If you have a gamer kid, then you probably spend a fair amount of time worrying about the games they play. Video games, in particular, have a bad rep in terms of everything from mental health to physical priorities like your child’s vision. While the right video games can certainly provide some benefits, allowing your child to sit in front of a screen for hours is rarely a good idea.
By comparison, old-fashioned board games offer a far more beneficial experience overall and boast benefits including cognitive development and, in most cases, socialization. Those are things that any parent would want for their kid, and you might assume that your game-lover would be more than happy to jump on board. But then, you all sit down for a board game session and your child says one dreaded statement – ‘This is boring.’
The sad reality is that modern gamers can take a while to get on board with what board games have to offer. That’s not to say that they can’t get there, and in turn, develop far healthier gaming habits. But, before they do, they may need encouraging in the following ways.
# 1 – Make it a Family Affair
While you might have all tried group shootouts on Call of Duty or other games, video gaming doesn’t necessarily lend itself to family play. That’s not great from a socialization standpoint, and it means that your child may spend pretty long periods isolated from everyone else in the house.
This isolation is a large part of the reason why there’s a strong link between video games and issues like depression. It could also end up being the key to getting your child on the board game bandwagon.
By making board games a family affair, you offer something that your child can’t get so easily from their Playstation – the chance to socialize and get lost in game worlds. What’s more, playing together as a family can ensure that any board game becomes engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved. Young children will certainly be more willing to get involved if you all give it a go!
# 2 – Choose Interactive Games
Video games are fast-paced, and cater to the short attention spans of most children, who can only concentrate for around half an hour even once they reach 10+. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for board games, with even a quick game of options like Monopoly taking a couple of hours on average. There’s also far less action and interaction in many board game options, making them a pretty hard sell for young minds.
Luckily, there’s now a whole new generation of board games on the market, and choosing the most interactive of them could be a great way around this issue. For young minds, top interactive options might include classics like Twister, Hungry Hippos, and Jumping Jack. All of these are engaging, fun to play, and quick to finish. Some interactive options can also double up for daily exercise! For older kids, fun interactive games to try might include options like Pandemic and Catan.
Whatever you choose, make sure the pace is quick, and that there’s enough action to keep even your most dedicated gamer invested!
# 3 – Embrace Online Versions
For some kids, board games can feel a lot like a thing of the past. Sure, that sort of thing might’ve been fun when you were young, but why would they bother with it now?
As mentioned, the good news here is that board games are making something of a comeback, and investing in those newly popular games is one way around this. Alternatively, why not meet your gamer kids in the middle by showing them top board games online?
There are now online versions of everything from draughts to mahjong, and these can feel far more familiar to modern gamers than a physical board might. Some of these games provide the option to play with others, but even if your child chooses to play with their computers, they’re sure to enjoy many of the cognitive benefits such games have to offer.
# 4 – Give Them Choice
Once kids reach a certain age, they’re predisposed to reject everything their parents suggest. That’s all part of gaining their independence, but it also increases the chances that your board game ideas will fall on deaf ears.
By instead giving your kids a choice surrounding which board games you all try, you can drastically increase their interest, and ensure options that are interesting to them.
One great way to do this is to simply give your kids a budget and take them to the board game section of the toy store. They’ll have great fun picking their selections, and will inevitably be keen to get home and give them a try.
Equally, letting your kids choose which game you play each time you sit down for a board gaming session could work here. They’ll soon find favorites that they’re keen to play time and again. And, if that happens, you might find that they ask you to play a board game next time, rather than the other way around!
Takeaway
The benefits of board games for young minds are tenfold and include –
- Cognitive benefits
- Social advancement
- Turn-taking
- Language development
- Number skills
- And much more
Unfortunately, most kids couldn’t care less about benefits like these, and would far rather spend their days on less beneficial video games.
If this sounds familiar, then you certainly aren’t alone. However, it is possible to engage young minds in board games, even in this modern age. The points in this article are a sure way to help you do that.
Whether you’re keen to develop weekly board game habits, or you’d simply like to play together as a family a little more, your commitment to this cause is sure to pay off. If you implement these suggestions, it certainly won’t be long until even your most reluctant youngster acknowledges that there’s nothing boring about board games.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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1 Comment
Classic board games can be just as exciting as video games, especially when gamers bring their competitive spirit.
March 7, 2025 at 5:18 am