Video games are tons of fun, and a great site posting tons of content around video games, GamesReviews.com, seems to have recognized there is an equally fun hobby that's great for the whole family - board games! While video games are not all bad - as some news outlets would like to portray them - there is something to be said about disconnecting from screens and doing something a bit more tactile, that actually provides many of the same benefits. Family game night is important, and here is why!
Families in western countries are spending less and less time together, and more and more time in isolation, staring at screens - whether that be TVs or phones. There is nothing wrong with escaping into virtual worlds and enjoying your time, but being together as a family seems to be a lost concept. The thing is, personal experience tells me that board games are super important for the development of kids, and encourages families to come together and spend that quality time.
Even the most basic of board games often require some type of strategic thinking. Thinking a few turns ahead, or deciding what route through a game is best for you, encourages kids to access different parts of their brains and begin developing strong strategic thinking and problem solving skills. This starts at a young age, with games like Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train
which encourages kids to think through a variety of train tickets, decide the best routes, collect the right cards, and finish their tasks. Games like Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train are not just great entry level games for kids, they teach concepts that will allow them to jump into more difficult experiences, like base game Ticket to Ride.
Another great example is My Little Everdell. Everdell, a massive tableau building game loved by many, is a really deep experience that is a mix of worker placement and card laying. Understanding all the concepts at work in the game isn't easy, but Starlight Games has released a kids version of this experience called My Little Everdell. This game allows kids to work through some of the ideas used in the “big brother” version of the game, including placing workers, collecting resources, and building cards. It's just done on a much smaller, more accessible scale.
Taking time out of your busy week to sit down with your kids around a table playing games is one of the best things you can do. Kids will develop life skills playing games, specifically around problem solving. We have generations of individuals who cannot problem solve themselves out of a wet paper bag, and it's because as a society we are not attempting to hone and mature those skills. Board games provide numerous benefits, but this might be the most important in my opinion.
So this holiday season, get a board game to the table and enjoy some time with your kids. And if you are bored with games like The Game of Life, Monopoly, or Clue, there is a whole other world of board games that you can enjoy with your kids. Here are a few suggestions: My Lil Everdell, My LIttle Scythe, Ticket to Ride: The First Journey, Boop
