Benefits of Board Games

Submitted by Vicki Hazelwood from Building Brains Together

With the shorter days and cool fall weather setting in, are you tempted to relax in front of the TV most evenings? While this can be a great way to wind down after a full day of work or school, a fun and worthwhile activity, to change up the routine, can be to dig out a deck of cards or a board game for some face-to-face competition.

Why is this worthwhile? As you likely know, this type of play can really be quite entertaining and it helps to strengthen relationships. Sometimes we forget that this type of play also helps our brain! Engaging in games exercises essential cognitive skills such as working memory, decision-making, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. By simply playing a game together we can stimulate strong brain function, decreases stress hormones, and release endorphins – our body’s natural “happy hormones”. As your day winds down and you are ready to settle in on the couch, consider adding one of these games to your evening activities:

  • Go Fish, Concentration, or Snap can all be played with a standard deck of cards.

  • UNO is a simple and fun game for all ages.

  • Sorry, Clue, Scrabble, or Monopoly are some classic board games that can often be found at Thrift Stores.

If you don’t have a board game at home, pull out your spoon from your cutlery drawer, a deck of cards, and try a lively game of Spoons.

There are endless card and board games out there, however, keeping it simple and just playing what you have on hand is a great place to start. So as the sun goes down earlier and the weather gets colder, remember to enjoy the benefits of sitting down to play cards or a board game. You may even find this practice helps to keep life in balance and promotes a more joyful existence.

family playing a board game in a cabin

Sources:

  • Standard 52-Deck Card Games link: https://brisbanekids.com.au/6-easy-card-games-kids/

  • Spoons: https://www.hellaentertainment.com/blog/card-games/spoons/#:~:text=Spoons%20can%20be%20played%20with,spell%20out%20%E2%80%9Cspoons%E2%80%9D%20wins.

  • https://www.buildingbrains.ca/blog/why-build-executive-functions

  • https://www.buildingbrains.ca/blog/executive-function

  • Photo: https://www.womansday.com/life/g39982339/best-board-games-for-families/

Tanya Whipple