Why Miniatures Gaming Is A Great Hobby For Kids (by Iffy)
You've been wargaming for years and now it's time to bring the next generation into the fold, or maybe your kids have discovered the local game store (LGS) on their own. What next? Is miniatures gaming a suitable hobby for kids?
For some, it's a no brainer. For others, you look through the new Codex Demons for Warhammer or the death-natured Cryx miniatures for Warmachine and start to have second thoughts. Fear not! Miniatures are absolutely a great hobby for kids, with the appropriate parental monitoring and supervision. As a long-time gamer and father of 5-year old twin boys who are getting introduced to the hobby, let me share my thoughts why:
Wargames for kids - oh yes! Because by letting them play warGAMES you positively encourage the skills and attitudes that lend themselves beautifully to peace. -- thechaplain, Librarium Online forums
Who is this article for?
Anyone who is involved in getting the next generation of gamers into the hobby. You may be the parent, an older brother (or sister), uncle, or even a family friend. You might be the game store regular who happens to be the first person the mother of the prospective gamer meets. In any case, it's always good to have a well thought out position on why table top gaming is absolutely a good thing for the kids in question.
What do kids get out of tabletop gaming?
1. Creative Expression. There is no doubt that miniatures are a creative endeavor. After all, you're taking a colorless metal or plastic figure and turning it into a full-colored, 3-d piece of art that comes alive on the battlefield. Kids get to envision an end product and then execute it ... to varying degrees of skill. Even if you stick to the Codex color schemes, e.g., Ultramarines, there are tons of ways to make each figure your own unique expression. If you just think of it as "painting" miniatures however, you sell the hobby short. Take a look at some of the stunning models that are probably in the display case of your Local Game Store (LGS) and you'll find not only painting skills but sculpting, diorama building, construction, and some amazing free hand talent. What other hobby allows you this range of creative expression? The best part of this is that your child can pick up various parts of the hobby at their own pace and start with small projects and watch their skills improve. Even at 5-years old, I have my kids tell me the story of why the two forces are fighting (the scenario)and they help assemble models.
2. Being A Good Winner And A Good Loser. It bugs me that, in this day and age, many kids are raised in an environment where everyone wins. Real life just doesn't work this way and one of the best things a kid can learn is how to pick themselves up after a loss. Games create a friendly environment where kids can learn to win and lose gracefully. To be honest, sometimes my kids have a problem with losing. They hate to lose, but they are learning that it's just as important to be a graceful loser as it is to be graceful winner because the next time they play against their brother, the tables may be turned. Granted, they are 5-years old, but no one is deliberately throwing games to make them feel better. They're learning how to take their lumps and end each game with a handshake and "good game" regardless of how it went. As a game, kids hopefully learn that you can play within the spirit of the rules without getting all bent out of shape.
3. Patience and Care. Painting, model building, terrain making, and gaming teach patience and care, teaches how to plan and follow that plan to get results, how to show care for a project/product and instills a sense of pride in their good work. Also, with technology, kids are used to immediate gratification. Wargaming takes a sincere investment on the part of the player in terms on time and effort on their models. Teaching kids to appreciate delayed gratification is an incredibly powerful ability. It helps them focus on larger projects and look at the bigger picture, which particularly comes to light when they are older and in high school. In fact, the workforce, right now, is struggling with a generation of new workers (Millenials) who have a harder time coping with delayed gratification.
However, one aspect of the hobby my kids are really excited by right now, is that they can paint up their miniatures (Space Marines) and immediately incorporate them into my army lists, which provides a nice balance between long term and short term gratification. This allows them to play their own units, populated with their own figures, painted at their own pace, in full sized games. They can start off small, with a squad of 5 and be responsible for playing them in a game and then gradually expand as they work through more painted figures. Eventually, they'll start managing more and more units until they can run their own army.
Painting and terrain building provides strong tangible incentives to constantly better their skills over time. Kids can see how the quality of the work progresses from unit to unit, as they become more practices and comfortable with the techniques. They see other people's miniatures or pictures in White Dwarf/No Quarter and get ideas about what they can do better on their next miniature. They get comments and feedback from on-line communities or at the local game store about what turned out well and what they could have done better. This is an amazing feedback process that kids can actually put into practice.
