Why Board Games?
Traditional board games allow parents to instruct and interact with their children. Games help the youngest players develop social skills and are early lessons in understanding and following rules, while concepts such as counting using dice or spaces on a game board, or matching pictures can be introduced. As children grow, board games can help sharpen vocabulary, spelling, creative writing and critical thinking skills, all under the guise of having fun. Playing games with children not only helps them learn, but it can help parents learn a lot about their kids. Moms and Dads can assess skill development-such as color, shape and letter recognition-as well as social development like competitiveness, patience, and diplomacy. Along with interacting with their children and grandchildren, adults can get an additional boost from playing board games. A June 19, 2003 CBS news report on a New England Journal of Medicine Study found “…a reduced incidence of dementia among the people [in the 20
