When did bingo become a children’s activity?
My children are fourth generation bingo fans and they take the game more seriously their ninety two year old number calling great-grandmother. While my grandmother plays money, my kids love the game for all its worth. We can search for numbers, enjoy the treats, laugh at funny things said and most importantly, shout bingo when there’s one on the card. The excitement of the game sure beats any door prizes being won. So when my girls saw a bingo being advertised in the church bulletin this morning, it was clearly assumed that was going to be our Sunday afternoon activity.
The bingo was a fundraiser for families in need to be able to have Thanksgiving dinner and all ages were welcomed. My children were all ready with bingo daubers in hand when we discovered prior to heading out the door that we needed bingo chips instead. My girls did not have any of those chips, but never fear because their momma always has card stock. With a few paper cutting machines to choose from, I elected to use a pressing paper cutter instead to make many little mouse shaped heads for the girls to use in lieu of these circular blockers. I also debated on the laminating the pieces as well, but figured the thickness of card stock would survive my children for the most part. So armed with their homemade markers, my kids were ready to shout some bingo!
Needless to say, the girls were not given the opportunity to scream bingo, but one repeated the letters and numbers that she heard (which were all correct) to neighboring players who had difficulty hearing. One of my kids won two different door prizes which were a homemade turkey magnet and a Christmas coloring book. An adult at a different table offered the same coloring book and magnet to my other child to match what her sister got. This gameday was not comparable to the time us adults got to see players run over to the concession stand for leftover cafeteria food shaped like smiling faces during an over twenty one bingo night, but a good time was had by all and hopefully raised some money for those less fortunate!
