Gaming with a 3 year old.

[nwelte1]

So I visited newbiedm.com and saw clip of the host gaming with his 4 year old. I was impressed that the child was into the game and fairly focused (for a four year old).

I figured if a four year old can do it so can my three year old. So I pulled out my D&D 3.5 basic set with tiles and some minis and got my daughter to play. We used a simple opposed d12 mechanic for all rolls. For all rolls my daughter had to read both die and tell me what the numbers were and which was "bigger".

Holy crap!!! My kid was stoked. She was screaming when she got to roll the die and was really excited to watch the minis tip over. Her imagination and attention to the story line stunned me.

The story was that the princess lost her crown and wanted her party of four to find it. My daughter really got into ... and I mean really got into it.

For example, I had her face a Minotaur. I described the monster's breathing and put fingers up by my forehead as I described its horns. She gasped and covered her mouth. I then asked what her characters do. Her response: "I crawl up his back and cut him in the neck." I was shocked to hear such violence from my child and floored by how specific and detailed it was. Internally, I said HELL YEAH!!!! SHE IS A GAMER!!!. Externally, I told my daughter we don't kill things we just make them go to sleep. (Last thing I need is my child thinking it is okay to mutilate the family dog and set it on fire.) Despite my best efforts, further fights involved my child telling me how she dismembers each enemy. i.e. (He cuts off his knee. He cuts him in the intestine. (Yes she knows the digestive system thanks to her mother.))

In another fight, she said I cut of the badger's tail. When I asked her what her wizard was doing she said "he throws a fireball." As she shakes the dice she yells abracadabra and throws the die clear across the room as if it was a fireball. Internally I say say F*CK YEAH!!!

Later I described a room full of mushrooms. Without prompting she says I look at the mushrooms. I tell her to roll. Based on her roll I tell her the mushrooms are poisonous and will hurt her. She says "Oh my goodness." I ask what does her characters do, and she says with wide eyed shock, "They all leave really fast."

In the last fight, her main character was unconscious. I tell her she can hit the monster with another character or heal the fallen character. She says she will heal him. When he gets up I explain the character is still hurt. She says, "This guy (pointing) takes him (pointing) to the doctor to make him feel better." She then marches her two characters off the board. I just chuckled.

Here is the best part... she gamed with me for about an hour with no break in attention. The only thing she focuses on that long besides story time is the TV (which she only gets to watch about 1-2 hours per week).

As my daughter goes to bed she tells me excitedly that she wants to tell me a story about a princess and little soldiers that fight monsters. I just about died. My wife is going to kick my a$$ if my daughter ends up broken or scared of the dark.

I think I can honestly say, this was the best gaming session I ever had. (Sorry Sunday and Tuesday group. )

If anyone is interested, check out newbiegm's website and his videos. http://newbiedm.com/2010/01/25/rpgkids-at-play/

I see he has his rules posted as a download, but I did not use them. Made up my own.

[Treebore]

I have always firmly believed people seriously underestimate their kids, hence part of why I have always home schooled, so personally I am not surprised you had such a good time with such great results.

Think about it, she is at the age range where her imagination is at its peak, so be careful, but it is definitely the time to have the most fun.

Keep it up!
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

[Rigon]

Great story Nate. It sounds like she has been listening in to some of our games, ("cut him in the neck", "he throws a fireball" and cutting off the badger's tail).
R-
_________________
Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

[Aneoth of Ironwood]

GOOD stuff!

I agree that the short game session is crucial for young children.

Attention spans at that age are too short for them to endure long game sessions.

My 5 year old grandon has been gaming with us since last year.

[Wulfgarn]

That was endearing as all.. thanks for posting Nate!!

[atons]

Keep it up..