4. Cost and Time Budgeting. Assuming you aren't loaded with cash and haven't just plopped down $1,000 for the newest army box, a fully painted army, paints, and tools, kids learn how to manage projects and make cost trade offs. Miniatures can be both expensive and time consuming. More so when planned poorly. If you make your child complete a unit before starting the next unit, they are forced to budget time and finished projects.
5. Research And Analytical Skills. Few people walk into a store, buy random figures, and start painting them. Most of the time, there is some level of consideration given to what kind of force you want to assemble (even if it's the 500 point starter) and how you want it to look. There are tons of good, basic skills built into this. You need to research color schemes, determine what paints you need, find tutorials, determine how you're going to achieve various effects, and calculate how much money it's all going to cost. If you're playing historical miniatures, you may want to track down some reference books at your local hobby store.
If your youngster is designing his or her own army list then they must consider resource constraints, trade offs, and cause & effect. They can't afford to buy something just because it's cool, they have to put thought into each purchase and figure out why they need it and therefore should have it.
6. Advanced Problem Solving. Every game is a different problem to be solved. Objectives are different, opponents change, each opponent has their own playing style, plans go to hell in a handbasket. Gaming constantly tests a person's ability to assess problems, identify potential solutions, and take calculated risks. It also teaches lateral thinking, stresses quantitative analytics, and the ability to update and revise a plan as the game unfolds. Related to problem solving is the ability to look at a position from a number of perspectives and take that viewpoint into consideration.
7. On-line Age Irrelevance. This may be a little controversial, but with the proper supervision, younger kids can really blossom if they find the right on-line communities. I've seen amazing work from young kids and atrocious behavior from adults. This is a fascinating concept, especially on on-line discussion forums. Because you don't necessarily know who is behind a forum handle and avatar, you're taken at face value. What this means is that if your youngster turns out high quality work and expresses themselves competently, they'll be accorded more respect than the might get in person. Not always true, but often the case. The flip side is also true. Act like a spoiled 13-year old, and the on-line community will treat you as a spoiled 13-year old, regardless of who you are in real life. Naturally, for younger kids you should probably monitor what kinds of conversations they're having.
How do I get get kids started with miniatures gaming?
1. Go down to your local game store and talk to the proprietor/manager and find out what they're like, what kind of gaming events are held, and whether they hold events targeted at younger kids. Also find out if they hold related events like painting classes or terrain building workshops since that is a core part of the hobby too. Be up front and ask them which armies or game would be most suitable for your child. After all, both of you have a vested interest in growing a committed gamer.
2. Just as important, you need to talk to some of the gamers there. Bring your kids and watch how they interact with the store regulars. Do they seem like your kids are bothers or do they take the time to answer questions. Do they seem willing to allow beginners to control a unit or two of their army and show them the ropes. These are the people that your kids will be spending the most time with, so if it doesn't look like they're good fits, you might want to look for another store.
3. Set some limits. You may not want them to play certain armies (demons, undead, etc), but there are still lots of options. Talk this over with your local game store and get some input on what might be appropriate.
4. Make them finish one unit before they are allowed to buy the rest. Their eyes will be bigger than your wallet. If you don't impose some discipline, it's easy for them to buy a random mix of figures that don't really go together. Sit down with them and maybe your local game store manager and figure out what sized force they need to get started and work on that. Finish 500 points in one color scheme and play it a bit before you sit down again and work out what will be added next.
5. Like it or not, you should develop at least a passing familiarity with basic game terminology and their armies. It's helpful to know the difference between a warjack and a dreadnaught or the difference between a Space Marine and an Ork, or even an Ork and an Orc. I have to laugh every time I see a mom in the hobby store, on the phone with her kid, looking for a miniature that all she knows is that, it has "Bastard" in the name.
6. Lastly, get involved. You might not have the same passion for painting, but taking the time to look at their work and help them with small improvements or working with them to build a piece of terrain goes a long ways. Who knows, maybe you'll get hooked too.
