We did some decluttering around the house over December break. With so many gifts received, it was great timing to purge some outgrown toys and books. I brought a crate filled with no‑longer‑used, gently used games and knickknacks to the garage dump’s “swap shack.” Turns out, we weren’t the only people in town decluttering—it was filled with lamps, home goods, and toys, too.
I didn’t plan to bring anything home, but as I was setting my belongings down near the entrance, I spotted Monopoly Junior for ages 5–8. I paused for a moment and thought about how the kids had just played the ’90s adult version of Monopoly with their cousins at their grandparents’ house for the first time—and enjoyed the game for hours. It was a lovely memory of time well spent with family. Instinctively, I picked up the box and decided to bring it home with me, even though my children, ages 8 and 10, were quickly aging out of this children’s version.
It stayed in the back of my car for a few days, as I felt a bit embarrassed that I had brought it home when my intention was to donate our goods—not come back with anything. When my husband and kids finally saw it, they looked at me with surprise. My husband’s face clearly showed his disappointment that we now had another “thing” in the house, but my younger son’s reaction was pure joy.
So it came inside, and he and I played it the following morning. This version, in my opinion, is much more fun. Instead of going to jail, you go out to lunch. There’s the familiar rule of being paid when you pass Go, along with buying properties and paying rent. But instead of paying taxes or landing on Free Parking, there’s a pot that’s collected when you go to the fireworks or out to lunch—and you can win it all when you land on “Winning the Lottery.”
As I played with my son, I found myself overspending on properties and then scrambling for cash just to make it around the board without going bankrupt. Noticing this, when my son landed on Winning the Lottery, he immediately distributed some of his newfound cash to me. I said, “Oh no, honey—that’s not how you play the game.” He replied, “But I want to,” with a big smile on his face.
And there it was: the joy in giving—not in winning. His generosity was boomeranging right back to him. Honestly, I was surprised to find the joy of giving in a Monopoly game. Games in our house are usually competitive, with two active boys who play year‑round soccer and sports. There are often tears or frustration with a loss, but this moment revealed a deeply endearing side of my younger son. It was his philanthropic side shining through.
And so, I’ve bestowed upon him the title of The Monopoly Junior Philanthropist.
Who knew there was one?
How does philanthropy show up in unexpected ways in your life?
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