There’s no doubt that we’re living in some seriously extraordinary times. Even with the everyday fears of job security and the soaring cost of inflation, we still have to remember that family always comes first. With time ever such a precious commodity, it’s more important than ever that we find a way to maintain our family traditions.
After a nice and relaxing family dinner and some chats, it’s time to have some family time. And what better way to do so than playing and integrating blackjack into the family routine? Besides having some quality family time, integrating blackjack can also teach family members, especially the children, some valuable life lessons.
Discovering Blackjack as a Family Bonding Activity
On the one hand, while blackjack is mainly played by adults, it is one of those card games that doesn’t have a seedy reputation. Even though most poker games are mainstream, some families frown upon it because they see it as a purely gambling activity that often leads to fights. This is especially so for old-school card games like Pinochle and Three Card Rummy that were associated with drinking and invariably someone accusing someone of cheating.
Blackjack is an easy game that can bring the family together without the added drama of cheating.
So, in many ways, blackjack is great for bonding with the family and especially helpful for the children to learn some social skills. These social skills can come in handy in more affluent environments where mannerisms and posture matter. Believe it or not, gestures and mannerisms do matter when playing blackjack.
From the parent’s point of view, we strive to set a great example for our kids to play. Blackjack, in its own way, carries a sense of class. Because blackjack is the centerpiece of the biggest casinos in the USA, it requires members who play in person to follow a reasonable dress code. So, when playing as a family, we like to be semi-formally dressed. Because first-time impressions are everything, instilling in our kids a sense of professionalism with blackjack can carry them a long way into the real world, like important business meetings and job interviews.
Teaching Kids Discipline and Strategy Through Blackjack
Even though blackjack is straightforward, it does require discipline to win. Of course, the biggest obstacle in playing blackjack is busting. Busting means having a playing hand greater than 21, leading to an automatic loss. To win at blackjack means having discipline. Having discipline carries in all forms of life, not just blackjack.
To help them develop discipline, we can encourage the kids to come up with a strategy chart. While the strategy chart helps players when to hit and stand, however, there is more to it than that. By creating a basic blackjack strategy chart, we are instilling in our kids the idea that they should find more than one way to succeed in life. In life, they are going to encounter roadblocks, so what better way to teach them how to overcome them than by finding multiple paths to victory?
Of course, even with a sound strategy chart, you’re not always going to win playing blackjack. That’s the nature of the beast. Instilling the principles in our kids at an early age can also help them learn that they are now always going to win and to have humility in those moments.
However, most importantly, teaching blackjack helps them understand the importance of knowing when to walk away and not cheat. Some blackjack players are incredibly skilled at card counting, which is considered cheating at most casinos. It’s important to instill in our kids that cheaters don’t win in the long run, and it can burn many valuable bridges down the road.
And even if they are winning, knowing when to walk away at the right time is an incredible life skill. Living to play blackjack, like any game, can lead to disorders and ruin friendships, marriages, and even family. Having a set time to play blackjack and encouraging our kids to walk away from the table when they are winning is the greatest win in all life.
