When I was young, we were always taught to win. To win at something, it means that your opponents will have to lose. It is for that very reason why everytime we finish playing “Monopoly” board games with our friends or relatives, we don’t feel good about it – even as we finish the game as a winner.
Monopoly is a game created for a zero-sum game. That means that in order to win the game, the others will have to lose. And you have to make the other party succumb to bankruptcy to the very end in order for the person to lose. Though some may argue that’s what actually happens in real life, it’s just too cruel for the kids especially when they should be learning good moral practice in life.
Derk Solko, a co-founder of the Boardgamegeek commented:
““Monopoly has you grinding your opponents into dust. It’s a very negative experience. It’s all about cackling when your opponent lands on your space and you get to take all their money. Gouging and exploiting may be perfect for humiliating your siblings, but they’re not so great for relaxing with friends.”
So what type of Board game out there is more suitable and is able to teach simple money basic to your kids?
The “Game of Life” is a one of those board game known to be popular among family and friends. The game basically simulates a person’s life covering from colleges to retirement, with jobs, struggle, disappointments, taxes and marriages along the way. Like Monopoly, it gives the same realistic journey throughout one’s life but the good thing is that the players are able to help each other throughout then journey when one is facing trouble. So we can have the best of both worlds and end up finishing the game as winners. For me, it’s good and definitely one which I would want to teach my kids when I have them. Not sure how will that appeal to kids who wants to emerge as sole winner in the game or society.
