The Benefits of Playing Board Games
Board games are common forms of entertainment at home, in school, and even in the workplace. Usually played by two or more players, playing a board game is generally easy to learn. Winning can be determined by chance or by strategy. Recent studies reveal that there are more benefits of board games than readily meets the eye.
History
Board games are not new. Evidence shows that a form of board game known as Senet has been played since the time of Predynastic Egypt as it has been seen included in burial sites. Other ancient board games include Mehen, Go, Patolli, Royal Game of Ur, Pachisi, Chaupar, and various Buddha games.
Contemporary board games are represented by such games as Scrabble, Monopoly, and Risk. Board games such as Chess, Checkers, and Mancala have distinguished themselves much earlier and have continued to stay on even with the introduction of newer versions. Their staying power can be credited to the apparent benefits of playing board games provided to humans. It is of special note that many board games are currently being offered as video games which allows players to compete against a computer or other online players. This is said to be one factor that contributed to the decline of traditional board games although the playing experience is not the same.
Characteristics of Board Games
By its very name, it is very easy to conclude that board games make use of boards which are in fact employed to serve as the playing ground for the game itself. Game pieces are common components of board games which may vary depending on the nature of the game. Every game is played according to set rules thus written instructions are typically included in every pack.
Board games that require skill are understandably more difficult to master as compared to games that are decided simply by chance or luck. While the latter simply requires players to know the rules of the game for proper conduct, the former may involve developing strategies as players advance through games and competitions. Board games that require skill such as chess have been elevated to the category of sports although this has been met by criticism from some quarters because of the absence of physical activity usually associated with the word “sports”. None the less, various international sports federations have recognized chess as a sport.
Players of board games are expected to display sportsmanship whether or not the games are being done simply for fun or for competition. Some board games that are seemingly decided on by chance can also be influenced by player decisions which is already a form of strategizing. It can be said therefore that playing board games is an exercise of mental skills as well as social skills.
Benefits of Board Games
The most obvious benefit provided by playing board games is the amount of interaction given to players as a group. Family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors are taught critical social skills when they abide by the rules of the game which typically involves taking turns, waiting, and sharing. Players also engage in lively verbal and non-verbal communication with each other in order to accomplish the object of the game.
Children benefit from playing board games by developing skills in recognition, perception, coordination, and communication. Adults may obtain the same benefits in an enhanced level. Playing board games is said to be therapeutic because it provides time for relaxed and unhurried enjoyment. It also provides tremendous learning opportunities while satisfying the competitive streak of players. Another advantage of playing board games is the release of tension from performing repetitive, boring, or highly stressful work functions.
My Say
In summary, playing board games can be beneficial because:
1. Board games provide opportunities for social interaction regardless of age group, gender, or work positions.
2. Board games are flexible and can be used to satisfy recreational or competitive needs.
3. Playing board games does not entail much cost as it rarely requires purchase of special equipment, clothing, and accessories.
Clearly, people can gain from exploring the benefits of board games.
Shengkay Apuhin
I love scrabble and i actually have one in the house…at isa pang gusto ko is game od the general..
Teresa Martinez
We also like playing scrabble here at home. It’s play and learn for the children.
Rossel
It is better to kill time by playing board games than watch TV, most especially for the kids.It is a fun way to stimulate their minds. Sometimes games don’t need to be too much academic to be educational.
Teresa Martinez
That is so true.
Bless
When I was still in the Pinas we also play monopoly along with my siblings and cousins. Now here, seldom only as our girls don’t know how to play it yet. Although we play other boardgames appropriate for their age. It’s our bonding moment as well.
Teresa Martinez
Playing board games provide simple ways for family bonding.
Gene
I honestly miss playing board games. My siblings and I love playing the Millionaire’s Game, Games of the Generals and Scrabble. When I learned that Monopoly released new version, I seriously contemplating buying it, though I have a problem, I have no one to play with. I asked hubby about it but it looks like he’s not a fan of board games. He grew up with Playstation and other video games. :/
Teresa Martinez
Oh well, that is just how it is, no reason to give up on it though.
Hyanne
Playing board games is not really just a past time for everyone. It is really helpful in lot of terms, it exercise our mind or sharpened our mind.
Teresa Martinez
Exercising our mind…I like that.
Adin Blankenship
I love board games and back in the Philippines, growing up I used to play board games with friends particularly the snakes and ladders. That was sure fun. I love it and I think it is way better than playing video games. When I first got to the USA, I didn’t know nothing about Monopoly. My husband, his cousin and his cousin’s wife taught me how to play while at their house after having dinner together. It was sure fun and my beginner’s luck I won the game. Like seriously, my husband and his cousins are like pro at this game and I beat them. LOL! Gotta love it! I don’t play BINGO so I don’t know much about the ins and outs of the game and so does the chess. My husband is good at it, but never really sat down and asked him to teach me. I would love to one of these days. When we had the ice storm here in Kansas back in 2007, we had no power and all we had was candlelights and the woodstove to keep us warm. One of the things we did to entertain us was playing Monopoly. I love it!
