Crown Me!

As the father of a six-year-old, I’ve learned that teaching my son valuable life lessons isn’t always an easy task. Sure, it’s easy to teach him how to brush his teeth, but teaching him about the importance of winning and losing? That’s a different ballgame entirely. Like many kids his age, Kaden hates to lose. He is not the kind of kid who will throw a tantrum if he doesn’t get his way. But he gets very emotional and will try to avoid losing at all costs…including cheat. It’s a phase, I know, but still, it’s a bit frustrating for me. That’s why I came up with a brilliant idea – using the game of checkers to teach him about the importance of winning and losing.

Now, I’m not a master at checkers or anything, but I do know how to play. So, every week, my son and I sit down at the kitchen table and play a game or two. At first, he didn’t really understand the concept of the game, but he quickly caught on. He started to develop strategies, which I must admit, surprised me. But the most important thing was that he was learning how to win and lose.

Here’s the thing – I don’t always let him win. I mean, sure, I’ll let him win a game here and there, but not every game. Why…Because that’s not how life works. You’re not always going to win, and it’s important to learn how to manage your emotions with dignity, regardless of the outcome. At the end of every game we always shake hands. Now I’ve noticed that he’s slowly learning how to cope with losing, and I couldn’t be prouder.

It’s been a few months since we started playing checkers together, and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in his attitude. He still hates to lose, but he has become a better loser. And his focus on winning is much more strategic.

So, if you’re a parent struggling to teach your kid about the importance of winning and losing, give checkers a try. It’s a fun game that can teach your child valuable life lessons. Who knows, you might even learn a thing or two yourself. Next step…chess!