My grandson (8)is into fantasy monster stuff. He makes elaborate clay figures and settings. The problem is...?

Question

when he wants me to play with him. My brain CANNOT play fantasy monster stuff. I want to go right to sleep! I give him the digital camera and let him make movies. Then he wants ME to play his game. I am incapable of the imagination it takes to even PRETEND to play. I will play Sorry or Aggravation or Checkers or cards all day long, but when it comes to this, I REALLY don't wanna. Plus, he makes me be the one HE wants me to be and never lets me win.

The question's half-humorous, no?? Yes, we encourage his creativity. NO, I'm not in the rocking chair. I'm a FLIPPIN' CLOWN!

I'm a GrandMA. Boffo's female.

Game SYSTEM? Now, that is TOTALLY out of my realm! We're talking CLAY here.

He likes ALL games. The 'monsters' are Transformers, Godzilla, etc. And,no, there are definitely bad guys and wars and guts and mayhem. We are talking about a little BOY!

And we DO play other games and other things all the time. He'll ALWAYS want to play with ME. I'M the FUN one!

You guys should try it for 5 minutes!

Answer 1

Yeah, that sounds like something my brain wouldn't enjoy either and yes to Sorry and Aggravation (those are my favorites - or were) and I have a granddaughter. I guess the only thing you can attempt to do is divert is attention. Ya know, boys can learn to cook -- they sure like to eat -- maybe change the subject and say "let's make cookies" and HIDE THE CLAY -- ha ha. I don't mean to be mean -- I jus totally understand. I never got in to the Star Wars thing and I'm still living it w/husband and almost 18 year old......what can ya do? I won't join em' though LOL.
Fantasy stuff is science fiction in a way and I totally get where you are coming from.

Answer 2

I just read some of you previous questions, imagination does not really seem to be your issue. Interest, maybe. The fact that your grandson wants you to participate in his games should be a real compliment to you. PLAY with him. Set a time limit you know you can deal with, and take this opportunity to teach him about compromises and fair play. Follow his lead, but don't let him make all the rules. Relax, have fun and learn from each other. The day may soon come when he doesn't want to play with you.

Answer 3

Well, respect your elders should never go out of style. Period. Simply teach him NEW games, like Old Maid, Go Fish, etc. There's no reason to play Monsters when there's a ton of other things to play. Also, no one should ever play a game to win, but to have fun, that IS the point in playing, not that winning isn't fun. Also, what about Red Rover, Pick up Sticks, Monkey's in a Barrel? and on and on? Just go to a toy store or wal-mart and get some that you both can agree on.

Answer 4

Use the play time to insure your grandson is playing constructively with the monster stuff. Is the monster a good guy? Does the monster have any compassion? Is the monster hurting pretend friends? You don't want your grandson to have nightmares. Also, it won't hurt to let your grandson lose a game once in awhile so you can teach him it isn't the winning that is most important. Playtime is very important and is a good time for you to bond tighter with him and see what he is thinking.

Answer 5

He's a child and you're his grandmother so you just paste on a smile and play with him. See this as an opportunity to dust off that old imagination of yours! Check out some fantasy books and films for ideas in how to engage him in his games and ask him to give you some ideas. Make a home film together, combining your own ideas with his (a la Harry Potter which combines normal everyday things with a magical world complete with wizards and magical creatures).

In a few short years, he won't be interested in playing with you and you'll regret that you let this opportunity slip by so enjoy the innocence of his age now.

Answer 6

Haha, sounds like there is a generation gap going on. Well, to him, these are the most exciting activities he plays and enjoys them alot. He is trying to share that experience with you, but at 8, may not realize that grandpa would rather be playing monopoly or something besides anything with three headed dragons in it.

If he must play on the game, see if there is one you can agree on, like Monopoly or maybe even checkers on his game. You can buy traditional board games that are on disks so that you can play them on his game system.

Tell him if you are going to play on his game system, you want a compromise. Tell him that if we play, i get to pick who i want to be.

Mostly, its probably a phase. Monsters are probably the coolest thing to him right now. See if you can find any games you like to play that are made for the playstation, x box or gamecube (whatever gaming system he is using) Maybe then you can teach him something, and never let him win! :)

But i agree with something someone else said. Teach him while he is young not to be selfish. He needs to be aware of your needs as well.

Answer 7

Plus, he makes me be the one HE wants me to be and never lets me win.<<<< ARE YOU SERIOUS.. How old are you?
If you don't want to play the game then tell him I am sure he has tons of friends that he plays those games with or his parents.. Tell him that grandmas aren't really good at those types of games and then play board games everyonce in a while..

Answer 8

Let him play with monsters and watch some GWAR music videos. Teach him how to do claymation and if you have a computer let him play with some video editing software. Eventually he will either grow out of it or start being more productive with it than just playing.

Answer 9

Well some people just don't have creative minds and your one of them. Get over it. Anyway you need to teach him how to share and be considerate of other people's feelings. Him being so creative is great. he could be the next great movie director or doing well in another art related career. but with that selfishness he will get nowhere. teach him while he is still young.

Answer 10

Hey, you don't like it, you don't like it. Every one is different. Me, those crazy step aerobic women want me to come to their class, I say you run 5 miles with me first. And you know what?? I still haven't gone, and they never came with me, and THAT IS OKAY!!

I understand he is fixated on what he likes and is at the age where it is all ME ME ME. Only HIS game is any good. maybe you could try something completely different, like do a recipe together, you assemble the ingredients and he has to follow the directions and then that's what you have for lunch.Or something with your music... just something completely off the wall so that neither one of you is miserable, because it is probably just as frustrating for him that you suck at it, as it is for you that you hate it.