For those of you who know Angie Reeder personally you are quite aware of how much she loves playing games and wants everyone else to share in her joy of games (insert eye roll).  Playing table games with your family has a plethora of skills required and hidden benefits, but here are a quick 15!

1. You must play by the rules.  These are the rules, don’t break them.
2. You must anticipate consequences.  If you do this, then this will happen.
3. You might feel success.  It feels good to be “The Winna!”
4. You might feel failure, but you give it another try next time.  Learn from those not so great moves.
5. You must solve problems and watch how others respond.  What should I do in this situation?  What will others think and do if I do this?
6. You have to reason your way through your turn.  Let’s think of this sensibly now.
7. You must stay organized.  You will likely hear “hurry up” from those die hard gamers.  If you are fumbling around, the pressure is on.
8. You must prioritize your possible actions on your turn.  What is most important right now and what can I leave until later?
9. Do not be impulsive, as those actions are often counterintuitive.  Think before you act.
10. You must monitor your frustration.  You want people to play with you next time don’t you.  Some games are cooperative, but often are quite competitive.
11. You must be able to ask and answer questions.  Clarify those rules you aren’t quite sure about and help a neighbour out.
12. As the “Game Master,” you are the one giving out directions.  As a player, you must be able to follow those directions given verbally.
13. You must take your turn then wait for your turn again.  Turn-taking we learn it as preschoolers.  Share you must share.  My turn, your turn, my turn, your turn.
14. You learn new words in games.  Often they have a creative way of sharing the purpose of the game.  There may even be a story element.
15. TIME SPENT TOGETHER.  It’s that face to face time you have with friends and family.  It’s the smiles or glares across the table.  It’s the sit down with no screen time and stay in the moment.  It’s the adult board game night that turns into allowing your child to stay up to play, because they are just that much older now.

Who would have thought playing games was actually a plethora of LIFE lessons hidden behind laughter and fun…and let’s be real…some friendly or not so friendly competition.  Game on!

WRITTEN BY ANGIE REEDER, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST AND DIRECTOR WITH WILDFLOWERS