Anxiety and Board Games
December 28, 2008
Sometimes it amazes me how something meant for enjoyment causes quite the opposite reaction. That is how it is with Rachel and board games.
Rachel loves to play games with us. Her favorite is card games. But she likes board games too. The thing is that she has a huge love-hate relationship with board games. She has little patience with small details. Setting up the board game is a trial in itself. If she manages to keep her cool through that phase of it, then there is the challenge of learning a new game. That involves time and patience which has already been tried with putting the thing together.
It usually takes us weeks to actually start a round with a board game and finish it. She will eventually have enough and can’t process anymore. She will get sullen and frowny but she will still play. She will start to sink deeper and deeper in her seat. Once I realize she is gone and not coming back, I will ask her if she is done and would like to put it up. She always says that she is done but the rest of us can continue on. We never do though because it is usually her idea to start the game.
And for some reason my family loves to give us board games for Christmas. This year Rachel got Hannah Montana Mall Madness from my mom. My mom is one of the most delusional individuals when it comes to buying presents for my children. This game is right up Rachel’s alley BUT it has a ton of setup and little pieces and little details. On Christmas day while Rachel was watching a movie I went ahead and broke it down and set up what I could of it. I read the directions as best as I could.
Today we attempted playing it for the first time. It is a really fun game once we get the gist of it. But getting the gist of it is challenging to Miss Rachel. I’m not too worried though. I know eventually she will get the hang of it. Unfortunately, it will take us quite a few tries and some frustration on her part. We’ll get past it and she will love it. Then next Christmas we will start again with some other new game.
Entry Filed under: Etc.. Tags: anxiety, autism, fragile x, fragile x girls, frustration, Rachel.
4 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1.
A Bishops Wife | December 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm
This sounds really familiar.
My kids like board games too, and I am a big believer in them. They can teach so many simple things like manners and taking turns (those are hard for my kids sometimes). They also help them practice patients, basic math,reading and following instructions.
However…..
We must be very careful about which ones we buy, just as you said. We too can not do games with a bunch of peices. It is hard enough getting things set up and ready with Uno, Candy Land and Shoots and Ladders!
My kids just love board games and so do I. I like spending the one on one time. No computer game can match that. It is however, a challenge every single time. Once things get going and they know the game things get easier.
When Rachel was little Candy Land was a nightmare so we didn’t even attempt Shoots and Ladders. Now that she is almost 10 she is just barely to the point of playing Candy Land. I knew others could relate and the time it takes to get the game down is worth it for the interpersonal time.
2.
acollage | December 29, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Our kids all love board games, too, but my son with autism does have a harder time. Waiting between his turns is excruciating for him at times; he stands up and spins or spins on his butt when it’s at its worst. Other times, when it doesn’t go like he wants it to, or people hurry him to pay attention and take his turn, he’ll quit mid-stream. I played his turn of Sorry for 3/4 of the game when we tried a few days ago. (He came in last, btw…and my real token came in 3rd! ha!)
3.
Holly's Mom | December 30, 2008 at 4:14 am
Me and Joel love board games we have like over 150 lots with many little pieces… Its funny I just read this as we baught Holly two board games today. She is only 9 months old and much too little to play them (3 and up) but they were based on the Hungry caterpiller and brown bear what do you see, so we couldn;t leave them behind.
We are very patient, so I hope she has the determination to try and play once she is older and that it isn;t too much of a chore.
I bet she will enjoy them. You guys are so patient with her and take good baby steps. She’ll probably be like Rachel and eventually get them and then she will be a gaming pro. I didn’t add that once Rachel gets the game…she woops us almost every time
4.
Maddy | December 31, 2008 at 10:54 am
We’ve only managed board games in the last year. I consider it to be a highly advanced exercise in social skills. We still have a longgggg way to go.
Wishing you and yours the very best for a splendiferous 2009 from me and mine.
Cheers
“highly advanced exercise in social skills” I love this term