Candy Land
Candy Land®
When you think about famous board games, Candy Land® has to be near the top of everyone’s list. But did you know the bittersweet origins of this classic game all started with the polio epidemic?
If you don’t know, Candy Land is a game where players move through candy-themed environments – like the Lollipop Woods or Licorice Lagoon - to reach King Kandy’s castle at the end. Sounds pretty straightforward right? Well, there are a few reasons why it was so monumental when it came out back in 1949, when polio had everyone scared. 1
During the polio epidemic little was known about the disease or how it spread, which caused a general panic. In an attempt to slow the spread, parents kept their children inside and public gathering places like swimming pools and parks were closed.2
Those who did contract the disease, especially children, suffered even worse. Treatments included casts and splints to assist or restrict muscle movement, vigorous massage, and if the chest muscles were affected, the Iron Lung. Many children were sent to polio wards that were far from home, and their families were unable to visit them. So, for a lot of them, it was not only their first time being away from family, but also their first time being sick and alone for such a long period.
That’s where, “a real sweetheart” Eleanor Abbott stepped in.
Eleanor unfortunately contracted polio and stayed at a polio ward to recover. While there, she was surrounded by young children who were also recovering. She saw the treatments the children were enduring, the isolation from family, the boredom, and empathized with what they were going through.
Abbott became inspired to make a game for the children to play during their stay. As a schoolteacher, she designed the game while keeping the children’s perspective and developmental stages in mind.3
For example, polio mainly affects young children, so she designed the game around colors and symbols. No reading, writing, or counting are required to play. Children only needed to be able to identify colors. She also thought of the length of game play. Since treatments were ongoing, the game was also designed so that it didn’t necessarily need to end but could function as a loop.
It helped immensely to pass the time. And since children were often isolated, she made it an option to play the game alone.
Having the game centered around sweet candy was very popular with the children as it gave them a sense of fun and wonder. (Later, when a vaccine was developed it was distributed on sugar cubes to ensure children would take it. Perhaps inspired by this sugar infused game.)
Even the details of traveling through each candy-themed scene gave kids a sense of movement which was freeing since most of them were immobilized. All these features made the game very popular among the children in the ward Abbot was in. Because of the attention to detail for children, Candy Land would in the future be known as ‘every child’s first game’. 1
The children urged Abbott to submit her game to Milton Bradley, which she did at a later date, and Milton Bradley bought it! Since then, Candy Land has remained a classic. Abbott, staying true to her original goal of the game, donated all the royalty income she received from Candy Land to charities dedicated to serving children in need.4
I think this is such an inspiring story about how something fun and magical can come, even from periods of pain and loneliness. All it takes is a little imagination and empathy.
So, the next time you’re having a fun game night, maybe satisfy that sweet tooth with a round of Candy Land.
Resources:
1 “The Surprising and Timely Origins of Hasbro’s Candy Land Game” Hasbro, [12/10/2013], https://corporate.hasbro.com/en-us/articles/the_surprising_and_timely_origins_of_hasbro_s_candy_land_game
2“The Bittersweet History of Candy Land” Neatorama, [07/29/2016], https://www.neatorama.com/2016/07/29/Thwe-Bittersweet-History-of-Candy-Land/
3 “Candy Land Was Invented for Polio Wards” The Atlantic, [07/28/2019], https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/07/how-polio-inspired-the-creation-of-candy-land/594424/
4“Candy Land” PBS, [07/13/2018], https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/candy-land/
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