What Makes the Checkers Board Game so Timeless?
Barb Anderson

Defined Tag: Checkers Board Game.

It seems as if the checkers board game has been around for as long as any of us can remember. Most of us played checkers with our parents and other relatives from an early age. One popular restaurant chain has the checkers board game set up in strategic spots around its dining room, inviting the patrons to stop and play. Many parks have places that are perfect for retirees to gather and lay out their checkers game. What is it about checkers that is so enduring in our culture?

For one thing, a checkers board game is one of the ways that one generation binds itself to the next. How many of us remember being taught how to play checkers by a parent or grandparent? Engaging in a checkers game with an adult was almost like a rite of passage; it indicated we were moving past the little kid stage into a big kid stage.

Something else was going on while we learned the tricks of playing a checkers game. As we enjoyed a game with one of our adult relatives, we often learned more about our family history. Often, we learned things about what our parents were like growing up, or the places they had lived. Grandparents may share stories about their growing up years, exposing us to invaluable information about our familial heritage.

A checkers board game also has the power to have us engage with other people outside our family. We play checkers with friends and acquaintances all through our lives. Some of us go on to connect with other people by participating in checkers championships. This simple board game provides a means for us to broaden our horizons, meeting people who are from backgrounds totally different from our own.

There is a new trend in the air these days when it comes to engaging in a checkers game. No longer is it necessary to look around the house or stroll down to the park in order to find someone who is up for a game. Now, a rousing game of checkers is no further away than your computer. The advent of the Internet has ensured that anyone who wants to play checkers can find a willing opponent, whether it is day or night. Some of the online checkers games also allow for instant messaging, so you have the chance to learn more about people in distant places.

Playing a checkers board game has been around for many years, and the phenomenon does not show any signs of sliding into the past. So dust off that board or log onto the Internet; somebody is ready for a game right now.

Barb Anderson has edited or written numerous articles for family-oriented ezines and sites on the worldwide web. Barb is Editor of the Power Learning Tips and Tricks newsletter, which is available at:   http://MastermindLearningSystem.com.