Board Games

I wonder how many of you have memories of boisterous laughter and hilarity as the cards were shuffled or the dice was rolled and family games reached its peak of friendly competition. Scrabbles, Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, and lots more. Now that we have digital games, does anyone play these board games anymore? With so many things gone online - even schooling - perhaps it’s time to unplug and gather the family around the board once again.

Board games can be a delightful family experience. Children enjoy playing games, and spending time with their parents and siblings will be an added bonus. There is also no doubt that families who spend time together on enjoyable activities have better communication and stronger emotional bonds. 

Through board gaming children can acquire social skills, boost their self-esteem and gain flexible thinking. Younger kids can be taught number, shape, colour and word recognition in a fun way, as well as develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Board games also help increase a person’s attention span and ability to focus on a task. They challenge children to wait their turn, play fair and follow rules. 

At the other end of the spectrum, playing games is beneficial even as one gets older, as an active brain is at lower risk of cognitive decline. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that playing board games was associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Board games have an added advantage of being social. Having a regular group of people to play with helps stave off loneliness, and builds positive relationships with others, all of which are associated with good mental health. 

When you play a game it’s all about having fun. There are so many exciting board games out there that you’re sure to find one that matches your personality and provides endless hours of pleasure.