How Polio Inspired the Creation of Candy Land

August 1, 2019 8:07 AM

Abbott set out to concoct some escapist entertainment for her young wardmates, a game that left behind the strictures of the hospital ward for an adventure that spoke to their wants: the desire to move freely in the pursuit of delights
posted by BekahVee (6 comments total)

Thanks for this post.

It's a nice tie in that I will one day maybe use as a segue to tell my kids, that currently love Candy Land, about their great-granduncle and how important vaccines are because, well, apparently that is a thing this generation needs to be reminded of more than ever it seems.
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:13 AM on August 1, 2019 [3 favorites]

Too bad it is one of the worst "games" in the world. No decisions of any kind.

Do better for your kids, seriously...
posted by Windopaene at 3:20 PM on August 1, 2019

If nothing else, Candy Land is a game that teaches you about how to play games. So the mechanical nature and predestination of outcomes aside, it does instruct in taking turns, following directions, what mechanics of cards are, and doesn't really require much in the way of reading.

(I spent two years making various video game tie-ins for Candy Land and had never heard its origin story. Fascinating piece!)
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 3:24 PM on August 1, 2019 [8 favorites]

What a cool story.

We'll have to give Candy Land games to all those anti-vaxers who want to make polio great again.
posted by kathrynm at 4:01 PM on August 1, 2019 [1 favorite]

I used to rig CandyLand games when playing with my little cousins so certain ones wouldn't somehow end up winning *all* the time.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:34 PM on August 1, 2019

A great thing about Candyland is that a parent can play it with their kids and have no advantage or disadvantage. There's a small window where this is possible (before they figure out that it's all chance), but it's a good one.
posted by sjswitzer at 12:52 AM on August 2, 2019 [3 favorites]