Can board games inspire kids to explore new ways to think and improve their minds?
Today Duke and Daisy will take you on a journey with board games. Let’s see what they’ve discovered about the wonders for kids in playing board games.
Improved Minds
For starters. Board games sharpen a child’s focus. When children play board games as opposed to video games, they gain higher focus skills. Since board games require children to pay attention while playing video games can negatively affect a child’s ability to concentrate. Playing video games leads to impulsiveness behavior, and a decline in attention spans while playing a board game can increase a child’s ability to focus and concentrate on things such as schoolwork and in-depth studies. In Is Screen Time Affecting Children’s Brains explore studies that show that “MRI scans found significant differences in the brains of some children who reported using smartphones, tablets, and video games over seven hours a day. Children who reported over two hours a day of screen time got lower scores on thinking and language tests.”
And there here are more reasons.
Just this one benefit might be enough of a reason to rush and buy an armload of board games for the family to play. But wait, there are more reasons to unplug, turn off the TV and set the table with a board game for family fun.
And the children will have fun and gain some of these skills.
Taking Turns
Some of the simple actions in board games such as drawing cards, moving bits around on the board, grabbing the dice—these are things you shouldn’t be doing unless it’s your turn. Playing games teaches kids that there are appropriate times for everything, and this will extend outside of games to real life. One example of a real-life example helps children learn to wait their turn in a conversation. This is one invaluable skill in real life since it’s one of the essential elements to build friendships.
Math Skills
Not every board game requires math, but a vast number of them rely on at least some basic arithmetic. Board games helping children use math skills are those that encompass necessary skills such as adding pips on dice, tallying up scores, and more complex ideas such as testing probabilities, keeping track of modifiers.
Mental Agility
Playing games is a great way to keep your mind flexible and active. Complex board games require a child to think about not just what they’re doing during a particular turn, but what is their long-term strategy is. It doesn’t help to capture your opponent’s pawn if it means they’ll take your queen in the next move. Learning this ability to think ahead while playing games will help your kids plan in real life, too.
Being a Good Sport
Board games help children learn the lesson that nobody likes a sore loser or a nasty winner. When they play children competitive games, they experience a model on how to be gracious, whether they win or lose. They learn to you love the experience in playing the game, not just the win.
Dog Man
Petey learns what it means to do good in the seventh Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey.
The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man overcome his bad habits. But when his obsessions turn to fears, Dog Man finds himself the target of an all-new supervillain! Meanwhile, Petey the Cat has been released from jail and starts a new life with Li’l Petey. But when Petey’s own father arrives, Petey must face his past and fight for who he loves.
Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of doing good.
New Monopoly
- New Monopoly Deal card game that is moving through Family Game Nights everywhere
- Collect 3 complete property sets but beware of the Debt Collectors, Forced Deals and Deal Breakers
- If you are looking for a fun family/friend game, this is it
- Now only plays up to five players which takes approx 45 min to play w/5 people, approx 35 min w/4, approx 15-25 minutes w/3 people and approx 5-15 minutes w/2 people
- Fun, fast dealing…every card counts
Ravensburger
- Fun play experience – In Labyrinth, Ravensburger’s hugely popular board game for kids and adults, you have to find the shortest route through the labyrinth to win! The game is for 2-4 players aged 7 and up, and the aim is to reach all your treasures and targets as you move through the labyrinth.
- High-quality components – contains a playing board, 34 maze cards, 24 treasure cards, 4 playing pieces, and instructions.
- Easy to understand instructions – high quality, easy to understand instructions make it easy to start playing right away.
- Great replay value – Playing time is 20-30 minutes for 2-4 players age 7 and up. Labyrinth can be played over and over again and makes a great gift.
- Long term quality – Ravensburger has been making products for the hand, head, and heart for over 130 years.
The Fox and the Forest
The Fox in the Forest is a trick-taking game for two players. Aside from the normal ranked- and suited-cards used to win tricks, fairy characters such as the Fox and the Witch have special abilities that let you change the trump suit, lead even after you lose a trick, and more.
You score points by winning more tricks than your opponent, but don’t get greedy! Win too many tricks, and you will fall like the villain in so many fairy tales
After playing board games, kids may want to explore other cultures, and Duke and Daisy found ten activities that teach kids about different cultures. Children can use your imagination and these activities that teach them about world cultures.
