cards or dice since this may lead to the formation of unhealthy addictions. In this article, we’re about to dispel the myths that led to the unfair stigmatisation of many games of chance by looking at the indisputable benefits of some.
For instance, playing cards can introduce planning and resource management, which will certainly benefit your child. This much is true about dice; the games based on them always involve calculation and strategy. One doesn’t have to mistake this for gambling; while adults may enjoy visiting sites like reddogcasino.com, your children can pick a thing or two from completely innocuous home gaming sessions.
A tool for learning?
By playing games of chance, kids learn how to solve complex problems and build up their swiftness of mind. The most primitive games still require that you play intelligently, count, memorise and react instantly. Games like poker help children develop the qualities of an actual psychologist. To increase your chances of winning, you must notice and interpret the non-verbal signals expressed by others to assess their standing and decide on your next step.
You should also remember about the forbidden fruit psychology; make no mistake, depriving your child of an opportunity to learn these games will drive them to try playing in an uncontrolled environment when you’re not around. Parents, not strangers, should organize the first acquaintance; it is paramount to stress that the primary purpose is fun, not gain. Now that we’ve laid the foundation let’s look at some games and their benefits in detail.
Dominoes
Dominoes are an engaging way to learn how numbers and math work in general. From simple concepts, you can move on to the more advanced by showing how to predict where the game is going by counting the remaining dominoes.
Dominoes are also excellent training for the more complex board games that use dice. Bearing such an experience, your kid will master new games with enviable speed – often surpassing you, just accept it. And don’t forget about patience and discipline; after all, the kid has to observe the sequence of moves, make quick decisions, accept loss with humility and refrain from teasing the loser.
Card games
Let’s begin by stating the obvious fact that playing cards are simply a great way to spend some time with the family. With your offspring, it is, of course, best to start with simple games: War, Rummy, or Blackjack. Later you can teach your child to play solitaire and other sophisticated games.
Card games develop memory, attentiveness, and the ability to anticipate, dare to risk, and assess opponents’ plans. By playing cards, children, first and foremost, get to know the concept of order; that the nine, for example, beats all that is less than it, and the ace is the top card of the deck.
If these reasons leave you unconvinced, listen to what the experts say. Vincent Mathewson, head of the British Boarding Schools Association, claims that school children should know how to play sports, cook their own food, and the rules of poker because this intellectual game is great for developing analytical thinking and self-control. Only poker can teach teenagers to adequately deal with difficulties, achieve their goals and be more restrained. The strategy and tactics of this game are very similar to daily life situations.
Bottom line
Without exaggeration, games of chance are a bottomless trove of essential skills your child needs to learn as early as possible if approached correctly. By enjoying a game of cards or other similar entertainment, children learn to control their emotions (especially negative ones), behave in a restrained way in stressful situations, and show their will and self-control. The ability to plan one’s actions is equally important. Counting, taking responsibility, analysing, and anticipating; the list goes on. Besides, extensive research on people aged between 75 and 85 and their pastime habits showed that card games also help prevent the development of senile dementia. What else could one ask for?
Zuella Montemayor did her degree in psychology at the University of Toronto. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
