My Ds9 has been beating me at every game including Chess this summer. It's a little scarey. I'm just congratulating him and saying good for you although I must say a little blow to my ego. I'm happy for him but I wonder what does he think of beating his Mom at every game. I'm afraid to ask. He said Dad can still beat him at games. How will he play with his friends. Can one enjoy winning when no one wants to play?

Maybe I'm overreacting. He freeks me out sometimes. Mostly he plays sports and pokemon with the kids. Just need to let this out somewhere. Thanks for listening.......

This is why he must develop good sportsmanship, because nobody will want to play games with him... especially if he is a braggadocios winner.

And, if he is truly beating everyone at everything, I'd strongly suggest seeking out more accomplished players -- who can whoop his skinny butt -- so that he doesn't get overly confident, and stands a much better chance at improving.

For chess in particular, get thee to a chess club! In person would be best in terms of developing manners, but on-line would definitely take care of the challenge and enrichment.

It won't take too many whoopings to give him a good sense of reality.

One thing an organization like DYS will do is get him around his intellectual peers... I imagine it will be a whole new ball game. I'd bet that no matter how smart our little rocket scientists seem to us, on day one @ a DYS-type gathering, we're gonna meet the kids who were doing differential calculus before they were potty-trained. Kinda puts everything into perspective in a hurry.

That's tough, but hopefully he will meet people that beat him in the future LOL. We play a lot of games in our house and DS5 wins quite often. It is sad. He is just learning chess but I am sure it is only a matter of time before he beats me at that. I would also suggest some games that are more solitaire games that are challenging. There are a ton of these games out there that aren't quite as competitive...just challenging for yourself. DS5 enjoys mastermind, and all those thinkfun games. Also he is in love with the website www.mypuzzle.org. It has tons of those puzzle type things and although he is great at them....some still stump him for a while. It still is humbling when he is much better than me at those games.

There are also games that depend on a variety of skills, SET and Blokus come to mind. Settlers of Catan and Apples to Apples develop social skills, but need 3 players.

In a way, being around older kids might solve some of his 'no one to play with' problems. Hint, Hint.

As for chess - I reccomend that you study up a bit and come back and become a challenge for him. If you enjoy that sort of thing, I know I do. I've been playing DS Chessmaster, the art of learning all summer while my son was away at camp. Lots of basic chess stratagy books at your library too.

I agree that Chess Clubs are a natural, too.

Smiles,
Grinity

DS6 and I are both getting into chess. It's something I remember doing with my dad when I was young, so I'm glad that he's enjoying it. We're playing on chess.com and we've found a local chess club that we go to.

And yes, he does beat me. The ratio is about 4:1 or 5:1. He's getting pretty good, but I'll admit I'm not a great player.

We're really having fun with it. DS is such a patterns guy that it's a natural fit...

JB

LOL! I guess that depends on when they were potty trained...

I wish I was good at chess, but sadly - the better one gets, the more one realizes how far she has to go! - I have improved tremendously since June. One thing I really like doing is playing with DS13 against the computer. I think it is good for his verbal communication, negotiation, and delaying impulsivity skills - and it is fun and it removes the 'me v. him' dynamic.

I wonder if he might like some cooperative games once in a while, onthegomom? We have really enjoyed the games from Family Pastimes--and I expect that there are other vendors out there, too--but we find it fun to play something where there is a common goal, and everyone has to work together to reach that goal. It takes the whole win/loss aspect out of it, and returns it to sheer play. Just an idea, anyway...

peace
minnie

Minniemarx, That sound like a good idea. Do you have cooperative game reccomendation for my DS9 and DD6 to play together with my husband and I. I want to start a Fri or Sat family fun night with games or movie. ( Ithink I'll start a new thread for fmily fun night ideas)

It occured to me after my orginal post why I was so upset yesterday about this...
Sometimes I worry as he get more advance that it distances us. (Yet, I can't discourage his need to be challenged and learn) And yesterday was the first day back to school. I miss them.

Sorry, onthegomom, I haven't been around for a day or two, so I missed seeing this--and I see that kcab gave you the link for Family Pastimes on your other thread. We have half a dozen of these games (Granny's House, Growlies in the Garden, Harvest Time, Secret Door, Bus Depot Diner, Sleeping Grump); most of those are for littler people than your older son, but you might take a look at their website and just see if any of their games appeal to you. They have several adult games as well as the ones for young'uns, and quite a few that they describe as "multi-age".

peace
minnie

thanks for all the sugesstions - very helpful!

Our library just started chess club for adults & kids - all ages and abilitites. so excited. Hoping to pick up some tips to challenge my DS9!!!!!