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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let my 4yo win at board games

64 replies

Bubbinsmakesthree · 28/10/2018 09:22

4yo DS loves board games but hates losing (and will try to cheat to win).

What are you supposed to do as a parent? Let them win, turn a blind eye to cheating and have fun together or follow the rules and make the whole experience miserable for everyone?

OP posts:
Candlelights2345 · 28/10/2018 12:57

I know a 9 yo who will cry if loses and tries to cheat when they realise they are losing. It ain’t pretty, and particularly bad when it happens during sports.

BumsexAtTheBingo · 28/10/2018 13:03

I do think there is a difference between letting them win enough to keep their interest and model appropriate losing behaviour and ALWAYS letting them win. The latter would be a bad idea. The former is a good idea imo - unless it’s a game of complete chance there is generally some element of skill and played straight most game’s the adult would always win. Not really fair and also pretty dull for the child so they would likely just not want to play anymore. When they have a chance of winning even when you’re trying that’s the age to stop throwing any games imo (about 7ish???). They can still learn about losing if they win about half the time.

PawsomePugFancier · 28/10/2018 13:11

My mum would let me win (my dad and siblings wouldn't, so I'm a good loser) and I grew up thinking she wasn't very clever/ fast at running etc.

mawbroon · 28/10/2018 13:13

Play Kerplunk instead..

Mine, at 4yo didn't seem to grasp the concept of fewest marbles wins and always thought they had won. Grin GrinWink

cucumbergin · 28/10/2018 13:38

@BelfastSmiles not sure whether to thank you or not, my Amazon basket now has 6 games in it! Going to need to winnow them down a bit - Race To The Treasure sounds good.

SilverySurfer · 28/10/2018 15:11

YABU you are giving your child unrealistic expectations for later life.

BumsexAtTheBingo · 28/10/2018 15:31

I would also consider what you’d want your 8yr old to do when playing with a 4yr old. Win at all costs or let them win a few times cos they’re younger? If it’s the second one you need to model it.

Shoxfordian · 28/10/2018 16:54

Don't let them win, being a graceful loser is really important

BumsexAtTheBingo · 28/10/2018 17:19

But will you learn to be a graceful loser by constantly losing? More likely you’ll just learn to hate board games. If the adult never loses (which really how could you in most games when you’re trying against a four year old!) then when does the child get an example of a ‘good loser’ to emulate?
Both of my kids are really good sports and they certainly haven’t learned it from me being super competitive with them when they were really young. I imagine a child who loses occasionally is much more to cope with it than a child who usually loses so the bratty kids who tantrum are probably more likely to be the ones with the competitive parents!

cucumbergin · 28/10/2018 17:44

I'm a little torn, tbh, because DS is far more easily motivated by competition than almost anything else. I want him to be able to lose gracefully but also, when trying to get him to get dressed in the morning (or any number of other tasks that 6 year olds find too boring to get on with) shouting "I'm gonna beat you to get dressed!" just works.

cucumbergin · 28/10/2018 17:45

Though he will graciously say occasionally "we can both win this time Mummy" so he is willing to share at least Grin

LostPlatypus · 28/10/2018 17:57

There's a 5 year age gap between me and my brother, so even though he didn't win all the time (we played games based on luck quite a lot), he did win a lot. Combine that with being generally very spoiled and he is a very bad loser. I remember when I was in my teens (last time I actually played a game with him, before he nicked them all, even the ones that were mine (see spoiled)) and we had my Grandpa visiting, so obviously we were supposed to be on our best behaviour. We were playing a board game a bit like Ludo, but slower. Anyway, we play, I win, my brother (who was 9 or so) throws the entire board up in the air and scatters pieces everywhere. No more board game. He might actually have come second, especially as I wasn't trying hugely hard to win and my Grandpa hasn't played before the game before, but no, he ruins it instead.

My parents didn't even make him tidy it up. I had to do that (which is probably why I remember it - the little sod storms off and I get left to clear up the mess).

Yes that was 20 or so years ago, but my point is, he hasn't changed, and he won't. I know the miserable times of making your four year old follow the rules might seem rubbish now OP (I think you've had some great suggestions on how to minimise this) but please put up with it so your 4yo doesn't turn into my brother! (My brother used to cheat too, which made it incredibly rubbish for me. Consequently, one of my favourite games was one where you mixed up the head, body and legs of different characters to see what silly options you could come up with. There is no way of winning or losing, you just see what each other find funny.)

sweeneytoddsrazor · 28/10/2018 19:23

I wouldn't allow cheating and certainly wouldn't let them win or lose all the time. However even if they learn to lose graciously never invest in Monopoly. This cut throat game turns even the most mild mannered person into a demonic win at all cost, and if I lose tip the table over type of person

Shadow1234 · 28/10/2018 19:40

Always played games where they had the same chance of winning. (nothing too complicated or boring).
I always taught them that you cant always be the winner, and that its ok to lose. (this can happen throughout life, not just playing games).

FWIW - I have a nephew who was always allowed to win and now everyone refuses to play any sort of game with him (at christmas get-togethers), because if he loses he will storm off or throw all the pieces on the floor, its shocking. (He is 24).

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