15 Reasons To Add Games to Your Child’s Learning Routine

Are you searching for an innovative way to make learning more enjoyable for your little one? Look no further than the magic of board games! These beloved classics have been captivating hearts and minds for generations, and now it's time for them to take center stage in your child's educational journey. With their engaging gameplay and strategic challenges, board games offer a unique avenue for learning that will keep your child entertained while expanding their knowledge in various subjects. Get ready to unlock a world of endless possibilities as we delve into the reasons why adding board games is a game-changer in your child's learning routine.

1. Reduces Screen Time

This was a big deal for us. Even though our extent of watching TV and playing video games mostly encompasses educational options, both of my kids end up with behavioral issues, sleep problems, and acting stressed out when they spend too much time looking at a screen.

When we switched to educational games to largely replace educational video games on Amazon's Free Time app.

I saw enough benefits in how my kids felt and behaved that my view of using games for educational purposes has forever changed.

2. Increases Verbal Communication

They will learn to become better communicators. Depending on the game you are playing, the players may require some communication. This will help your child to communicate feelings and also if they are explaining a move to you. 

3. Teaches the Value of Taking Turns & Waiting for Their Turn

Patience was a big thing in our house. Or rather, the lack thereof.

Having fun together in a manner that encourages taking turns ended up being the perfect activity to teach my young kids to develop a sense of patience. It also helps them develop necessary social skills that will benefit them as they grow older and as adults.

4. Promotes Sharing

We all know as parents that this is a big one that sometimes we wish our kids would do more of.

Sharing is a great skill to learn early! We found through playing board games, we can help teach our children how to share in a kinder way than if we were to try and explain it to them. 

5. Develops Listening Skills

Listening skills can be taught through gameplay as well. You must watch the other players to see what they do and hear what they say while taking their turn. 

6. Helps Kids Learn How To Follow Directions

This is a huge plus when it comes to board games. This skill can be learned during gameplay and can be carried on to other daily routines. Such as chores, school work, and any other daily things. 

7. Supports Kids Learning Social Skills

Board games have been proven to be an effective tool for facilitating children's social skills development. Through engaging in these ludic activities, youngsters are afforded opportunities to interact with their peers, negotiate, and cooperate in a structured setting. By participating in board games, children acquire vital abilities that allow them to navigate complex social dynamics, such as turn-taking, sharing resources, and abiding by rules. These games provide a safe space for children to practice communication skills, problem-solving strategies, and empathy towards others.

Moreover, board games encourage the cultivation of essential cognitive skills alongside social growth. They foster critical thinking abilities by requiring players to strategize and make decisions based on their understanding of the game's mechanics and potential outcomes. Children engage in logical reasoning and spatial awareness as they analyze the game board or cards before making informed choices. Furthermore, these games often entail reading comprehension, numerical literacy, and memory retention as players interpret instructions, track progress, or memorize specific gameplay details. As such, board games are multifaceted tools that enhance social competencies and promote cognitive development in young learners.

Honesty & Integrity

Board games are more than just a source of entertainment; they have the power to inspire honesty and integrity. Unlike digital games, board games require face-to-face interaction, where players must engage in open communication and make decisions based on trust. This encourages players to be honest about their moves, intentions, and strategies. In a world where cheating has become all too common, board games remind us of the importance of playing fair and being truthful.

In addition to promoting honesty, board games foster integrity by reinforcing rule-following behavior. The inherent structure of these games teaches us that it's essential to comply with established rules for fair play. By abiding by the outlined guidelines without cutting corners, individuals develop discipline as well as a strong sense of personal responsibility – qualities that transcend beyond game night into various aspects of life.

Empathy & Sportsmanship: Graceful Winning & Losing

Board games provide a platform for teaching empathy and sportsmanship. When playing with others, we are confronted with the emotions of winning and losing. It is during these moments that our true character shines through.

