Monday, June 16, 2008


Ethics Question of the Day:

Would you ever cheat at Chutes and Ladders with your three-year-old to make it go faster? Who in their right mind would ever create such a maddening game for toddlers? The only thing it seems to teach is how to deal with moments of mega frustration. (Not a bad lesson, I suppose.) And, no. I haven't cheated so far...

7 comments:

Julie Schultz said...

I don't think I would cheat. I might change the rules in some way to make a shorter game. No, I do not have any suggestions.

Julia said...

Absolutely!! We cheat all the time. I like Julie's term better though, we 'change the rules' all the time when they're not looking. It's always in their favor(does this justify my actions?).:) The beauty is by the time they figure out that you let them have six turns in a row whenever the game get's too long, they'll be too old to play it and you can finally move on to UNO. BTW, I've NEVER cheated on UNO!!

Derek Hickman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tara said...

Yes, I highly recommend cheating. :)

Hmmmm, I'm guessing that may be the only time I write that phrase!

Mary Ellen said...

When weighing the option of cheating or lighting the board on fire I'd go for "cheating" every time!! Hee hee

Your post made me laugh as I can totally picture it. She might enjoy that game more when she's a little older. There are some cheap games that are more age appropriate that won't be frustrating for either of you. If a game is causing one of you to go nuts I'd say put it away until their older! Not that the games for a 3 year old will necessarily be fun for you, by any means, but she should certainly be having a lot of fun!

Charity said...

Oh, don't worry, Mary Ellen. SHE enjoys it very much. The 'mega-frustration' is mine. When I fall down a chute, she 'kisses it and makes it better' and wants to know 'why?' I fell down. She seems oblivious to the competitive nature of the play, and when I win, she's just as excited as she is when she does... Her only real problem is spinning for her number over and over and over ;o)

Charity said...

Oh, don't worry, Mary Ellen. SHE enjoys it very much. The 'mega-frustration' is mine. When I fall down a chute, she 'kisses it and makes it better' and wants to know 'why?' I fell down. She seems oblivious to the competitive nature of the play, and when I win, she's just as excited as she is when she does... Her only real problem is spinning for her number over and over and over ;o)