September 18, 2025
Playing With a Kid Who Thinks He Is Too Old
My twelve-year-old rolled his eyes dramatically at the board game I had just set on the kitchen table. "Seriously, Mom?" he asked, with that mix of incredulity and teenage sass that comes so naturally at his age. It was a game he loved when he was younger, but now it seemed like anything that didn't involve a screen was automatically deemed too childish.
Once upon a time, this board game would have drawn him in without a second thought, but those days felt distant now. It was as though a switch had flipped overnight, and his world was suddenly full of things far more complex and fast than a mere board game. But I wasn't ready to let go of our playful connection yet. So, I smiled back, ignoring the eye roll and suggested we give it a shot, just for old times' sake.
From Playful to Practical
As children grow, the way we play with them has to transform. It's a bittersweet change, on the one hand, I'm thrilled to watch him develop new interests and skills; on the other, I miss the simplicity of our old games. Connecting with a tween means finding new ways to engage, often bringing in elements from their new world.
The board game sat there, a challenge, a bridge between the little boy he used to be and the young person he was becoming. I realized inviting him to play didn't mean clinging to the past, it meant adapting to the present.
Bridging Our Worlds
Instead of pushing the board game, I thought about what he loved now. He's into strategy video games, so I suggested we tweak the board game's rules to match one of his favorites. The idea caught his interest. Slowly, he moved from standing on the sidelines to sitting at the table, pieces in hand, curiosity peeking through his tween facade.
By adapting the game, it became something that interested us both. We found ourselves laughing, strategizing, and most importantly, connecting. It reminded me that play isn't just about the game itself, it's about the shared experience and the bond it strengthens.
Letting Go and Embracing Change
Playing with older kids is a lesson in letting go of the old while embracing the new. It's easy to feel nostalgic for the past, but I'm learning to appreciate these moments of change. They offer a chance to see the world through his evolving eyes and to join him on this new path he's carving.
The next time he throws an eye-roll my way, I'll remember not to take it personally. It's just part of his growth, part of our journey together. There's a bit of hope knowing that, while the games might change, the connection remains. We might not always be playing the same games, but we'll always be playing in some way.
Our time at the kitchen table reminded me that connection evolves but never ends. It was a comforting thought as the game pieces clicked back into the box, ready for wherever our next game takes us.