Keep Kids Busy and Teach Real- World Skills with Board Games

By Diane Nancarrow, MA, CCC-SLP KCC Director of Adolescent Programs

If you’re hearing “I’m bored!” from your kids on a reg- ular basis, here’s an answer that sounds the same but is so much more fun: board games! Time at home with kids is a great opportunity to dust off those old games and remember the benefits of playing them as a family. Some extra benefits: Between smartphones, tablets, gaming systems and • Scrabble’s wooden tiles give wonderful tactile other devices, kids end up playing many games by pleasure. themselves. And let’s face it: pressing buttons on a • Trouble’s plastic dome forces a child to look and device is a lot easier than laying out a board, passing listen to the dice as they change. out money, moving your token, etc. • Chutes and Ladders teaches one-to-one corre- While many electronic games engage children in new spondence as kids move their markers and count and exciting ways, and some even involve physical the boxes. movement, board games also provide important learning opportunities. Since they are rarely complet- • Candy Land teaches colors. ed in a few short minutes, they encourage sustained • Monopoly encourages cooperation when choosing attention. Players must wait for others to complete who gets which iconic token. their turns while planning their own moves. • Parcheesi, Checkers, Sorry, and Aggravation teach When you play with your children, you help prepare turn-taking, strategy building, and patience. them to play with others. They will have the chance to respond to real people, watch facial expressions, body Board games appeal to our senses and are great to language, tone of voice, and the timing of their oppo- touch, see, and hear. There is hope in flicking the spin- nents. No matter if there are good losers or bad win- ner and power in moving your token. The best part ners, all responses can be teaching moments. about playing board games is the pleasure of playing with another person. Sometimes, winning isn’t the goal. You are making memories with your children. Being together is the best part!

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