Sheep for Wheat: Lessons from the Board Game Table

Earlier this evening at Sauble Beach, I found myself across the board from my sister Heather and my nephew Rhys, deep in a game of Catan. The trades were fast and sometimes cheeky — sheep for wheat, ore for brick — and the laughter was louder than the sound of the storm outside. In that moment, phones were forgotten, the day slowed, and the simple act of playing together became the best kind of escape.

Board games remind me that in an age of endless scrolling and streaming, there is something profoundly grounding about cardboard, dice, and a shared set of rules. Around a table, we lean in. We calculate, we bargain, we laugh at our missteps. We get a glimpse of each other’s strategies — who takes bold risks, who plays patiently, who keeps a secret stash of ore tucked away until it matters most.

I’ve come to believe that board games are about far more than winning or losing. They teach us:

• Negotiation and empathy — How much wheat is really worth, and how far you’ll go to make a deal.

• Adaptability — When the robber blocks your longest road, you pivot.

• Community — Each game is a tiny story, told together.

And there are so many modern board games worth exploring. A few I return to again and again:

• Catan — The gateway to modern strategy games; part resource management, part diplomacy.

• Ticket to Ride — Simple enough for beginners, but always satisfying.

• Azul — As beautiful as it is clever, with its mosaic tiles.

• Wingspan — An engine-building game for bird lovers. (David, my husband, is not a fan — too fiddly for his taste — but I think it’s brilliant.)

• Pandemic — A cooperative option, where everyone works together to beat the game itself.

Board games have also come a long way from the classics many of us grew up with, like Monopoly and Scrabble. Those still have their charm, of course, but newer titles are often more accessible, more dynamic, and more beautifully designed. They’ve become a true renaissance of play.

What struck me most last night, though, was watching Rhys. He carried his online gaming instincts straight into Catan — quick thinking, resource management, and the art of timing a move all came naturally. It was a wonderful cross-generational moment: Heather and I bringing the cardboard, Rhys bringing his gamer’s mindset, and all of us meeting in the middle with laughter.

So here’s my nudge: if you haven’t yet, consider investing in a new game or two. Catan, Ticket to Ride, Azul, Wingspan, Pandemic — they’re more than just boxes on a shelf; they’re invitations to connect. Gather a few people, set out the pieces, and see what stories unfold. Whether you’re trading sheep for wheat, laying train tracks across Europe, or puzzling over how to place your next bird card, you might just find that the lessons of play are also the lessons of life: connection, resilience, and the delight of simply being together.

What’s your favourite game? Comment below or reply to this email. Maybe I’ll discover a new game to add to my regular rotation.