Does Your 3 Year Old Play Games??

It took my kids a little longer to actually sit down and play games.
At age 4 they really liked them.

My son will be three and same thing. He seems to be more into imagination. But he will sit through books with good pictures. He has a lengthy one its about spiders. It has one real pic on each page but lots of words. He can focus for a few pages on that one. He really like bugs. Besides that when it comes to games we do activity oriented or we each act like an animal like a from or something and run around our fake jungle. He likes that. And he learns so much. So board games flash cards I tried them but he didnt take much interest in them. Of course all children are different. I hope this helps.

My daughter is 5 1/2, and she still refuses to play by the rules, and I don't force her. I let my children play the games however they like. I know that my daughter is completely capable of playing the games, because she can turn on my computer, open internet explorer, and goes right to nickjr.com, presses the control button to disable pop-up blocker, and playes her games. When it comes to board games, she prefers to take the pieces, line them in a row, mark prices on paper for them, and "go shopping". I think of it as just another way for her to express her imagination. My brother is 32, and he still cheats at monopoly, and he plays by his own rules!

My 4-year-old is totally impatient and had a hard time with traditional games like Chutes and Ladders, CandyLand, etc. My sister sent him a gift- the game is called "Go Away Monster!" It's a cooperation game where we are all winners. My son was a bit afraid at first because it was monsters (though they are not at all scary). In any case, we play it all the time. You can get it at: http://www.gamewright.com/gamewright/index.php?section=ga...

Also, DISCOVERY TOYS has a lot of great games similar to this one. My son and I played "Wild Woods" today, another cooperation game where we try to get all the animals home before it rains. It's super easy to play and gender-neutral. Anyway, it's on sale now for only $9.99. And what I like about this toy is that you can play at different levels, so when our sons are old enough to play, take turns, and win, they can! You can get it at: www.discoverytoyslink.com/fatimac

They also have a matching game called "Animal Twins," a pre-math and pre-reading play-alone game called "Playful Patterns," a fishing game that teaches the letters of the alphabet called "A B Seas," and a bingo game called "Zingo!" All of these educate as they entertain and they grow with your child so they can play at different developmental stages.

But if your son really isn't ready for any board game, I suggest "Roll & Play." It's a giant stuffed cube which your son rolls. There are cards which correspond to the colors on the cube. Your son picks a card and you and him act out the action. My son loves this because he can be successful at it without even trying and we're learning to take turns. A neighbor of mine bought it for her 2 year old because he isn't really speaking a lot. This game encourages vocabulary and social development so both your kids can play at the same time (like circle time at home). Anyway, you can get it at www.discoverytoyslink.com/fatimac and it's only $17.99.

Have fun,
F.

My son will be 3 next month and does the same thing. I have learned to embrace his creativity. It is normal. Some kids will sit and play a game, some make their own, some won't do either and then some will play sometimes, not play or create other times. I usually ask my son questions during the game to enhance/understand his thought process. Can mom play? How do we move the pieces? Is there a finish line? How do we get there?, etc. I just draw the line if he starts getting hyper and the pieces start flying, etc. Hope this helps. : )

My three year, 4 month old dtr. will not play with us either. She becomes frustrated and wants to do the game her way.

Heh - none of my four did / can. My son will be three in a little over a month (gads, how did THAT happen?!) and he would no more sit down and play a game than voluntarily share a toy with a sister!

I have known other young children who would, though. My godson, for example, would sit down and play card games and such at 3. He is also a very "interactive" child - none of this "go off and play by yourself" stuff for him! He is ALL ABOUT playing games, with rules, with you.

But my kids? No way. "Mommy? Can we stop the game for a second? Because you know what? I think THIS one is the fairy princess, and THIS one? He's the prince. And they're searching for seaweed rocks, but ONLY PURPLE ONES, OK?! Hang on, I'm gonna go get some ROCKS!"

**sigh**

I've learned to just let them be themselves. They have great imaginations and wonderful playful spirits.

Hi,
Every child is different. My daughter loved Candy Landy and could play the entire game by the time she was 2 1/2! My nephew was almost 4 at that time and he wouldn't sit still for a board game to save his life! But he was a master at computer games! I think its a great game to teach little one colors and how to count (my daughter loved the Sugar Plum Fairy card) and actually carried it around with her for days after she first played but it has to attract their interest. My nephew to this day never really got into board games but is really good at computer games as a lot of those are just as educational. Another friend of mine has her 15 month old playing games on the baby leapster and he gets so excited when she takes out the game and he is really good. Its very basic but I was impressed at what he could do! Good Luck and don't worry about it, he'll find a game he loves and you wont be able to get it away from him!

Some kids LOVE games, some kids HATE them. My son is 2 1/2 and has LOVED to play matching games since just before his 2nd b-day. My nephew on the other hand HATED ALL games until he was about 7 years old. Even now my nephew will only a handfull of games and he's going to be in 4th grade this Fall. Your son may just not like board games.

Maybe you could focus more on ACTIVE types of games. Both my son and my nephew LOVE chasing balls and bring them back to me. (Yes, like a dog plays fetch.) I turned it in to a chance to learn colors for both of them. I have a Bocce Set, so I remind my son what the color of each one is and throw them. Then I tell him "go get the red one for Mommy." He get's it and I say "YEAH! now get the yellow one." So on and so forth. Eventually he wants to throw them too. I have also taught him how to play Bocce, which he is RATHER good at for a 30 month old! There's always Tag, Fox Tails, Hide-N-Seek, Colored Eggs (if you have about 5 kids to play), Mother may I?, Duck-Duck-Goose, catch, ON AND ON AND ON. Some of these more active games may help him learn to "follow game rules", making board games easier.

Hope it helps, ~J.

My 2 sons have 2 totally different personalities. When my 1st son was 3, he would play board games just fine. My middle child is currently 3 years & 2months and will not sit down for a board game for more than 1 minute. He's my busy body. We try at least once a week to play Chutes and Ladder but he's only interested in the characters.

My son is only 2 years and 3 months, so I don't know from personal experience. I have friends that have kids that are 4 years old and they aren't even capable of sitting still that long and playing a game. It may say ages 3 and up, but I think it is rare for a kid that age to be able to sit the whole time and play a game. I think your son is completely normal and you shouldn't be concerned if he isn't interested in the game to sit that long. I would just let him play with the pieces and make up his own game if that's what he'd like to do. When he gets a little older I think he will be more interested in playing with you.

Don't worry - it is probably more fun for him to pretend the characters are on an adventure in Candyland or that they can only step on the green spaces (or whatever his favorite color is). He might have more fun learning other games like hide and seek, tag, or more active games - but the games still have rules!! At 3, they are just learning that some things have specific rules, or methods of "playing" - like games. BUT his creativity is also flourishing, so I say, let him be creative at as many things as possible (when in his life will he ever be THIS CREATIVE again?) and play activities that encourage his creativity. He will go to school soon, where they have to follow lots of rules, so enjoy this time when there aren't so many rules. If you want him to get used to following rules, do it in other ways - teach him how to set the table and make that his "job" or feed the dog, or whatever. Give him "jobs" that need to be completed in a certain way, and see that he does it, and find some sort of reward that works for you. Have fun.

My Daughter was the same way. She really did not start playing the game correctly with me till about 4.She still gets a bit bored with Candyland and we end up only playing the game half way. Just wait and keep trying it with him every few weeks or so. He should get into it one day.

Good luck!

He is playing - his own way.... that is what play is all about - - - very few children his way play organized board games - it is actually better that he is using his own imagination to make up games with the pieces...

You are lucky to have a creative child - enjoy him - - - somettimes I just sit back and watch mine - - -