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Playing Board Games Helps Developmental Skills

Playing Board Games is Good for Your Child’s Development

Playing board games offer your child many valuable skills, as well as being very fun.  Children who play board games, as opposed to video games, have greater focus skills. Your child’s development is significantly impacted by playing board games. Board games require children to pay attention in a much more realistic manner and learn to cooperate with others.  As shown in some studies, video games can negatively affect a child’s ability to concentrate and leads to impulsiveness, whereas board games can increase a child’s ability to focus and concentrate on things such as school work and in depth studies.

 

Help your child's development with board games - see how!

 

Board games are also not over-stimulating to a child’s brain which also helps them to focus better.  Instead of having lots of graphics and fast play thrown at them quickly for their brain to process, they are able to take their time and concentrate in a more relaxed and fun manner, which further increases their confidence.

When looking for board games for your child you should keep in mind the following points:

  • Themes that appeal to your child
  • Age appropriate
  • Challenge them without frustrating
  • Games that are genuinely fun and enjoyable
  • May have some educational skills – without removing the “fun”
  • Directions that are easy to follow

Why Board Games are Better than Video GamesThere are several ways you can help your child be encouraged by playing games when they are young that will give them life-long skills.  You can encourage children to count as they move around the board which will help them to take their time and count correctly.  In order to help them apply valuable thinking skills you can ask them questions as they play – such as “What do you think will happen?” or “Which space should I move to now?”  and this will give them an opportunity to show off a bit and gain confidence.

Setting up a regular “game night” is a great way to help your children learn from playing board games.  It may seem difficult at first because we all seem to have such busy and unpredictable schedules, but this can be something very important to a child.  Routine helps children to gain security.  Secure children are more confident and are able to focus and concentrate better.  In order for them to benefit the most from board games setting a routine in place may help them get the most out of the game.

When regularly playing board games with your child giving them a choice between 2 or 3, for younger children is a good idea.  This way they can still have a routine without tiring of it.  This is a good time to turn off electronics and really enjoy spending time with your child while they learn important life-long skills.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.childswork.com/blog/2012/02/new-study-links-video-games-to-increased-impulsivity-decreased-attention/

http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/11304/1/How-to-Improve-Concentration-in-Kids.html

 

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