Board games in Victorian parlours were popular among children and adults. Games like “The Mansion of Happiness” or “Snakes and Ladders” taught morality, numeracy, and strategic thinking. Players navigated boards with rules that encouraged patience and planning. Families played together, fostering conversation and etiquette. Some boards were hand-painted or inherited, adding sentimental value. Competition encouraged rule negotiation and fair play. Parents valued these games as wholesome, educational indoor entertainment. Board games bridged recreation, morality, and cognitive development in Victorian childhood.
Board games enhanced strategy, morality, and social skills.
It demonstrates how structured indoor games served both entertainment and education.
Did you know some Victorian boards included moral lessons, such as rewarding virtuous choices with progress?
[British Library, britishlibrary.uk]