Board games with children: how playing can improve relationships and facilitate the learning process

Board games: together and equally

One of the most important things to talk about is that board games are a great family ritual. When everyone is together at the table, everyone is willing to spend time with each other and everyone is on an equal footing. It doesn't matter if you're a parent or a child, because everyone starts from the same starting point - the beginning of the game. This equality helps build closer relationships and can be especially helpful if there have been difficulties in the family, allowing the relationship to develop in a different dynamic than usual.

But board games offer more than just equality. It is an opportunity for children to get to know themselves and learn from their negative emotions as well. During play, children can experience moments of victory and defeat, which are very important for their personality development. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children that victories must be earned and losses must be taken responsibility for. If parents "give away" victories too easily, it can create unreasonable expectations in real life and not prepare children for life's challenges.

When children have difficulty losing in a game, parents should remain calm and understand the child's emotions. There is no need to immediately start criticizing or demand that the child try again immediately. Also, you should definitely not pretend to lose yourself and give up on the child. Basically, this is the moment when parents can show understanding and try to support the child directly emotionally.

Physical presence and communication

Another great benefit of choosing board games is that they encourage physical presence and communication. When you play a board game, you are with friends or family and your body is involved in the game process. You laugh, talk, maybe even argue and experience emotional moments.

This aspect is particularly important because many children and adolescents may experience difficulties in social situations. Board games allow them to experience communication and socialization in a safe environment where they can hide behind a role play and learn to communicate. Nowadays, the video games that we can find on our smartphone have gained popularity - in them, even when playing with others, we will not be able to get the experience that comes from being together. In recent years, children and young people have missed a significant period of time to spend with their peers in person - at school. Therefore, if you are planning a children's party, definitely think about introducing board games into it, because they can emphasize moments of togetherness, cooperation and communication in a fun and interesting way.

Facilitating board games and the learning process

In conclusion, we would like to mention that board games can be a great way to motivate children to learn. Children may not be so interested in school subjects, but they can learn a lot of valuable things by playing board games. In addition, playing games regularly develops children's executive functions, helping them learn to plan and organize their thoughts. It develops the brain and makes learning more exciting and effective.

The article was written by Jaroslavs Priedeslaipa, a resident of child psychiatry.