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Strategy & Smiles: Board Games Combine Learning With Fun for the Whole Family!

Family Plays Board Game

Not just fun, board games benefit learning with a roll of the dice! For family fun that mix laughter with learning, you can’t beat a good board game!

Board games are top of the list for boredom-busters during long summer days or endless winter nights and not just because they bring out players’ competitive spirit!

Not only do board games create a tech-free opportunity to bring everyone in the house together for fun times, but they also promote learning skills and cognitive development for young and old alike!

Board Games Promote Learning!

From tots to teens—for the young and the young at heart—to beat boredom and build life and learning skills there is nothing like a good board game! 

Board Game Benefits For Younger Students

Math skills, reading skills, memory, and fine motor development; playing games, including games that pay real money, is one way that young children grasp concepts and build skills. Whether it is a simple idea such as following directions or matching pairs playing games to learn skills helps young learners learn to equate learning as something that can be equally fun and rewarding. 

Here are some of the skills that board games help young students develop:

  • Life Skills: social skills such as following rules and taking turns
  • Focus Skills: paying attention
  • Reasoning Skills: making decisions and understanding consequences
  • Math and reading skills
  • Boost self-esteem and confidence
  • Increase social confidence

Check out these recommended board games from What Moms Love

Board Game Benefits for Middle and Upper Grades & Ages

Getting older students to put down the screens and spend some quality offline time can be challenging. But getting everyone to the table and bridging the generational divide is easy when a board game is involved. They’re interactive, they’re fun, and they’re a great way to show off some skills. And bonus, playing board games keeps brain matter strong and healthy. 

On breaks from school, there is no easier choice to keep learning skills sharp than a board game night. 

Humour, pop culture, strategy, or just fun: board games for teens range from silly to complex. Regardless of your reasons for playing, board games help teens build stronger thinking and learning skills, such as:

  • Processing Speed
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Pattern Detection
  • deductive logic
  • Self-reflection
  • Critical thinking
  • Impulse control
  • Problem-solving
  • Numeracy
  • Literacy

Check out these board game recommendations for Middle School students from Education Possible

Check out these board game recommendations for High School Students from Bustle

Board Games Benefit Mental Health, Too!

Playing games together not only gets kids off their devices, but it can also induce fits of laughter, lowering stress, releasing endorphins, reducing blood pressure, and boosting the immune system. Whether it’s for 20 or 200 minutes, board games are a short escape from reality, allowing us time to focus on something fun and each other.

Already Love Playing Board Games Together? Order a New Board Game!

The research shows that learning a new game and challenging the brain to understand the rules, follow the directions and develop an understanding of the complexities, nuances, and strategies of the games is great for brain health!

A new game puts everyone on a level playing field. With a new game, there isn’t somebody better than somebody else and everyone had an equal opportunity to become the house champ!

Read More about Board Games and Learning here.

Bonus Tip: have the kids research a new game for the house and present the reasons that they think this game would be best and why. 

Keep reading: Everything you need to know about elementary school tutoring.

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