Parents Rediscover Board Games as Gift of Choice
Written by ARAcontent Monday, 03 December 2007
(ARA) — When it comes to gift buying for children, shoppers often find themselves faced with the difficult task of choosing between entertainment and educational value. Parents don’t have to pick between the two when they decide to give a board game that can be both fun and educationally engaging.
“Many of today’s parents are adding board games to their holiday and birthday shopping lists,” says Matt Carlson, a columnist on the popular parenting Web site gamerdad.com. “Board games stimulate imagination, teach cooperative play, encourage analytical thinking and are often a child’s first encounter with important, real-world themes like money management and practical decision-making.”
A 2007 study of American young people found that spending time with family was the number one response when participants were asked what makes them most happy. Though parents often lament the scarcity of family time, homes with a well-stocked game closet enjoy a built-in outlet for parent-child interaction. “Game play is an easy gateway to the type of family time that our parents and grandparents took for granted,” says Carlson.
“Savvy parents know that games are a great way to have interactive family time,” says Carlson. “Today’s board games provide opportunities for social engagement and educational value in a fun and interactive way that keeps kids returning.”
Courtesy of ARAcontent
