Can parent play games with kids on Shabbos?

shabbatiscoming

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 1:31 am

eyima wrote:

I know that the halacha is that kids under bar/bas mitzvah can play board games etc. on shabbos assuming the game itself is allowed. Adults (and kids over that age) should spend the day involved in more ruchnius things and should not play games.
That being said, my question is: according to halacha, can I play games with my younger children to keep them entertained and to spend quality time with them? what about my husband?
Thanks!

Never heard of this in all my years.
We play board games many shabbatot,adults with kids.

camp123

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 2:41 am

I think you need to be honest about the level you are on. In an ideal world, maybe someone can use all of shabbos for just doing spiritual things, but if that's going to cause your kids and even you to resent and not enjoy shabbos it's probably better to play games and make sure everyone is happy. You have to be honest about what you and your kids are at. Most people need some time for learning , saying tehillim and some time to relax by playing games or just schmoozing. If someone can be happy by just spending the whole day connecting to Hashem that's amazing but it's unusual nowadays.

NechaMom ↓

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 2:58 am

Another vote for never heard of this. I've been playing games on Shabbos my entire life with family members of all ages. I thought games are ONLY for shabbos. Who has time to play during the week? Are you sure you're not confusing with muktza toys or games involving money?

causemommysaid

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 3:19 am

Please play games with your children.

Torah is supposed to be enjoyable not unpleasant.

The kids will remember their parents making shabbos fun rather than intense and boring.

If it needs an infusion of holiness then at least read them the parsha, play charades from tanach, guess who tanach version, collect and trade gedolim cards, finish the sentence using jewish stories, etc.

I'm sure you can think of a way to make games into a Jewish version of them.

BadTichelDay

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 3:46 am

I started recently reading a book called "The Halachos Of Muktza" by Rabbi Yisroel Pinchos Bodner of Lakewood, 1981 Edition.
He writes on page 22 "As a general rule, adults (boys 13 and over, girls 12 and over) shlould refrain entirely from playing games or sports on Shabbos. This applies even to games which technically do not violate any Shabbos prohibitions, e.g. playing ball inside one's house or playing chess."

Now, we are not on that level. My kids have their difficulties with Shabbat, often stemming from boredom. If I can defuse that by playing games with them, including dd who's 12, I'll do that. It is better than the alternatives, like them riding bicycles or building huts outdoors etc.
I don't want them to hate Shabbat or to do things which are really forbidden.

One also should not read secular books on Shabbat. I'm unable to uphold that. I just can't concentrate on frum writings the whole day and I'm no good at saying tehillim. I need something to keep me sane and functional. Guess I'm just not on a very high madreiga. What

kneidelmeidel

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 4:52 am

Which of the 39 melachos would this fall under? This sounds like an extreme, unreasonable chumrah from someone with little understanding of humanity, and specifically kids. What is my ten year old supposed to do all day, meditate? Shnaim mikrah v’achar targum? As others have noted, there are a few games which need to be avoided because they do involve melachos, but the concept overall? We need to refrain from anything which detracts from the state of mindfulness that Hashem is taking care of us, we are safe and loved, everything is as it should be.

Rappel

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 4:57 am

eyima wrote:

The Yalkut Yosef agrees that mature people should be busy with Torah on shabbat.

You can play with your children on shabbat, in order to please them.

However, bouncing balls seems to fall into a different category, based off the nature of their manufacture. I believe Ashkenazim consider it muttar, and many sefardim as well.

Playing games with your husband - I've never seen a halachic source which suggests it.

essie14

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 5:14 am

Sure, let's give children more reasons to hate Judaism and Shabbat. Rolling Eyes

/sarcasm in case you couldn't tell

What else should parents be doing on shabbat if not playing with their children?
I grew up with all the adults in my life playing games. That's how you bond on shabbat and spend quality time together.

I'm sure you could spend all day on weekdays davening and saying tehillim as well. Isn't that more spiritual than playing peek a boo with your 1 year old?
Rolling Eyes

imaima ↓

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 5:47 am

eyima wrote:

Ehm what? My family would have fallen apart if I didn’t play with kids on shabbes. Sometimes that’s the only time during the week when we could play

↑ imaima

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 5:49 am

mommy3b2c wrote:

I never fail to be amazed by the ridiculous things I read on imamother . No I never got a psak to play games on Shabbos. But I also never got a psak to wear purple socks , or take a walk in the park , or breathe …

Right

↑ mommy3b2c

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 8:59 am

NechaMom wrote:

Just want to mention that many people play games involving money and build lego as well.

↑ bookstore15

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 9:27 am

It's not coming from a melacha. It's coming from an appreciation of how special Shabbos is. It has an incredible power that we can use to get closer to hashem.
That being said, I would not hesitate to say that playing games with your children is a ruchniyus activity. I know for my part, I'm closer to my grandfather because he played with us.
When else do you get to spend such time with your family? Your kids will remember Shabbos as a pleasant, fun time.
It's saying "adults shouldn't play games", not can't, and this is children playing a game with their parents. It's fine.

↑ NechaMom

Sun, Jan 05 2025, 9:42 am

mommy3b2c wrote:

Just want to mention that many people play games involving money and build lego as well.

Buy I've heard of the concept of not playing with money but not about general playing board games, so I was wondering if she confused the two.