Board games offer an opportunity to practice humility when we lose gracefully and celebrate others' victories genuinely. By actively engaging in these experiences, players learn to respect their opponents and handle success or failure with grace and dignity.

Teamwork

Board games have long been known for their ability to bring people together and spark a sense of friendly competition. However, they also serve as powerful tools for teaching teamwork. Whether it's coordinating strategies, working towards a common goal, or finding creative solutions to unexpected challenges, board games can offer valuable lessons in collaboration and communication.

One way that board games foster teamwork is by encouraging players to strategize together. Players must share information, delegate tasks, and make collective decisions in order to overcome obstacles and achieve victory.

Board games often put players in situations where they need to think creatively and find innovative solutions as a group. For example, players must use their collective knowledge and intuition to decipher clues and solve mysteries. These types of games strengthen problem-solving skills and promote active listening and empathy among teammates.

8. Provides Quality Time & Memories To Spend With Parents, Siblings, and Friends

Board games, in their essence, offer a unique avenue to foster the creation of cherished memories and cultivate meaningful relationships among individuals within the family and social spheres. These interactive recreational activities are invaluable for spending quality time with parents, siblings, and friends. The intricacies inherent in board games facilitate engagement on multiple levels, stimulating cognitive abilities while encouraging emotional connections.

By playing board game sessions, your child is provided with the opportunity to engage in cooperative or competitive gameplay scenarios that require strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and decision-making aptitude. This level of mental stimulation promotes cognitive development while enhancing critical thinking capabilities among participants, something I feel every child needs more of and is seriously lacking in our education system.

Board games possess a timeless charm that transcends generational boundaries. As individuals engage in these activities alongside their parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends, they forge lasting memories that become embedded within the tapestry of their lives.

The shared experiences and joyful moments created during board game sessions serve as foundational building blocks for future relationships and provide a reservoir of cherished recollections that can be revisited time and again.

9. Deepens Connection With Family and Friends

Integrating board games into social settings has significantly enhanced family and friends' bonds and relationships, serving as a timeless and meaningful pastime.

Think back to your own childhood… did you have a favorite game to play? I remember visiting my grandmother. Her linen closet was half-filled with board games. Every time my mom would bring me to visit her, we'd play at least 7 rounds of one of the games, laughing most of the way through.

Board games facilitate a shared experience that encourages meaningful interactions through collaborative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and friendly competition. The structured nature of these games provides a framework for engaging discussions, fostering active participation, and promoting a sense of belonging within the social group. Qualities our society is desperate for in a season of frequent addicting digital interference and distraction.

Furthermore, the act of playing board games requires individuals to exhibit certain cognitive and socio-emotional skills that contribute to relationship development. These skills include effective communication, empathy, patience, and decision-making abilities.

By engaging in board game activities together, family members and friends are presented with opportunities to understand each other's perspectives, negotiate differing viewpoints, and practice mutual respect. The collective engagement in such intellectually stimulating leisure activities not only strengthens emotional connections but also cultivates an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared enjoyment.

10. Helps Kids Develop and Grow Cognitive Skills

One study that followed over 1,000 participants in their 70s for almost a decade used statistical models to analyze the relationship between how often a person played games and their cognitive function. 

The researchers found that those who played more games later in life had better cognitive function in areas including memory, thinking speed, problem-solving, and general cognitive ability than those who didn’t engage in game playing. 

This research offers evidence that cognitive decline doesn’t have to be inevitable. The relationship between playing board games and sharper thinking and memory abilities adds to current knowledge about what people can do to protect their cognitive health.

11. Develops Critical Thinking Skills

Board games engage students in intellectually stimulating gameplay sessions. By immersing your child(ren) in interactive and strategic board game experiences, parents and educators can effectively stimulate various facets of critical thinking, such as analysis, reasoning, problem-solving, and evaluation.

