The world of card games is huge. For this reason, card games has been broken into five different badge programs.
“Card Games I” explores card games that can be played by kids or families with a standard 52 card deck.
Steps
1. 52.
A standard 52-card deck can easily be found at grocery, convenience and other stores. Some companies brand them and give them away free. Before you start this badge program, make sure you have a deck or two to play the games you want to try. The benefits of using a standard deck of cards includes minimal storage space and ability to take the cards with you when you travel. Card games are also a great activity at camp.
2. You.
Start your exploration of card games with those you already have played. Focus on the ones you learned and played as a kid or that your kids like to play. List those on the included supplement. Be sure to note who knows the rules and plays so you can go back to that person for help if necessary.
3. Favorites.
Now that you have your starting list, find out what card games are considered favorites. Kids will be more engaged if they’ve already played because they can teach you. You might be amazed at the card games your kids know. My own kids have taught me some that I’d never heard of that they learned at school. You can mark up the list you created in the above step or make a new one for those to learn first.
4. List.
Check out the starting list that is included with this badge program. Keep this list with your list. Note those you’d like to try or play to refresh your memory.
5. Types.
Ask yourself what types of games are better for kids to learn. Here’s a small list of different types for you to think about.
- Trick-taking
- Matching
- Shedding (getting rid of)
- Catch / collect
- Collectible
6. Rules.
You can find rules for many card games online – both in text and video. Some have simpler rules for beginners. Remember rules are not set in stone. You can adjust them to match your own style. Kids are usually the ones who are more likely to change the rules to make a card game fresh. Be sure to note down any changes you make to the card games you play so you can revisit it again later if you wish.
7. Hoyle.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different “Hoyle” books with game rules in them? It’s because there are many versions in the public domain. Instead of having you go searching for these, a few public domain books are included in the supplements for games. Some are specific for card games, some are general. Many are “Hoyle”-based. Check these out.
NOTE: Be aware that the way people wrote then may seem a bit odd. That’s probably why these are constantly being updated.
8. Digital.
You can play card games online or via apps. It’s a great way to learn at your own speed. Explore digital offerings of card games using a standard deck of cards.
9. Small hands.
There are items you can buy to hold cards or make your own so little hands aren’t spending so much time wrestling the cards that they miss the fun of the game. Explore what you might be able to use.
10. Gameplay.
Looking to teach your favorite card game to others? Start by playing the game with all the cards showing. Explain what you would do with each hand. Not only will this benefit your players, you will give them more useful information as you see examples of different types of hands. This is especially helpful for kids so they can see how everything interacts. You may need to do this more than once.
11. Progress.
Another way to play is to start with easier games and work your way up to more complex games. War is a great game for beginners because it is simply whoever has the highest card wins. Take the games you’re explored and list the games from easiest to hardest. Use this list to determine what you will play first.
12. Teach.
Once you’re comfortable playing a specific card game, offer to teach others. You might want to pair up adults with kids to start. You can also institute a rule that the last play can be undone by a player while they are learning a game. This stops kids from losing because of a poor choice and inexperience.
Often your kid will be the one who knows how to play while everyone else is at a disadvantage. I would frequently test things out on my own kids before taking them to troop meetings and events. Be sure to discuss this with those who know the game before teaching others. Good sportstmanship is important. If the game isn’t fun for everyone, no one will want to play again.
13. Club.
After you start teaching your kids games, you may find they want to teach their friends. Find a location where your kids can share the card games they learn. This might be for a single special occasion or for a recurring time to allow other families time to schedule the fun. You might want to provide snacks or additional games for those who don’t care for the main game being played.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- 0EP_B_BPG_CardG_I_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
- 0EP_BLIST_CardG_I_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
- 0EP_BSET0_CardG_I_MS1_larajla —badge set and related badges
- 0EP_SUPP0_CardG_I_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
- 0EP_SUPP0_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
- 0EP_SUPPL_CardG_I_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level
Supplement Fun
- SUPP_Form Fun_Cards I_K52_MS2_larajla — form to write out games you / your kids know
- SUPP_Found_American Hoyle_1864_MS2_larajla — The American Hoyle; or Gentleman’s Hand-Book of Games, 14th Edition
- SUPP_Found_Cassells Book of Indoor Amusements_1881_MS2_larajla — Cassell’s Book of In-Door Amusements, Card Games and Fireside Fun, 3rd Edition
- SUPP_Found_Encyclopedia of Game_1897_MS2_larajla — Foster’s Encyclopedia of Games, 8th Edition
- SUPP_Found_Foxs Revised Hoyles Games_1905_MS2_larajla — Fox’s Revised Edition of Hoyle’s Games: The Standard Authority
- SUPP_Found_Social Card Games_1891_MS2_larajla — Social Card Games: A Practical and Reliable Guide
- SUPP_Found_The Standard Hoyle_1904_MS2_larajla —The Standard Hoyle: A Complete Guide, New and Revised Edition
SUPP_List Fun_Cards I_K52_MS2_larajla — list of starting card games for kids using a standard 52-card deck
Sites to Explore
- www.fatherly.com/play/the-best-card-games-for-kids
- playingcarddecks.com/blogs/all-in/40-great-card-games-for-all-occasions
- www.bizymoms.com/games/types-of-card-games.html
- www.pagat.com/alpha
- wehavekids.com/parenting/Card-Games-For-Kids
- frugalfun4boys.com/card-games-for-kids-families
- www.thesprucecrafts.com/try-these-easy-card-games-for-kids-1696142
- www.deliacreates.com/40-card-games-kids
- www.52pickup.net/card-games/kids
- cardgames.io
- www.gamesgames.com/games/card-games
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here