Card Games
Our two years old grandson recently found a deck of cards in my home office. Being an inquisitive toddler, he proceeded to open the box and hand cards to everyone in the room. I wondered how he knew to give each person cards. We all received a different amount. He was sharing and that is important for toddlers and adults.
As I began calling out numbers and letters, I thought about cards being a great teaching tool. There are numbers and a few letters. Great for a toddler. I imagined teaching him each figure on the cards. He already counts past twenty five, so this would be another resource for teaching and reading.
Calling out the numbers and letters, reading and pointing to each one, I was impressed with his grasp of a card game. He has played with cards at his house or maybe he is familiar with memory cards at preschool.
I remember playing with cards as a youngster. Building card houses on the floor, hoping to make the tower taller and taller. Games of “Go Fish” and “Memory” sparked interest and I was learning without knowing I was being taught.
I recall special times of laying all the cards on the floor and making up games with my niece. She was about five years old then. She’s grown now and she and her husband have three children. They enjoy playing with cards, too.
A simple deck of cards can be a time for sharing conversation, teaching numbers, letters and even fine motor skills.
Even trading cards like baseball cards have numbers and statistics to read. Thinking more about card games, I recall fondly placing cards in my bicycle spokes to make a clicking sound. Those cards weren’t used for reading but they sure gave joy.
Do you have a deck or two of cards in your home? Have you played any card games lately? Find someone to share a game and enjoy the fun. If you have a toddler around, use the cards for teaching reading and number skills.
Be on the lookout. As soon as our grandson decided he was finished playing cards, he laughed and played a game of “52 Pickup”. Throwing the cards in the air, I laughed and recalled how I did the same thing to my parents.
Share how you have used cards to teach. What new ideas can you give?
Blessings,
Melissa Henderson
Some of my favorite memories are playing cards with my grandmother. So I knew when I became a grandmother, games was going to be a big part of my relationship with my grandchildren. There are so many benefits to games. Cognitive skills, social skills, and a much better time killer than a video game!
So many great ways to use cards. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
Melissa, I loved playing card games growing up. With minimal money and not too many choices of indoor games, cards provided endless variety. The big family down the block (five siblings) always seemed to be learning a new one. They would teach me and I jumped in. So much laughter and fun. Thanks for reminding me.
I have fond memories of playing card games with family and friends. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
What a fun experience you shared! Now I am inspired to play cards with my grandkids!
Cards can bring lots of fun times. Have a great weekend! 🙂
This brought back fond memories! I grew up in a large extended card-playing family. How much fun we had! And, yes, like in your example, we were learning so many things without even knowing it.
Sounds wonderful! We can have fun while learning. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Many of my favorite childhood memories include playing card games with my family and friends. We played all sorts of card games such as concentration, old maid, crazy eights, go fish. Every one of these games encourages concentration, memory, learning to be a good sport about both winning and losing and how to cooperate, and so many other skills. And like you write about – we were unaware of all the underlying essential things we were learning! Teaching kids through play and games is a wonderful strategy!
I remember playing Go Fish and Concentration. What wonderful games and great times with family and friends! Have a blessed week! 🙂
He has a sweet and generous heart! How sweet.
Thank you. Rowan is a very sweet boy. 🙂 Have a wonderful and blessed week!
My nieces and nephews are AMAZING at the memory games! I think those are great ways to help children become observant and learn the discipline of remembering things in a fun way!
I enjoy playing the more games. Even as an adult, I can still stretch my brain and learn. Have a blessed week! 🙂
As we got a bit older, my husband’s grandmother played cards with us all the time. We had great fun and wonderful conversations. So many wonderful memories from playing cards. Her favorite was skipbo and now we play it with our kids.
I love how so many people have played cards over the years. Different games and lots of fun. Great time for conversation and sharing. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Isn’t it wonderful how simple things lying around the house can be tools for teaching and enhanced fellowship? Love this, Melissa! God bless!
Yes, I love how a simple thing like a deck of cards can bring so much fun and learning opportunities. Have a blessed week! 🙂