My parents taught my brother and me to play Monopoly
and then spent the next five years finding excuses not to play the game. After
all, it takes a lot of time and patience to play board games with children.
They forget the rules, they may cry when they lose and sometimes they try to
cheat. My brother was famous for hiding a stash of money and triumphantly
uncovering it when on the verge of bankruptcy. I’m still not
sure he wasn’t stealing from the bank.
But there are good
reasons for introducing board games to children when they’re very young and
continuing to play increasingly more complex games as they’re ready for them.
There are benefits gained in both academic skills and in social and emotional
development.
Here
are five good reasons to play board games with your children:
1. Basic
Civility and Manners
During the life of a board game there are a number of
skills that are tested and honed. Players need to help set up the game and
learn the rules. They have to agree to abide by the rules and stick with the
game until the end. They have to wait their turn and interact with the other
players in a positive manner. And, probably most challenging of all, they need
to be able to lose the game without negative behaviors or win graciously.
That’s actually a lot to expect from children. Younger
children playing with older siblings or friends often feel incompetent and
outnumbered. Some children have a much lower tolerance for losing and have to
struggle with their emotions—anger, feelings of failure and embarrassment. Good
sportsmanship is a necessary life skill and playing board games helps develop
it.
Some of the more intangible skills gained by playing
games are focusing attention and developing a longer attention span,
communicating clearly, waiting while others play, and managing frustration when
bad luck hits. For some children these are tough assignments. If your child
tends to get red in the face or cry when losing, such games provide practice in
much-needed self-management.
Parents and older siblings can model good game-playing
behaviors. Another way to soften the experience for younger children is to play
in teams. It’s important to choose games that are age-appropriate or provide
support for the younger members.
READ MORE: Buy a new game for holiday fun
2. Math
Skills
The simplest math board games will teach matching of
pictures and numbers. They’ll teach the skill of counting spaces while moving a
board piece. Then they’ll move on to number recognition, shape and color
recognition, and sequencing. Later math board games will require operations
skills—addition, subtraction, detecting patterns, analyzing probability,
planning short and long-term strategies and logic.
Most math games require organization of objects,
sorting by likes or differences, some will require skill in spatial
relationships. Many require prediction skills.
3. Reading
and Language Skills
Many word games begin with simple skills such as
matching, sequencing and building simple words. Letter and word recognition
skills grow as children play. They must read directions to play games and be
able to refer to written rules along the way. New vocabulary words will be
introduced and mastered. Visual perception skills are enhanced and eye-hand
dexterity builds with manipulation of game pieces.
Word-building games such as scrabble reinforce
knowledge of the structure of words, spelling skill and manipulation of
patterns found in words such as rhymes, prefixes and suffixes, root words and
encourage thought about the meaning of words.
READ MORE: Board games are back
4. Decision
Making
A side-effect of enjoying board games is a gradual
awareness of the consequences of our decisions and choices. In games, much is
accounted for by sheer luck, but as difficulty levels increase, the player
increasingly needs to make good decisions at the appropriate times. A mistake
can mean a loss. Cause and effect thinking comes into play, probabilities must
be considered. The player must balance risk vs. reward. Tough decisions must be
made in life—games are a safe place to practice making them. Parents can help
guide these learning experiences by asking questions such as “Why did you make
that decision? Did it work?” Reflection on past decisions is a great way to
improve logic and future choices.
5. Quality
Family Time/Fun
In our fast-paced lives, we have to be intentional
about making room for family time. While movies and other online games clamor
for our free time, there is something to be said for quieter, unplugged family
time. Board games offer a space of time in which to laugh, chatter with one
another and simply enjoy being together.
There are literally thousands of board games on the
market, beginning with games appropriate for toddlers and building in
difficulty levels to challenge the brightest adults.
Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and freelance writer. She is the author of "Homegrown Readers and Homegrown Family Fun". Find Jan at www.janpierce.net
Other articles by HVP News Reporters