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Listen up parents. Poker can be a safe, fun, and competitive activity for your child to participate in. I remember in high school, my parents would actually give me money to play poker at home poker games. At the time, I thought it was strange. In retrospect, I can see it was a smart thing to do.

In a parent’s dream, on Friday nights their kids might volunteer at the hospital, go roller-skating in a well-monitored arena, or join a study group to get ahead on next week’s schoolwork. In reality, it just isn't happening. So how do they spend their time? Well, in an area with little to do, the answer is clearly found in high rates of drug problems, teen pregnancy, and petty or serious crime. If poker happens to be your child’s interest, you know where they are, and you can be sure their environment is safe.
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Many parents may not be thrilled about the prospect of their kid becoming addicted to gambling. Remember that forbidding something only makes the craving stronger, and if your child has an interest, fostering positive conversation by allowing and discussing the experiences will ensure their interest is properly moderated. Is poker better than watching TV – much. Is poker better than the aforementioned drugs/sex/havoc – clearly. Is poker better than a part-time job or the church charity function – probably not. But how often do kids crave the acceptable, wholesome activities?

I’m not encouraging parents to teach their kids poker tomorrow. I’m just saying that if your kid ever tells you he is off to play poker tonight, you can rest easy that he’s not in danger somewhere else.

By Rich Spaulding