If you’re a fan of board games, then you probably know all about how fun and addictive they can be—it’s quite easy to lose yourself to them for hours! But did you know they also offer several awesome benefits, especially for younger players? Keep reading to learn more about five surprising advantages that playing board games has for children.
1. They Offer Opportunities for Early Learning
Even simple games can help young players to identify colors and shapes, count spaces, and develop hand-eye coordination and dexterity as they draw cards, roll dice, and move pieces across the board. Plus, it can teach patience and encourage children to wait for their turn and follow the rules. Board games also encourage healthy brain development in older kids and teens, too—research shows that playing strategy games can help the frontal lobes of the brain healthily grow, which are responsible for executive function skills like planning, organizing, and decision-making.
2. They Boost Language Skills & Sharpen Focus
Board games are also a sneaky way of helping school-aged kids work on skills they’re struggling with, like reading and language arts. Consider games that will help them expand their vocabulary, flex their spelling skills, and read and critically think. Games that require players to remember specific information (like who did what and where) might help a child who’s having trouble with reading comprehension. Additionally, playing board games without interruption can help lengthen a child’s attention span, which can translate into better academic performance as well.
3. They Teach the Value of Teamwork
Board games often offer kids meta-messages about life. Things like “your luck can change in an instant” and “nothing’s guaranteed” stand out in particular, but certain games can also encourage teamwork and teach kids about the value of teaming up for the greater good—which is something they’ll need to do throughout life.
4. They Can Encourage Sportsmanship
On a similar note, board games can also encourage sportsmanship and teach children how to be a good loser (and a good winner). If your child has low frustration tolerance and losing is difficult for them, board games can provide a means to help them become more accustomed to following the rules and remaining resilient when things don’t go their way.
5. They’re a Great Way to Unplug and Unwind
There’s something special about board games, specifically the lack of technology required to play them—it’s just a nice way to get quality, screen-free time with others, and kids can greatly benefit from this. Families can often struggle to find the balance between digital and real-life connections, but board games provide a means for special, face-to-face experiences. They can also help relieve stress and anxiety, which can even lead to children forming and navigating friendships more easily.
Board games are fun—but what makes them even better is all of the great ways in which they teach and help children grow! That said, consider kicking off your next weekend by ordering a pizza, turning off your phone, and gathering around the table for a family game night with the kids.
About Bricks & Boards +
Here at Bricks & Boards +, we’re proud to offer a wide variety of board games, trading card games, an impressive Lego® selection, and more to the Dawsonville community. Our collection ranges from all of your favorite classic titles to many of the latest popular ones, and we have games available for patrons of all ages. Feel free to learn more about our shop and collection by visiting our website or giving us a call at (706) 203-1378.
