I learned to play Tic-Tac-Toe when I was attending camp as a child. I played numerous times—at school, with friends, while camping with my parents. I always tried to get better at it so I could beat my adversary—usually my own parents.
Back in those days, the game was simply played with paper and pencil. And it’s quite easy to learn, since it’s simply a 3×3 grid that you fill with Xs or Os. The goal of the game is to place three same marks in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row to win a game.
But as we grow up, Tic-Tac-Toe loses its appeal for us adults—unless you have kids. I find the best way to learn the game of Tic-Tac-Toe is at camp.
Nowadays, the game has developed into a lucrative product that many companies are trying to sell to everyone. There are some games that are magnetized—we have one with planes and boats at the trailer—some are made out of wood while others are simply played on a beach towels with plastic pieces. It is even possible to quickly make a game of Tic-Tac-Toe by simply take sticks, pine cones and rocks.
I think the best games that would bring memories to your kids while camping would be the ones that you have made yourselves. So before you teach your kids to play Tic-Tac-Toe this year, why not create an out-of-the-ordinary version that will be easy to carry around while traveling like the Tic-Tac-Toe garden table with ladybugs and bees that you can paint yourself. Let your kids paint their own version of Tic-Tac-Toe pieces. There is a buttons version, a Lego version and even an egg carton version (note for this particular version the page is not in English but the image will give you the idea of the game).
You can also download a special paper version of the game with ladybugs that you could laminate and use with Velcro in order for the kids to have some fun time while on the road.
Take the time this year to teach your kids how to play Tic-Tac-Toe and build some memories of your own with it. And while you are at it, teach them a bit of strategy in order to be able to win against the new friends they will make while on vacation.
Have fun this summer.