The inherent nature of board games provides a fertile ground for honing critical thinking skills due to their intricate rule systems and complex decision-making process requirements. Players are presented with multifaceted scenarios that require them to engage in the current state of the game, consider potential future moves, and strategically plan their actions accordingly. Because each time you play a board game, the scenarios are slightly different, there is less room for boredom and more mental stimulation. This analytical deliberation promotes developing logical reasoning as your child is playfully forced to evaluate multiple options and assess their potential outcomes.

Board games often necessitate problem-solving skills as players encounter obstacles or challenges within the game's context and must devise innovative strategies to overcome them. Through repeated exposure to these mentally stimulating situations, learners gradually enhance their ability to think critically by exercising their cognitive muscles engagingly and enjoyably.

Additionally, board games offer a unique platform for collaborative learning experiences that further augment critical thinking proficiency. As participants engage in gameplay, their interactions, dynamic discussions, and negotiations encourage perspective-taking, debate skills, and evaluative thinking. These social aspects of playing board games foster a cooperative environment where individuals learn from one another's insights and

12. Reduces Stress

Aside from the distraction that playing board games can provide, it can also help people learn how to better cope with stress. A 2017 study on stress management revealed that the fight-or-flight response–the body’s natural response to stress–can be safely exercised and regulated within the sophisticated framework of playing certain board games. This means that you’re giving your mind and body healthy opportunities to practice facing stressful situations to develop the coping skills you need when feeling stressed.

Finally, every time you laugh while playing a game, your body's cortisol levels reduce. This stress-response hormone builds up in your system when you feel pressure or anxiety, causing your blood pressure and heart rate to increase. However, as the amount of cortisol in your blood decreases, so does your risk of developing chronic health conditions.

Alternatively, playing board games encourages the release of endorphins, your body’s “feel-good” hormone, that can boost both your conscious and unconscious feelings, leaving you feeling joyful, kind-hearted, and ultimately content.

13. Increases Confidence

If you are someone who could use a boost in confidence, board games could help you more than you realize. Not only will playing board games make socializing easier, it will also help you become more self-assured. 

Each time you make a decision while playing a board game, you’re building your faith in your own abilities. 

Also, when your child develops a winning strategy, he/she will start to perceive him/herself as a capable and intelligent person who can make an effective plan.

14. Increases the Effectiveness of Your Immune System

Plenty of research shows how negative thoughts and feelings reduce your body's ability to fight disease, along with plentiful amounts of research showing how positive thoughts and feelings enhance our bodies' abilities to maintain health.

15. Therapeutic Benefits, Especially for Families Impacted by Disease, Disability, or Trauma

Many board games require fine motor skills to pick up or move pieces, which takes coordination and dexterity. Regular practice and activity improve these basic skills, which is important for children, people with mental or physical disabilities, the elderly, and those recovering from accidents.

Board games are very helpful when they are added to occupational therapy treatments and in places like classrooms for special needs to help improve muscle and nerve function over time.

We've also seen a huge positive impact of playing video games as a military family who moves a lot. You wouldn't think of moving as a traumatic event, but for children, it can be very stressful to start over in a new home, leaving behind old friends, favorite parks, and even how the house was laid out and arranged. Board games gave us something constant and fun to do together to help our kids through those moves.

Are You Looking for Fun, Educational Games To Add to or Supplement Your Family's Learning or Homeschool Routine?

In summary, board games act as a catalyst for children to further their development of fundamental social skills, dexterity, and basic education. The interactive nature of these games enables kids to engage in cooperative play and learn important lessons about collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution. Additionally, they facilitate cognitive growth by stimulating critical thinking abilities and fostering various intellectual capacities. Therefore, integrating board games into educational settings or leisure time activities can greatly contribute to.

We hit the jackpot of educational board games when we found Simply Fun. All of their games are carefully designed to promote learning in a fun and engaging manner. I was pleasantly surprised to see how excited my kids are when learning gets tough to take out a board game to review what we've learned or to challenge new skill sets.