Board Games bring the Family Back Together - Family

REGULAR family board game nights can help families feel more connected and improve childrens' learning and social skills, a study suggests.

In a study commissioned by Hasbro, which produces Monopoly, more than 100 Australian families with children aged five to 12 played board games together at least once a week for a month and were asked to observe the outcomes. The results showed two thirds of parents (67 per cent) strongly agreed board games helped initiate family time, compared to 52 per cent before the study.

At the end of the month, nearly half (48 per cent) strongly agreed board games helped the family feel more connected, compared to 39 per cent before the study.

Parents were also asked to consider the benefits of board games on their children's life and learning skills. Over half (54 per cent) strongly agreed board games helped improve children's concentration after a month of family game nights, compared to 42 per cent before the study.

A similar number (57 per cent) said the games helped their children to learn, compared to 49 per cent before.

Only a third strongly agreed board games helped improve children's social skills before the month of board game nights, compared to 40 per cent at the end of the study. The study, by research company OMD Insights, also collated comments from parents about their thoughts on playing board games together regularly.

"It presented an excellent opportunity to bring up what's going on in my children's life and to get a better understanding of where they are at presently," one parent said.

Another said board games "fostered better understanding and communication not just about the game but life in general".

Before the study the participants ranked their most popular family activities in order as watching television, watching movies and playing board games. After the study watching television and playing board games were ranked equally as the most popular family activity, with 57 per cent saying games were very appealing.

Source: Byron News, 13th August 2009.

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