Parlour Games for Modern Families
Playing traditional parlour games is often considered a thing of the past.
Finding time for a game, organising the family to get together minus television, computer and mobile phones, or even remembering what games to play, can be enough of a hassle to scotch the idea from the start.
But in a new book, Parlour Games for Modern Families by Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras, the case for bringing back parlour games is positively appealing. The mental stimulation, silliness and laughter, joy and connection a parlour game can introduce to a family, is highlighted in the scores of games listed in the book.
The best thing about playing parlour games is that they’re free. All you need is family and friends and enough space to have fun.
Authors Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras talked to KidsLife.
How much fun was it to revive the tradition of indoor games by writing this book?
Have we had fun here?? Yes!! It has been an absolute hoot! We could never have imagined when we set out on this journey that it was going to involve quite as much fun – for ourselves, our families and our guinea-pig friends.
Your book contains more than 130 games. What were the criteria for researching these?
The criteria for the games was simple: they had to be indoor games that only use equipment found in a typical home; they had to be relevant to a modern audience, and they had to be great fun.
Have you actually played every game in the book?
Yes, we have – in fact, we have played at least double that because we played a lot of games that didn’t quite make the cut.
In what ways can parlour games bring families together?
Parlour games can help you to be fully ‘present’ with each other through the time-honoured tradition of play, without the usual distractions that seem part and parcel of everyday modern life.
How can parents convince kids that playing ‘Pictures’ or ‘Squeak Piggy Squeak’ can be as much fun as playing a computer game?
In our experience, once you get children playing, and make games part of your lives, they are just as likely to initiate play as adults. Children love having their parents’ full attention; they love the suspense, excitement and competition involved in games, they love the silliness and the laughter. Sometimes they might need a gentle nudge off the computer, which is why we addressed the book to parents.
How important is the creation of a physical space to play games?
Any space in the house will do – you don’t need a Victorian parlour to play these games. Often though it helps to create a comfortable environment – be it clearing the kitchen table of detritus for a game of cards, sinking into a big armchair for a few spoken games, or making a space on the floor for a raucous game of marbles.
What sorts of additional props or tools might be needed for the games in the book?
It helps to keep your games ‘tools’ handy– a deck of cards, pen and paper, a blindfold and some dice. Putting them in a box at the end of the dinner table for example ensures that they will be seen, prompting you to play a game or three after dinner. And, of course, this book should also be kept close by.
What are some of the fundamental skills kids can learn from games?
The skills children can pick up from playing parlour games are as limitless as the games themselves. They include word and number skills, deductive thinking, problem solving, strategy, memory, fine and gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and general dexterity. Broader life skills are also gained through playing games, such as how to win and lose, take turns, follow rules, and perform in front of others.
In summing up, what five tips would you give parents in how to create family games opportunities
- Place a white board or sheet of paper on your fridge, stating the night’s game, and play a different game after dinner for a whole week just to get you into a routine. Beats reality TV.
- Choose a designated afternoon (Sunday afternoon works a treat) and launch an official ‘games hour’ in your week.
- Use any opportunity (bath or bed time is great) to play a few spoken games.
- Next time you invite guests to dinner, treat them to some after-dinner games (less fattening than mints).
- At the next family event, suggest your guests play a great group game such as Celebrity Heads, or get the children to put on a Talent Quest for the adults.
Parlour Games for Modern Families is published by Scribe Publications, RRP $35.00