| What if I told you there was a technique you could | | | | conversation, but you might be surprised what you |
| use to bring your family closer together and teach | | | | learn about and from your children during this time. |
| your children important life skills? What if I told you it | | | | Even if a rousing game of "Sorry" or "Trouble" does |
| could be both fun and free? | | | | not inspire confidences right away, it will surely give |
| The simple technique is setting up a regular family | | | | you time to simply enjoy being together and will lead |
| game night. It sounds too simple, too easy, but | | | | to the type of memories that your children will carry |
| spending time every week or every month together | | | | with them throughout their lives. Once your children |
| as a family playing games can reap tremendous | | | | know that they will have this time with your |
| rewards for your family and especially your children. | | | | undivided attention then this will likely become the |
| Your children will learn important social skills and | | | | time when they do test out important questions and |
| academic skills, but you will all benefit from bonding | | | | confidences. |
| together over board games or whatever your choice | | | | It is important to set out some important guidelines |
| of activity. | | | | for this night. It would be great to set aside one |
| Playing board games can teach children important | | | | night a week, but perhaps it is only possible to hold a |
| social skills such as taking turns and how to be a | | | | game night every two weeks or once a month. The |
| good winner or loser. They also learn a lot about | | | | most important element is that you make an effort |
| interpersonal communication as you talk and laugh | | | | to be consistent so children can look forward to the |
| together while you play the game. | | | | night and can rely on it. Second, you must turn off |
| Do not overlook the many academic benefits children | | | | the television (all the TVs in the house) and makes |
| can reap from playing games as well. Even young | | | | sure the answering machine is on. No answering the |
| children learn simple skills such as counting, colors and | | | | phone or door bell (except maybe to collect the |
| shapes and as they grow older they learn sorting, | | | | pizza). This is family time and family should be the |
| matching, and reading skills from games. As children | | | | priority. Short of fire, death or dismemberment there |
| grow older then you can advance to more challenging | | | | is nothing that cannot wait until after your game(s) |
| games that require higher level thinking and reasoning | | | | are done. You should set aside at least one hour |
| skills. | | | | when children are younger and two hours when they |
| Today's family usually has a busy schedule that often | | | | are older but do not make an announcement of the |
| sends each member bustling off in a different | | | | time to avoid clock watching. The actual games do |
| direction much of the week. There are not many | | | | not matter much as long as they are board or card |
| occasions when a family actually sits down together | | | | games. Computer games will not achieve the same |
| for more than the few minutes it takes to eat a | | | | results so you should avoid those. |
| meal (and sometimes not even that long). Setting | | | | Regular family game nights can reap tremendous |
| aside a dedicate game night will mean that your | | | | benefits. Your children will learn important social skills |
| family will have a few hours where there are no | | | | and academic skills and you will all benefit from |
| outside distractions and you are simply focused on | | | | bonding together over a fun, relaxing activity. Go |
| enjoying each other. Playing a game takes the | | | | ahead and give it a try. You have nothing to lose and |
| pressure off so there is no need to force | | | | a whole lot to gain. |