Recently, Punk's friend S***n celebrated her 9th birthday. We went out for dinner and then took Punk's and S***n to ride in the bumper cars at a local mall.
In the entertainment centre, there are also some machines which, for a pound (£) one could buy 4 chances to pick up (win*) a stuff toy with a hook device. S***n took a turn and what do you know? Within the first pound (£) she won a pretty little stuff bear. Then comes the hard part...
After being hooked, they both spent the better part of £10 trying to win* another bear, finally falling into tears when we called a stop to their efforts.
Later that night, I spoke to a tearful Punks, still crying her little heart out over the disappointment of not winning.
I explained all about games of chance, and how people keep spending money to win, and yet kept losing more in the effort. I asked her if she had £5 to take a taxi home, if she would have spent it to win that bear. She replied yes; so then I asked what would she have done to get home - I pointed out that she would have to beg someone to give her £5, or a ride home (I also pointed out this was dangerous) and that she would be embarrassing herself and causing herself shame...
This was the point where she stopped crying and saw that no matter how hard you try, you need not be a winner. I then pointed out that the people who ran the machines could not give everyone a prize; they can't afford to, and some people had to lose so they could make a profit. And that there were more losers than winners.
She is more enlightened now, and we have an agreement. If she wants to spend time in the entertainment centre in future, she has to go with a budget that she can afford to lose and thereafter, cut it all off at that point. Of course she will be monitored (^_^).
But after this episode, I wonder how my 9 year old could be so understanding, and Brian Manning still isn't. I can't help but think this should have been a conversation between Pa-trick and son many years ago.
In the entertainment centre, there are also some machines which, for a pound (£) one could buy 4 chances to pick up (win*) a stuff toy with a hook device. S***n took a turn and what do you know? Within the first pound (£) she won a pretty little stuff bear. Then comes the hard part...
After being hooked, they both spent the better part of £10 trying to win* another bear, finally falling into tears when we called a stop to their efforts.
Later that night, I spoke to a tearful Punks, still crying her little heart out over the disappointment of not winning.
I explained all about games of chance, and how people keep spending money to win, and yet kept losing more in the effort. I asked her if she had £5 to take a taxi home, if she would have spent it to win that bear. She replied yes; so then I asked what would she have done to get home - I pointed out that she would have to beg someone to give her £5, or a ride home (I also pointed out this was dangerous) and that she would be embarrassing herself and causing herself shame...
This was the point where she stopped crying and saw that no matter how hard you try, you need not be a winner. I then pointed out that the people who ran the machines could not give everyone a prize; they can't afford to, and some people had to lose so they could make a profit. And that there were more losers than winners.
She is more enlightened now, and we have an agreement. If she wants to spend time in the entertainment centre in future, she has to go with a budget that she can afford to lose and thereafter, cut it all off at that point. Of course she will be monitored (^_^).
But after this episode, I wonder how my 9 year old could be so understanding, and Brian Manning still isn't. I can't help but think this should have been a conversation between Pa-trick and son many years ago.
