Tips for introducing children to card games: use a regular or specialized deck, simplify arrays, play with open hands, limit the deck and/or hands, and choose games that adapt to the child’s abilities.
Whether you want your child to start learning card games, whether it’s for fun, for the social opportunities cards offer, or for educational purposes, here are some tips to get you started. Kids can start learning card games with a regular deck of cards or with one of several specialized decks of cards made especially for kids. If the goal is to help your child get ready to play with older siblings, it might make sense to use the set they use. If education is the primary focus, you might want to choose a set that covers the subject area you’re interested in emphasizing.
Several strategies work well to make a child’s introduction to learning card games easy and smooth. Depending on the game or games you’re introducing, some of these techniques might be helpful:
Simplify arrays. A full pack of 52 cards can be used for concentration, but when a child is learning card games, you may want to draw just the face cards and create a 4 x 3 matrix. Also a 2 x 2 array with, for example, 2 queens red and 2 black kings could be used to give the child a manageable initial experience.
Open hands. By playing simple games with your cards up and your child’s cards hidden or with both hands open, you can talk about the choices, strategies, and decisions involved in the game so your child can see under the hood, so to speak. . This will make some of the hidden parts of learning card games more apparent.
Limited deck and/or hands. Young children have small hands and may have trouble holding all the cards for games like Old Maid, even when they’ve learned enough to play. By reducing the number of cards in the deck and/or in the child’s hand, the mechanics of learning card games become easier.
Games that adapt. Children follow developmental patterns and different children have different strengths. Choosing appropriate games will help ensure a positive experience for your child. Look for descriptions that indicate what skills or abilities are involved in the game and decide if it’s a good match for your child.
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