Board games: real benefits in children's development

Board games are important precisely because they facilitate socialising with those around us. Lately these games have come back into people's attention and are even played on a large scale, at school, at home, at parties or at camps.

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We can see how current trends are to become more and more solitary, and this is mainly due to the importance we place on technology. This is losing sight of the importance of face-to-face interaction. 

Relatively recent discoveries indicate the presence of board games in Egyptian writings and artifacts dating as far back as 3500 BC.

One of the earliest board games is thought to be the game Senet, invented in Egypt. Although primitive in essence, the existence of the game is indicative of the fact that humans have been finding ways to interact with each other since ancient times. Board games have evolved a lot since then, but many of the principles have remained the same.

 

1. Bring people closer together and strengthen relationships by fostering player interplay.

2. Bring a state of happiness and good cheer, relaxation and relaxation, whether you are involved in the game or simply observing.

3. Develops thinking skills, helps the brain function better and reduces the risk of various diseases such as Alzheimer's.

4. Helps us in developing emotional intelligence, managing emotions (Although challenging, children learn to lose without getting upset).

5. Helps us to be physically present in the moment, taking a break from the blue light of mobile phones and computers.

6. Reduce stress and anxiety because a side effect of board games is laughter.

7. Increase creativity, skill and patience.

8. Teaches us to plan and organise next actions.

9. They make us more confident, stimulating the ability to speak more easily in public.

10. Develop self-esteem.

11. Stimulates concentration and attention span.

12. Teaches the child to respect certain rules without deviating from them.

13. Develops planning, persistence, strategy and critical thinking skills.

14. Helps us spend quality family time, helping to build lasting memories.

15. Teaches us about team spirit.

16. Board games can teach children new concepts and information, such as financial literacy, the value of money and how to manage it properly.

17. Helps the child to think a few steps ahead of the opponent and to sense their moves in order to achieve their own goals.

Harvard Business Review experts talk about how a game like Monopoly develops entrepreneurial skills, negotiation skills, creativity, innovation, teamwork, empathy and resource management. In fact, many inventive games not only focus on these themes, but emphasize outcomes that more closely resemble the collaborative victories that have become so desirable in school organizations.

Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn, plays "The Settlers of Catan," a board game that's still relevant today, and says tech entrepreneurs are drawn to the game because it "comes closest to entrepreneurial strategy." It requires players to collaborate and trade resources to accumulate points, while randomly rolling dice changes the environment and forces players to constantly adapt their strategies.

 

1. Monopoly
A game that can be played with up to 4 participants, ideal for both children's groups and families. Monopoly encourages maths, financial skills and even the art of negotiation between players. With its different variants, it is suitable for several age groups, but the Monopoly Junior extension is dedicated to 5-8 year olds.

2. Story Cubes
Recommended for children of all ages, Story Cubes is triggered by the 9 cubes that can mix and match in over 10 million ways. The participant rolls all 9 cubes to generate 9 random pictures and then uses them to make up a story that starts with "once upon a time..." and then continues with elements from the other pictures. Children can have a great time listening to each other's funny stories.

3. Dixit
This is one of the board games that has won a lot of awards lately. It trains players' imagination and creativity with illustrated cards. Based on them, each participant thinks of a sentence and places the card face down, communicating the phrase inspired by the card to the others. The other players choose the cards they think are appropriate and place them face down as well. The cards are shuffled and then revealed. Players vote in secret for the card that best matches the narrator's story, and the player whose cards are chosen scores a number of points. 

4. CATAN
Suitable for children aged 10+, Catan trains players in the race to gather resources to build as many buildings as possible, from roads to settlements, cities and even armies, by colonising the island of Catan. With its complex rules, Catan combines adventure, luck and strategy for players.

5. Junior Activity
Activity Junior is a creative game that combines elements such as mime, verbal description and drawing. All of these elements must be used to help the game partner guess certain words or expressions. Activity is increasingly popular with children, teenagers and adults because it's great fun and everyone will have a good laugh during the game.

6. Twister
Twister is a game that encourages not only physical activity and flexibility, but also good humour in all players. You have to twist the needle and act according to the directions on the board. Sometimes it requires a player to walk around another player's leg to reach a particular colour. The more the game progresses, the more challenging it becomes. 

8. Jenga
During Jenga, players take turns removing a piece from a tower made of 54 wooden pieces. Each piece removed from the bottom is placed on top of the tower, creating an increasingly tall but unstable tower. This game challenges the patience and skill of all players.

9. Don't get upset, brother!
Aimed at children aged 4 and up, Don't Get Mad Brother is a fun game that will increase competition within the group.  Suitable for family evenings, this game benefits all players, including managing emotions.

10. Saboteur
Saboteur is a game where you can either play the role of a gold digger - digging in deep mountain tunnels - or a saboteur - trying to prevent the search for gold. No one knows who the saboteur is, so the game is played in an atmosphere of mystery. It's very useful because it can be played with 3-10 players, aged 8+.

Nowadays, there's a huge range of board games to choose from to liven up your time together, whether it's family evenings, kids' camps or birthday parties. 

Whatever the type of game, it engages various cognitive components, but especially face-to-face interaction. Board games are an exercise for children's brains, stimulating the areas responsible for memory formation and complex thought processes. 

Last but not least, board games trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural "feel-good" chemicals. The 'happy hormones' have the power to improve the functions of the conscious and unconscious mind, leaving a person feeling cheerful and more relaxed.
Remember! Board game is a perfect opportunity to connect and open up. When you spend time playing with children, you not only help them learn and develop their skills, but you also create memories.
When they get to play with you, they learn many life skills that will benefit them, but they will also relate to a relationship that will only grow healthy.