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never in my almost 10 yrs of playing candyland as a parent, until now, have I ever associated candyland with eating candy or becoming obese, LOL. I guess it's kind of like how when I was a kid all pictures of Santa had him smoking a pipe, you don't see that much anymore...

Meg

ok, one more comment.

Candyland is a board game. Football in an empty lot is an outdoor game of physicality. Some kids like board games, some kids like outdoor games, some kids like both. There is a time for quiet indoor play and there is a time for loud outdoor play. One isn't better than the other, it's apples and oranges (or apples and candy bars, LOL)

Let's face it, once a kid gets the hang of Candyland kin it's original form it's more about winning than education. It's a gentle way for kids to learn that they have to share, take turns, win once in a while, and NOT win once in a while.

Yes, it's competition but it's gentle, as compared to playing dodgeball in a school gym class.

Meg

Too true, Janet! I mean, in Kindergarten kids used to go half a day, now they go all day. And they weren't expected to already know how to read and know their, ABCs & 123s because that's what they were going to lear in Kindergarten. But now they are supposed to go to pre-K (if not more years of pre-school) so they can learn all this stuff to be ready for kindergarten!

My son is already looking at Trigonometry in the 9th grade, it wasn't even introduced to us until the 11th (and I was in the advanced course!) We are rushing these kids along. Why? To keep up with Japan? So they can all have ulcers by the time they're 23?

Look at how many of us are on anti-depressants or some kind of stomach medication because of all the stress we're under. Is this really what we want to pass down to our kids?

First off, I think maybe if everyone want to discuss the quality of the American public school system, the discussion should be moved to one of the education forums.

Secondly, I'm happy to see some lively discussion here and everyone's points are completely valid and well-taken!

Meg has given me the most convincing argument FOR the game so far, in that she uses the game board itself to play other games. Brilliant! Meg, did you modify any other games? If so, how?

I still have to stand my ground on my side of the issue, though. I think maybe part of it is that I didn't have Candyland (or candy, or cake or cookies) in my house as a kid. I believe that's the reason I've never developed a sweet tooth (I do adore European chocolate, but in small quantities).

The first game I remember playing is Concentration/Memory. My mother would make our own sets with shapes, numbers, colors, etc. on the back of index cards.

I remember some early encounters with Candyland. All of my little girlfriends would always want to play it (I think because they liked that fairy princess) and I hated it, because I was insulted by the fact that it took no skills for me to win, and I could lose for no reason at all. Maybe that's a good thing for kids who need to learn the lesson of losing, but I've always preferred losing knowing I've tried my best. Naturally, when I first played Candyland I was well past the stage of needing to learn my colors or how to take turns. Clearly it's a game to be played at the most basic levels of game-playing.

By the way, our family didn't play "War", either. We played (drumroll, please): PEACE. Make fun of us as you will, we're well aware that we've earned it.

I agree Michelle. *nodding* And individuals in the U.S. take less vacation time, too! I read a surprising statistic the other day and can't find it... While Europeans take 6 weeks of paid vacations a week, most Americans are lucky if they take a whole week off at some point!

It seems to me, Megan, that if you're going to talk about games and whether they're "educational", the public school system (where most kids are) is quite relevant.

Why does "play" need any argument? Why the need to convince *anyone* of anything? That was exactly my point: instead of it being a lighthearted game that can teach a myriad of principles (depending on how the parent helps guide the child, as well as the imagination of the child), playtime becomes a rigid, militaristic, "intellectually stimulating" endeavor. Nothing wrong with that for those who show that aptitude, but one size certainly doesn't fit all...

Personally, I always loved Candy Land simply because it was so colorful and fanciful. Does it really need a "convincing argument?"

And life? There are plenty of reasons why individuals "lose for no reason at all", including natural disasters like hurricanes and the choices of other individuals. Being the smartest, fastest, and best doesn't guarantee "success", self esteem, fulfillment, or happiness IMO. (And isn't that what we all want for our children, in the end?)

Sorry Megan, <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, it just kind of seemed like a natural flow.

But I think you sort of touched on a point, kids do need to learn how to lose. Because (especially once they get involved in team sports) its not always based on whether or not they did their personal best.

But Anyway, my original point was, this game was made so long ago, that I don't think candy had the predominance in the households that it does today. It was a "treat" to get candy. I doubt the makers could have ever imagined the "Augustus Gloop" mentality that has taken over America today!

That is SO true, Michelle! I'm not sure when or where we hit the tipping point with overconsumption of processed foods or processed sugar. No one in the world has a problem with that like America does (not even Canada). I'm not sure why that is, but it's really too bad.

As far as losing, I didn't mean what I said to be taken how you took it. I said that I don't mind losing as long as I know I did my best. If I tried my darndest and still came up short, that's okay! I just think games that are based even on a teeny tiny bit of skill at least allow the child the pride of having known they tried hard enough.

I also don't think many games that could be considered "educational" are somehow rigid or strict. Concentration/Memory, for example, is a game whose rules are easy (no harder than those for Candyland). Many of the Concentration cards available on the market are fun and colorful and whimsical.

Look, I'm not advocating "Brussels Sprouts Land" or "Granola Land", but does anyone think the game would really lose anything by just being about a magical fairytale land with elves and talking animals and whatnot instead of sugar-spun creatures?

Memory is a great game. My son has a Blue's Clue's version that has many cards--but it can made more or less challenging by the amount of cards used.

I just don't think that Candy Land is harmful in any way. *shrug*

And that's pretty much what it all boils down to... we're all just trying to do right by our kids, and only the parent can assess what's good/bad, right/wrong, etc. for their own child. When you get down to brass tacks about it, it comes full-circle to "doing your personal best", and that's all any of us can ask ourselves for!

We play the Finding Nemo memory cards.

There is a new Candyland I saw on TV today. It has a DVD and has the kids up and moving aroung the room. It looks like a kind of follow the leader Candyland. Should be interesting!