According to Erik Arneson, former vice-president and president of International BoardGame Association, board games have been an integral part of human life for thousands of years. From ancient board games like Chess and Go, which is so popular in Japan even until now and is considered as the grand daddy of all board games, to recent classics like Scrabble and Monopoly, modern games like Tigres and Euphrates, Settlers of Catan and countless more, have entertained and educated us in numerous ways (About.com).
Here are just some of the reasons why we should consider playing board games:
1. For the obvious reason; they're fun, they're social, they're convenient and they're intellectual exercise (Jeff Tidball,
About.com). And because games come with it certain set of rules,everyone playing the game is on a "common ground" regardless of the skill required for a game. In short, games put all the players in an even playing field.
2. According to Greg J. Schloesser of WestBank Gamers, board games are an excellent forum to gather friends and families. It is
a great tool for interaction. Playing board games is extremely rewarding one, intellectually, socially and developmentally.
3. It's a perfect vehicle to share a stimulating, challenging and fun moments with our family and friends. In fact, according to an article by Julie Tiss M.Ed. (Washington Parent Magazine) family board games has been found out to improve math skills and problem solving skills of students. As a learning tool, games enable people to `learn by doing". (Richdad.com).
Many would probably ask, why learn through games when we can learn by reading a book and learn through our teachers and parents? Yes, there's no denying that learning by the book and learning in class are ways for us to learn but why do you think in school, we are encouraged to join extra-curricular activities and even encouraged by our parents to learn a sport? Why do you think our teachers create games to make teachings more fun and exciting?
Our parents and teachers know for a fact that playing games is part of our growth as individuals. There are things we cannot just learn by reading and by listening in class and there are things or skills that are best learned by doing. This makes games as a perfect arena that will allows us to learn those skills.
According to Robert Kiyosaki, "games are powerful mechanism because they reflect our true behaviour. The way we make decisions and choices, the way we interact and a lot more, shows while we play."
How do we apply this in life? Rosamund and Benjamin Zanders (Art of Possibility, 2000), points to us the fact that any accepted model for doing things comes with it an implicit set of rules and that are behaviours are governed by these rules just as basketball governs the movements of the players in the court. When we play a game, we agree to certain set of limitations to create a challenge. Games challenge us to adapt and hone our skills in a distinctive environment. It is the nature of games to provide alternative frameworks of engagement, expression and growth. In fact, just like any other game inventors, we can name our activities as games, doing this it breaks its hold on us and puts us in charge.
Everyday we play different games and if the rules of the game you play do not light up our life, put it away, and take another one that you like best and play the new game wholeheartedly.
IslEmpress09/06/06
