DURHAM — When you think of your kids' favorite activities, you might think of soccer, computers or video games. You probably do not think of the card game Bridge, but some people in Durham would like to change that.

Bob Boggs, an avid bridge player for 50 years, gets his daily dose of excitement at the Bridge Center in Durham. Like most people there, he loves the competitiveness and challenge of the game.

"Bridge is like war with four people -- playing together against the opposition," he says.

Lately, however, the battle is to bridge the generation gap. Most people who play nowadays are senior citizens, like 87-year old Rosalie Williams. Williams has been playing since she was 13, but these days, kids are not picking it up.

"The main thing is mental stimulation, especially at my age. It keeps you going. You have to think all the time, and you don't break your concentration," she says.

"Today, there's just too many other things going on. There's sports, TV, video games -- all kinds of things that compete for their time," Boggs says.

That is why Boggs has taken time to teach his 12-year-old granddaughter, Katie Barszcz. She joins in whenever she visits from Rhode Island.

"It really makes you think about what you're doing. I like that. It's challenging," she says.

The Bridge Center starts its annual beginners' class next month. If you are interested, you can call

919-484-2732.