Cultural Connections – December 2014
Board games can be a lot of fun, especially on days when the weather is bad and it is too cold or wet to play outside. In fact, people have been playing board games since as far back as 2500 B.C., but they didn’t become popular until the 20th century. Did you know that board games can also be good for you? Many board games help our brains by helping us learn to detect patterns, plan ahead and learn from experience.
Here are some other benefits to playing board games.
• They help us learn to understand rules and practice following them.
• Games require reasoning skills as well as social skills.
• Board games can help you learn how to lose (and win) graciously.
• Many games teach practical life lessons.
• Games teach you to strategize and think logically.
• Playing games is a fun way to bond with friends and family.
• Board games are inexpensive and offer hours of entertainment.
• Many board games help reinforce math skills and increase mental agility.
• Games require the players to think ahead and plan.
• Board games reinforce the concept of actions and consequences.
• Games help you learn about teamwork.
• Playing games is a great way to unplug from electronics and build relationships.
So instead of watching a movie or playing video games, consider spending time playing board games. Not only is it good for you — it’s fun!