9 Benefits of Board Games in Early Childhood
There are so many amazing benefits of board games in early childhood.
From improving your child’s social skills to enhancing their attention span, playing board games is an activity I encourage all families to have fun with.
When you play interactive games with your children, it is quite amazing to see their little brains at work.
Board games are a wonderful way to help your children learn and develop through playtime activities.
9 Incredible Benefits of Board Games
1. Language Development
Board games are often multiplayer, so it is a great way to get kids talking.
As children play, they learn many language skills like vocabulary, listening, comprehension, and expressive language skills.
Some games are very focused on language development and will even help children with very specific skills like phonetics and phonology.
2. Critical Thinking Skills
Board games are one of the best ways to help children develop critical thinking skills.
This cognitive activity encourages children to plan their moves, predict future turns, prioritize with the resources available, and analyze the game to create the best advantage for themselves.
The more children play, the better they will become using their critical thinking skills.
3. Emotional Regulation Skills
One thing about board games is there is always a winning side and a losing side. This is actually very beneficial for children because it teaches kids how to win and lose appropriately.
Children who are able to control their emotions tend to have better relationships, perform better academically and are better able to cope during stressful situations.
It is important for parents to model proper emotional regulation skills during game night.
Here are more emotional regulation activities for kids.
4. Social Skills
Playing board games has always been a popular way of bringing people together.
Whether kids are competing against each other or working together to win there is always a sense of closeness and community.
One game I strongly recommend is the Social Skills Board Games Set. These 6 games help children learn about important social skills like morals, manners, empathy, friendships, and so much more!
5. Early Math Skills
For young learners, incorporating certain board games like Snug as a Bug in a Rug into your weekly routine is a great way to enhance your child’s early math skills.
These skills include counting, comparing and grouping, pattern recognition, and several more.
Research shows that proficiency in early math skills is one of the biggest predictors of later academic success.
6. Problem-Solving Skills
Board games are amazing problem–solving activities for kids.
When children are faced with a problem during a game, they have to use their planning, strategizing, and critical thinking skills to come up with a solution.
The more children exercise their ability to problem-solve, the better they can deal with problems that arise in real life.
7. Therapeutic
There are so many amazing therapeutic benefits of board games.
Therapists who work with children during physical therapy, speech therapy, and even family therapy often use board games as a way to engage and connect with the children.
Through this type of play therapy, kids are able to relax, connect, and express themselves on a deeper level.
Even though board games are used during therapeutic sessions, simply playing a board game during family game night can be very beneficial for both the kids and the adults.
8. Direction Following
Board games are an excellent tool for teaching children to follow directions since the kids must adhere to a set of rules and procedures to participate effectively.
Playing these games helps kids learn to listen attentively, understand instructions, and apply them correctly, which strengthens their ability to follow directions in a fun and engaging way.
Children who can properly follow directions tend to have better communication and cooperation skills with others.
9. Attention Span
Hands-on playtime experiences are a great way to improve your child’s focus, attention, and concentration.
Playing board games forces kids to concentrate on rules, strategies, and the actions of others, fostering sustained mental engagement.
As children work towards game objectives and make decisions, they practice maintaining focus for extended periods, which enhances their concentration.
The fun and engaging nature of board games keeps children motivated, making the practice of focusing both enjoyable and rewarding.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about these 9 amazing benefits of board games during early childhood.
If you are interested in more games, here is a list of 11 quiet games for kids!
Happy playing!!
