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