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A grandma with curly gray hair plays checkers at a garden table while a gray tabby cat rests its chin on the wooden edge. 19 / 24

Grandma Edie Was Plotting Her Next Checkers Move. Pebble Had Already Checked Out.

AI imagegray tabbycheckersgarden shed

Out by the potting shed, among rubber boots, pruning shears, coiled twine, and a basket of gloves, a checkerboard sits on a rough wooden table. Grandma Edie, in a cable-knit olive cardigan, studies the board with one finger resting on a red piece and a sly little smile, glasses low. Right at the table's edge, Pebble has propped his chin on the wood, front half sprawled forward, eyes half open. He looks less like a player and more like an extremely relaxed referee who has stopped paying attention to the rules.

Board games like checkers are a great choice for older adults. They involve planning, memory, and strategy, and they are easy to set up for a quick game on the porch or at the kitchen table. Playing with friends or family adds social connection, which is an important part of healthy aging. And if no human opponent is available, many people enjoy solo practice or puzzles instead. A pet nearby adds a sense of company to these quiet pastimes. Just keep game pieces put away afterward, as small round checkers can look a lot like toys to a playful cat.

Pebble does not seem tempted by the pieces today, though. He is content to keep his chin exactly where it is, close to Grandma Edie and far from any need to move. Whoever wins this round, he has already claimed the best seat at the table.

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