Like all good parents, our biggest goal is that our children grow up and move out. In order to do that, they need life skills, education, and (probably) a kick in the pants at the appropriate moment. Ideally, we’d like them to finish college or a skilled trade program, get a good job (or create their own good jobs), get married, and provide us with adorable grandchildren. We’d like them to do the latter on their own dime.
So, to help in this process, we bought board games for this Christmas.
See, like most children, ours think the world lives and dies with the internet. There’s no easier way to get their attention than to turn off the WiFi. Their biggest goal at the moment is to get the password that will allow them to circumvent the parental controls that turn the WiFi off and on. No worries, that password is more secure than Fort Knox.
Most internet surfing and video game playing is done independently. But, some of the life skills children need are to play together and to lose and to accept a string of bad luck graciously. While there’s definitely skill involved in some board games, there’s also a whole lot of luck. And let’s be honest–while there is a lot of skill involved at business success, there’s also a whole lot of luck. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Here’s what we’re hoping our children learn from our new family fun.
To keep reading, click here: Why We Bought Board Games for Our Children (and You Should too )
And tell me your favorite family board or card game in the comments.
For your stated reasons I leave my wife and kids with the in-laws, who play the day away “all board”. I meander the fields or beaches, depending on their seasonal abode; one or two games a day is my quota.
Encouragement to engage in activities that develop interactions with others is great as long as all participants are actively involved. Choose a game everyone like or tolerates playing—there’s so many theme versions of Monopoly to choose from. Another game not mentioned is Battlefield which can be played by partners which develops strategy skills when dealing with a situation. And if you are like Mr. Dependable and don’t like playing, being in the same room to cheer on the players also creates unity and companionship. Having fun with others is part of social interaction.
Mario Monopoly was a HUGE hit at my house this Christmas, with the adults, too!
Have you seen some of the cool new cooperative games? Pandemic. Forbidden Island, Castle Panic, other similar games are fun!
We got a fun game this year called 5 Second Rule. You have a box of cards and a timer that you have to name 3 things in 5 seconds, or the turn passes to the next person. So, name 3 baseball stadiums, 3 professional basketball teams, 3 college mascots, 3 thanksgiving foods, etc.
You said that Sorry is pure luck, but if you play with the two-card hand rule, there are tactics involved as well.
There are some brilliant games available nowadays – for teens (1,2 or 4 people) playing against a parent I highly recommend Last Night on Earth. It has a total B-movie theme that is very immersive.
For a two player game, I really like Qoridor – played with the balancing mechanic where the winner of the last game loses a wall to their opponent.
Finally, I agree with the comments re cooperative games such as Pandemic (and the legacy version is great if the family are willing to buy into the experience.)
It’s not technically a board game, but Yahtzee is a must for all humankind. I tried to explain statistics and probability to a 70-year-old on Sunday who had never played it. Enough said.
Happy new year everybody!