Scrabble
The word game of Scrabble is mostly an excuse for hanging out with your friends and family, but it has some major bonuses.
1. Scrabble helps keep your brain sharper, making you use both verbal and mathematical skills as you play.
2. Scrabble gives you the opportunity to look at how you play the game of life with people you care about, and gives you opportunities to learn:
a. How to play games in a friendly, nonaggressive way that encourages and respects others
b. How to lose graciously
c. How to win without gloating
d. How to let go when life hands you a bad rack
e. How to cope with the unknown (a strange combination of letters)
Scrabble With Less Competition
There are a number of things you can do to make scrabble less competitive and more friendly. Try:
a. Not forcing people to lose their turn when a word is misspelled or otherwise erroneous - just make them do it over.
b. Bringing along scrabble word lists, especially the 2 and 3 letter word lists, and encouraging newer players and discouraged players to study them, even in the middle of a game!
c. Allow people limited (1-3 times) or unlimited access to the scrabble dictionary during play.
d. Play with 2 person teams, where you match up the best players with the least savvy.
e. Play music & serve snacks.
f. Give a 20 point bonus for 6 letter words, which open up the board and benefit everyone at the table.
