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Board Games Teach Social Skills

Don’t Worry About Your Child’s Social Skills – Play Board Games!

Social skills are an important thing for children to learn at a young age.  Social skills are not learned just by being around other kids the same age, but are learned through cooperative play and interaction.  Social skills are also learned better when interacting with others of different ages, which makes siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, cousins and especially grandparents some of the best players for young children to have because of the varied skills they can learn from them.

 

Kids Learn Social Skills Through Board Games

 

Important social skills learned from playing Board Games include:

  • Following rules and directions
  • Taking turns and being patient with others
  • Sharing and being kind to others
  • How to lose and deal with disappointment
  • How to win and be a good winner – humble as to not hurt others
  • Honesty and confidence by interacting with others and everyone following the rules
  • Teamwork – even if not playing on a team, a board game requires cooperation for all to play
  • Bonding and enjoying other’s company

 

 

Kids Playing Games and Learning

 

Many of these skills are best learned by playing board games with family members so that they can learn in a safe environment which will help them better on the outside world.  Some ways to help your child gain these skills is to practice them yourself by verbalizing yourself when you win or lose.  Some ways you can do this are saying things such as: “Oh, I didn’t win.  I wanted to win, but perhaps I’ll do better next time. Congratulations, you played very well!”  or “I’m so happy I won.  I wasn’t sure I was going to because you offered such a challenge.  I’m not sure I’ll be able to win next time we play.”

 

Young children learn more through example than by anything you can teach them, so it’s best to set a good example and through playing board games with them you have a great opportunity to teach them valuable social skills!

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