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If you want a family that spends a lot of great times together and bonds exceptionally well, then it is time to put down the electronic devices. Communication is something that many families struggle with these days because we all appear to be quite obsessed with our phones, online games, social media accounts, etc. Family games are one way to have a blast, hang out as a family unit and improve the way we engage or express ourselves. Psychologists agree that playing family games can boost healthy communication while bonding with one another.
Playing Cards
A classic deck of cards is one of the most versatile and inexpensive items out there for creating old-fashioned family fun. Even something as easy as “Go Fish“ is entertaining and helps to teach our younger family members about communication with others. When they are told to “go fish,” children are learning to socialize in a positive and patient manner. To win the card game, the player collects the most suits or piles of cards in front of them. Depending on the ages within your family, you can try out more strategic card games such as “Kings in the Corner” or “Codenames.” If you have teens who aren’t into playing card games, try suggesting other activities for them to do while the rest of the family plays a game. Consider asking them to look up the zodiac sign or daily horoscope for each family member. This can interest them as they look up signs while still being in the same room as the rest of the family. They can share what they find between turns.
Playing Board Games
This famous board game came out of the late 1960s, and it is still entertaining families today and delivering that quality time that many activities lack now. It’s called Trouble and features a pop-die-roller. Whoever can move all four of their pieces from “Home” to “Finish” wins the game. Up to four family members can play, and it is an excellent game for all participating because Trouble is really a game of luck and chance. Kids love competing and waiting to see what happens with each roll of the dice. Chess is yet another educational game to play, and although it takes some time to learn with its variety of rules, it is a game based on strategy. Chess is ideal for those ages 10 and up, and it is a wonderful one-on-one game that can encourage all kinds of communication, especially between a parent and child. The classic game helps you stretch those brain muscles, concentrate, develop patience and creative thinking, good sportsmanship and a winning strategy.
Playing Badminton
Getting fresh air and being away from our devices and televisions is another way to promote healthy communication. The game of badminton is a traditional game that is played outdoors offering very good exercise and a lot more. You need only minimal equipment such as the net, badminton rackets and at least one shuttlecock. Also, it is a low-risk sport for people of all ages and backgrounds. Psychologists say that badminton is a healthy sport that can help kids socialize and communicate better with “real people,” instead of the limits that electronic gameplay provides. Children learn to improve their motor skills and their memories as they have to remember the points they get in a game. They also have to play with a partner and learn teamwork.
Playing Croquet
Here is another outdoor game that is not only fun and friendly after a barbecue, but it is an effective activity for family members to spend time chatting as they move their ball through the course. Croquet is a slow game and one that requires patience, but it also allows you to display precision and skill as you use a colorful wooden mallet to hit your ball through the hole and hopefully, smash your brother’s or sister’s ball as far off the course as you can. In other words, the game can get quite competitive among family members, but healthy competition is also a good part of any game. Learning to lose gracefully is another fine lesson in communication that your kids will benefit from at a young age.
Most of us admit that we need our electronic devices with us at all times but every family should find the moments to put these gadgets aside, and play family games that help us bond, think creatively and move ahead through life. Spending time together and talking with each other is valuable and helps define our place in the world.
