American Mothers, Inc.

Besides being a fun family or friend activity, playing games offers a variety of valuable learning experiences. Sometimes a game can just be between you and your child. And others times it might be a mixture of children and adults. Either way playing games provides opportunities for children to learn skills necessary for many areas of their lives.

Consider the following beneficial lifelong skills:

*Taking turns and learning to have patience while waiting for your turn

*Working cooperatively in a group situation

*Learning sensitivity to the feelings of others

*Opportunity to be a leader and a follower

*Skills of watching, listening and speaking to each other (learning to read body language and other non verbal messages)

*Controlling impulses

These and other skills learned through game playing provide children the opportunity to learn important social skills necessary for school experiences and maintaining friendships.

Even preschoolers love games and want to play them all day long, over and over, long after adult interest wanes. But realize for the young child as well as older children, as a parent you are your child’s most important teacher and playmate. For these young children consider playing games that consist of singing, moving, jumping, building and active games that are joyful to both child and parent.

As children become a little older, experiment with having a regular family game nights. Occasionally invite another family to join you. Select games that all participants would enjoy that combine the entire group and some that just the adults play, while the children do their own separate game. Children will be learning as they observe the behavior of the adults how to handle tense moments in a competitive experiences and how to behave in both a “winning” and a “losing” situation. How better to experience and learn that than in the family setting while having a lot of fun together.

Additionally you may want to plan in your game time those kinds of games that include opportunities at problem solving and flexible thinking. All in all there is much to be benefited by both you and your children socially, cognitively, emotionally and verbally in this fun exchange of game playing. There are numerous new and old games on the market. Simply go online or into a unique game store to find those new and varied games to add to your collection of tried and true games. You will be glad you did. And be sure you top a game night off with a dish of ice cream and toppings – just to make it memorable and fun. The family will be sure to look forward to the next “game learning” time as a family.

Marilyn Dougall is the mother of 11 grown children and 26 grandchildren. Marilyn has a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education and finds joy in teaching children and adults, serving in her church and community and her involvement in American Mothers. As such, she has been the Oregon Mother of the Year, State Search Chair, State President, National Resolution Chairman, National Area Coordinator as well as her current position as 2nd Vie President. Marilyn and her husband, John, reside in Oregon.