As Roald Dahl once said, “Life is more fun when you play games,” there are so many benefits and qualities of playing games with family and friends that you can unlock from this simple activity.
Imagine this: you’re surrounded by your children and extended family, all gathering for a special occasion. The air is filled with excitement for the bonding and fun that’s about to unfold. Then, you spot it- that old board game, a relic from your childhood, tucked away. You bring it out, and suddenly, the room is alive with laughter, friendly banter, and a healthy dose of competition. In that moment, you’re not just playing a game but creating a shared experience, a memory that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Sounds idealistic or from a Hallmark movie, maybe? Sure, but that doesn’t make it any less real or feasible. Simply, instead of that dusty old board game in the modern world, gameplay can mean so many different things to different people.
No matter your preferences or age, there’s a game for you. Whether you’re a fan of classic board games, card games, interactive online puzzles, or digital versions of your childhood favorites like chess or mahjong, or even if you’re drawn to the immersive graphics of modern gaming and share your games console with every family member, there’s a gaming option that’s perfect for you. The beauty of game-playing is its inclusivity, ensuring everyone can participate and enjoy the fun, making each member of the family feel valued and included.
Different Games To Play As A Family
Before we delve into the many benefits of playing games as a family, what type of games are best to play.?
This, of course, depends on who you are as a family and what you enjoy doing. Some families prefer to get out and about, and games such as geocaching or scavenger hunts are much more preferable to video games. On the other hand, some families prefer to play video games together, forming up to create an effective team where they work together in multi-player games to reach the goal and get to the endpoint.
Alternatively, there are so many board or card games you can choose from, which have been family classics for many years and will likely remain so for many years to come.
With a wealth of options available, from traditional to modern gaming methods and a wide variety of staples and genres to choose from, game-playing offers more than just entertainment. It’s a powerful tool for bonding, learning, and creating lasting memories. Whether you’re exploring the world of online casinos, diving into the realms of Roblox and Minecraft, or enjoying classic games like Go Fish, Monopoly, Cluedo, or Pictionary, the benefits of playing games with friends and family are numerous and significant. By engaging in game-playing, you’re not just having fun; you’re empowering yourself and your loved ones.
Improved Cognitive Abilities
Playing games that involve strategy, decision-making, problem-solving, and memory recall, such as chess, Scrabble, or memory card games, can drastically improve your cognitive abilities no matter how old you are. You’re essentially giving your brain a workout, much like physical exercise does for your body.
Your brain is constantly working to help you navigate the choices and decisions you need to make to get through the game.
If you’re not into this, gameplay in any form, be it video games or board games, can boost creativity and imagination. It can make you think outside the box, get innovative in solving puzzles, and work your way from beginning to end.
As an added bonus, it doesn’t even feel like you’re doing anything as you’re having fun, which makes things so much easier.
Increased Bonding and Social Connections
Social connections and bonding are essential for the brain. Few or no social connections can lead to brain atrophy, a loss of neurons and connections between neurons. This can happen naturally as you age, but many scientific studies have proven that loneliness and social isolation can contribute to brain atrophy regardless of age.
Playing games with your family allows you to build social connections and bonds in a healthy and fun way. When you play games, you engage in conversation and banter and encourage others to do the same. This interaction fosters a sense of camaraderie and allows for a more authentic experience, boosting endorphins to alleviate anxiety, promote a sense of self-worth, and improve well-being.
This, in turn, can boost feelings of happiness and allow you to enjoy the game more by strengthening your emotional bond and rewarding brain deterioration.
Playing games together allows you to create those all-important memories, which are essential for good brain health and give you a mental boost.
Stress Reduction
Even though it’s mentioned above, it’s worth further elaboration. Playing games can be a great stress and mood booster, which can be extremely impactful in a stressful life, especially if you’re under a great deal of stress.
Playing games takes you away from your life and immerses you into the here and now and the game being played out in front of you. While you focus on the gameplay and strategy required and conversing with others, you can eliminate thoughts that might otherwise be plaguing your mind. Think of it as a type of mindfulness.
Once you can break free from stressful thoughts, you can relax and enjoy the game. The more you enjoy playing the game, the more likely you will experience those feel-good hormones to give you that dopamine boost. In turn, that boosts your mental health and releases stress, which can help you to think more clearly and tackle other problems. It’s an excellent way to destress, relax, and get more enjoyment in your life, providing a reassuring boost to your mental well-being.
Increased Multi Tasking Skills
When you play any type of game, you always need to be one step ahead. Think of your next move, your competitors’ next move, and how you are going to react. Pair this with managing relationships during gameplay, and you can tell there is a lot going on at all times.
Games are an excellent way to help you boost your multitasking skills. Whether you’re the game master or banker, you’re playing Monopoly, and you need to keep everyone in check if you’re helping young ones learn the game, this can improve their multitasking and cognitive skills while boosting their own. Essentially, you’ll all be learning how to juggle doing multiple things at once and can support each other as you play while secretly planning how you’re going to come out triumphant. Because let’s be honest, playing games is always more fun with a competitive edge.
Great Learning Opportunities
When you play games of any kind with family, you learn more about each other, which can help you foster a deeper connection and bond.
Learning about how people react in different situations and how they approach different obstacles can allow you to see how their brain operates and gain a deeper understanding of how they approach life. This can help you see them in a new light and connect with them on a new level, thus improving your relationship.
Whether you’re learning more about where your child is in their development so you can support them, or you can take a dive into your teenager’s changing mindset and see how they’re coping with things simply by how they play games.
While it doesn’t need to be this deep, this quality time you’re spending together is perfect to get the family in one place to level the playing field and get a better grip on who everyone is as an individual.
Confidence Boosting
Maybe you have a niece or nephew who is struggling with confidence, an older sibling who is struggling to break up, or parents who are finding it hard to adapt to a new life due to health issues. All of these life situations are sadly common, but they’re also massive influences on a person’s confidence.
Spending time with loved ones can help you or them overcome any confidence issues and create a safe and secure environment for them to be themselves and come out of their shell.
Improving confidence isn’t easy, but by using games to help family members relax, you can create an environment of support that can be an excellent boost for confidence. The more they feel confident within a family setting, the more likely they will be to start feeling confident and comfortable in different situations, too.
As a side note, it can also help you feel more confident in your relationships with each other. The more you know about each other, the more confident you will feel in how you all interact and spend time together, which can be extremely helpful in building more supportive and healthy relationships.
Playing games can have so many benefits for the whole family regardless of age. Whether you want to simply have fun or provide an educational outlet, why not choose a game to play and see just how much fun you can have?
