Play or Pay

The children's card game Play or Pay, otherwise known as Round the Corner, is a fun, quick game of luck. Like other children's card games, Play or Pay is a multifac-eted activity that offers benefits for social interaction, leisure, and learning (numeracy, sequencing, self-control, strategy).

Children are attracted to the colors and shapes of cards, and card games typically offer an opportunity for amusement that offers instant gratification. For children and the adults that play with them, participation in card game play opens a historical window and connection to the past.

The origin of the first playing cards is attributed to Central Asia, sometime in the 10th century, when Chinese paper dominos were shuffled and dealt out in the creation of new games. There is also evidence that these first playing cards also served as currency. The four suits and associated court cards were believed to have originated in the Middle East, with subsequent import to Europe sometime before the end of the 1300s. Such paper playing cards were initially hand painted and thus available only to the wealthy. This changed when woodcuts were invented in the 14th century, allowing for mass production. This made card playing accessible to all and the rest, as they say, is history.

The use of playing cards, and games such as Play or Pay have a nostalgic aura in American culture. In the [Page 560]early 1930s and 1940s, it was popular for adults to pass down worn decks of cards to children for use in many ways: card games, trading of special editions or unique cards, decorating bicycles, and making craft materials. During this time, family card game play was a common pastime, with elders teaching games to youngsters. It was during this time that decks of cards specifically designed for children's play began, and new games such as Play or Pay were created.

Play or Pay is played with a standard deck of playing cards and 20 counters of the players' choice (for instance, using coins or small pieces of candy). The game is played as an elimination game, matching cards by value and suit. If a player cannot “play” a card on his/her turn he must “pay” one of his or her counters. The player who runs out of cards first wins and takes all the counters. This is quite the reward for a young child, especially if it is a pile of favorite treats!