Teresa Martinez
This just shows that when things go down to the basics, we have nothing else to turn to but the traditional way.
Chie
Chess and Scrabble are the board games that are always played in our house. My father is quite a chess master. We siblings used to play chess with him..actually he’s the one who taught us how to play chess. Board games are fun to play and at the same time challenging and educational
Teresa Martinez
You must have had many enjoyable moments playing board games with your family.
jheylo
my friends and i used to play these kinds of games, this is great for killing time 😀
Teresa Martinez
Board games are great for spending time with friends.
Chubskulit Rose
Board games are fun to play with the whole family. We have a few at home and that’s what we do when they are off from school.
Teresa Martinez
We do that as well in our family.
iam Herbert (@bxunet)
Ah bingo, one of the game we used to play during afternoons 🙂 Love the thrill when you are on the verge of winning
Teresa Martinez
Sure can identify with that feeling.
Gven-Rose
I am not into board games but I tried playing bingo
Teresa Martinez
Well you might just find one that will interest you since there are many new board games in the market already.
Marms
I never learned chess…but surely I like playing board games too. You learn how to execute strategies to win.
Teresa Martinez
Chess requires more strategy than any other board game.
lovemindanao
am shame to confess that the only boardgame i know is the DAMATH… dama with math …eating too much of my time back then
Teresa Martinez
This is the first time I’ve heard of this, dama with math…interesting.
swexie
In addition, board games sharpen our minds. Playing with strategy is a really good way to exercise our brains. =)
Teresa Martinez
Yes, in fact senior citizens are advised to play more board games to keep themselves mentally alert.
Rizza Javier (@beingwell20)
I’m such a sucker for board games and indoor games. Wehehe…
Teresa Martinez
I enjoy playing boardgames very much with my family.
jrplaza (always10list)
I do agree. Board games are simply created not just to kill boredom but also helps our mind gain more skills and enhance how we plan strategies, play them and apply to real world tactics.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, playing boardgames can help us develop strategies which can be applied in other areas of our life.
Daquio Janine
Lots of people today prefer pressing and sliding through their iOs, android gadgets, laptops, video games than playing to the actual board games. You may get bored with board games, but a system being an opponent is not that feisty.
Teresa Martinez
There is absolutely nothing like real and live opponents.
Noel Ablon
This post is so informative and very educational, I love it. I used to play the Monopoly and I still love that game til now but I’ll probably give more time til my son can comprehend the game or I’ll probably buy the Snake and Ladders for the meantime. 🙂
Thanks for this post.
Teresa Martinez
Snakes and Ladders is a fairly easy way to introduce children to board games.
RonLeyba
Been playing board games since my childhood. I am missing playing board games with my cousins though.
Teresa Martinez
Playing board games formed a great part of my childhood entertainment at home.
Donald Pagulong
Board games are part of our family bonding. Whenever an opportunity comes, my family see to it to play Scrabble or Word Factory. But see, I am that good at chess.
Teresa Martinez
I think I’m pretty good as scrabble.
Jason Cruz (@jsncruz)
There’s only one thing I don’t like about board games: there’s no “save” feature. I once had a Risk game last a couple of days (total playing time of 19 hours) and my friends were taking so many pictures of the board since it was at my place and they were worried I’d cheat. Haha! We had to be careful to not even bump the board or some unit pieces may be displaced.
Teresa Martinez
I think that’s part of the fun when anything can happen including “displacement” of pieces.
Gigi Beleno
I love doing board games because it allows me critical thinking, especially those games that requires my mind to really work. Soon, I would like to teach my little boy some board games.
Teresa Martinez
Playing board games really help sharpen the mind.
Jerwel Adrian
My friends always play board games especially tycoon games. I miss those times.
Teresa Martinez
Board games have long been part of activities among friends.
Franc Ramon
As a kid, I learned a lot playing board games and it was fun yet helped me learn the concept of budgeting for games like monopoly and made my mind sharper with puzzle games.
Teresa Martinez
We do learn a lot of things from games.
Gemma|My Dailies
Growing up, I love playing scrabble, snakes and ladder and chess! Now, it’s been replaced with online board games! Times have changed!.. though we can still insist on the old one still 🙂
Teresa Martinez
These are also the games that had a big role in my growing up years.
Peter Rogneholt
Hello Teresa!
You might want to check out a lot of newer and far more interesting boardgames and also a lot more contemporary than those you mention here.
I suggest you check out boardgamegeek.com and also spiel des jahres to get an idea of how many great games there is out there and beats Monopoloy and Risk by far.
Peter
Teresa Martinez
Hi Peter!
Thanks for this. The games here are very interesting so I might write about some of them in the future.