Although your children may find it hard to believe, there was a time long, long, loooong ago (like when you were a kid) when families used to gather around the table, look one another right in the eye, and play real-life, interactive games together, well into the night.
**SPOILER ALERT**
All of that light-hearted play actually led to some serious child development benefits. So we think it’s high time to bring family game night out of the past and into your immediate future! Here are five big research-based reasons why family game nights are important:
Games are good for motor skills
Every time your little ones roll the dice or shuffle the cards, they’re developing their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills – which can lead to later success in sports, playing instruments, writing and more.
Games can lead to better grades
Cutting to the chase- a little family game time now can lead to some great academic benefits come report card time! Many games build specific skills that are useful in your kids’ academic careers – like math, spelling, vocabulary and general knowledge, to name just a few. Research from Carnegie Mellon shows that even a small amount of practice playing academic games can lead to big results in the classroom.
Games help your kids solve problems
Researchers from the University of Florida have found that kids who practice strategizing and solving problems with their parents end up having better memory techniques and more success at solving all sorts of problems on their own. Playing strategy games with your kids is one way to give them valuable practice at solving problems. But even more importantly, it also gives you a chance to demonstrate effective problem-solving techniques that your kids can learn from and emulate.
Games night is family bonding night
Numerous studies have shown that children from families who maintain strong lines of communication through frequent get-togethers like game nights and family dinners enjoy benefits to nearly every aspect of their lives, including:
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- Larger vocabularies starting at age two
- Higher reading scores in elementary through high school
- More motivation in school
- Better relationships with peers
- A more positive perception of the parent-child relationship
- Better emotional well-being and life satisfaction
Games are just plain fun!
Granted, this is a different breed of fun than what you got used to during your carefree, kid-free college days, and it’s surely different than what your kids will be calling fun in just a few short years. But for now, while everybody’s still hanging out in the house all together, make the most of it – by making some amazing memories! It’s time to bring home a new game and bring your family together for a Family Game Night! Check out our extensive collection of games!
