Playing board games helps kids develop concentration skills and lengthen their attention span. However, they must commit to playing the entire game without any distractions.
Board games also help kids learn from mistakes and practice resilience in a safe environment. They can also hone their reading and math skills while learning to wait their turn and follow the rules.
They Improve Memory
Many parents may consider board games for families old-fashioned or time-consuming, but studies show they have great cognitive benefits. Playing these games can improve kids’ math skills and help them memorize facts.
Moreover, some board games can even increase gray matter in the insula region of the brain, which is responsible for memory formation and complex thought processes. Likewise, they can strengthen the hippocampus, which is involved in memory consolidation, information retention, and problem-solving.
The best part is that incorporating these games into your family’s daily life is easy!
They Promote Teamwork
The simple act of playing board games with other people teaches children how to work together. They learn the importance of being a good team player and learning from their mistakes. This is a skill that is highly valued within the workforce.
Playing board games can also help introverts practice socializing without the pressure of eye contact or a formal conversation. This can be an excellent way for children with anxiety or depression to interact with their peers in a fun and friendly environment.
They Promote Social Skills
Consider a board game if you’re looking for a fun family activity that encourages conversation and helps kids learn. It provides an excellent excuse to hang out with the kids, and research shows that it can also help children develop skills in everything from financial planning to empathy.
For example, playing Apples to Apples or Dixit can teach children to predict other players’ moves, teaching them cognitive flexibility. That can come in handy later when they must handle a loss or a difficult situation at school or social events.
They Help Kids Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Playing board games helps kids learn how to think critically. This is a skill that will be helpful for them as they get older and take on more challenging tasks.
Tabletop games that involve decision-making are perfect for kids. Research has shown that kids who play chess have superior problem-solving skills (though this may be due to self-selection).
Even simple board games can help children develop their analytical abilities. They can learn to anticipate their opponent’s moves, recognize poker faces and make informed decisions about their actions.
They Help Kids Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Many board games require logical thinking and strategic planning, which help kids develop their problem-solving skills. These are critical for their academic performance and life in general.
Games like Apples to Apples and Dixit encourage players to compare ideas creatively. This helps develop their right brain, where creativity is dominant.
Moreover, playing these games also improves their response to delayed gratification. This is important because video games and kid apps provide a quick hit of happy chemicals. Board games, on the other hand, take more time to play.
They Help Kids Develop Language Skills
Children learn how to communicate with one another and take turns when they play board games. They also develop resilience, the ability to push on and figure things out when they’re struggling, which can be helpful in school and other social situations.
Board games also improve kids’ responses to delayed gratification. Video games and kid apps provide a quick hit of the feel-good chemicals dopamine and oxytocin, but playing board games requires kids to work hard at something for an extended period. This can teach them how to focus on schoolwork and other projects.
They Help Kids Develop Attention Span
Aside from promoting teamwork and communication, board games also help kids develop their attention span. Whether they are playing a memory game like Tic-Tac-Toe or a strategic game that requires logical thinking and working, such as Power Grid, kids are practicing their ability to focus.
Additionally, many board games help kids learn to wait their turn, negotiate with teammates, and even how win and lose graciously. This is an essential skill for children to practice as they learn more advanced academics.
For kids with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, playing board games helps them develop the ability to concentrate for more extended periods. This is because board games force kids to listen to instructions and execute them.
Most board games also require a certain amount of reading through rules or cards. Games encouraging players to talk out loud about their strategy help children practice their verbal communication skills. This helps with their overall language development and social skills. Children who play competitive games often learn how to handle defeat gracefully too.
They Help Kids Develop Communication Skills
Many parents may write board games off as boring or old-fashioned, but getting the family together for a game of Monopoly or Cluedo can help kids develop social and academic skills. Kids learn how to take turns, interact with each other and develop patience.
They also practice basic communication skills such as listening and following directions. Additionally, playing a board game allows them to work on language skills like descriptive words, word relationships, and comparing/contrasting. Kids can also develop empathy by learning how to deal with winning and losing.
