Families - Get Your Game On!

 

FAMILIES - GET YOUR GAME ON!

Looking for ways to enjoy family time over Holiday Break and unplug from the ever-present screen time, how about getting your game on? Family Game Night is a great way to practice essential social skills, like managing conflict and identifying and responding appropriately to the emotions of others.

Statistics show that parents and children who participate in activities together build stronger relationships and foster more effective communication. Thanks to our prevention partners at the Mendez Foundation and Too Good for sharing their recent blog post "Game On!" (https://toogoodprograms.org/blogs/blog) to remind us that while playing games brings everyone together for family fun, it also provides an opportunity to practice social skills and learn important life lessons, all while fostering family communication and making positive, lasting memories!

The Game of Life - Practicing essential social skills, like managing conflict and identifying and responding appropriately to the emotions of others, at home gives kids a head start to manage relationships in life. Getting together as a family for a little competitive fun is an easy way to practice those skills.

Poker Face - Effective communication is necessary for us to share information without misunderstanding, advocate for our needs, and express our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. Player interaction fosters communication skills practice. For example. player assertiveness counts in UNO - if you don't act fast, that's two more cards! Communication is a two-way street. It isn't just about speaking. It's listening for understanding and meaning. It's about focusing and being present in the moment. You could miss an opportunity to play the card to win the game if you aren't listening. Don't forget the nuances of nonverbal communication. A smile could give opposing players insight into a winning hand. Getting in the habit of gauging another person's intentions builds awareness to improve interactions with others. 

Lose Like A Winner - We've all played with someone who flips over the game board when they don't win. No one likes a sore loser or a winner who gloats. It's not easy to lose gracefully, but self-awareness and self-management in the face of defeat is a skill that translates into other areas in the game of life. Learning to temper frustration and disappointment in a practice environment prepares children to embrace big picture thinking for self-regulation. Family game night is a great venue for parents to model self-regulation. Children can practice good sportsmanship and learn ways to channel frustration in productive directions. Learning to take turns, follow the rules, be patient, and have a positive attitude are part of a good game of Monopoly and essential in a class project.

Problem Solving - Family game night encourages refinement of problem-solving skills. Games require players to organize thoughts, plan next moves, think quickly, and act decisively. Scrabble builds vocabulary, but also requires planning and studying strategy of the other players. Some games require teamwork to solve problems and strategize to win.

Talk It Out - Kids of all ages relax and put aside the drama of the outside world at the game table. When the fun starts, open conversation starts. A teen whose usual answer is "fine" might actually share a story while playing an intense game of Hedbanz. A little vulnerability produced by a ridiculous game of charades tightens bonds and eases tension.

Take It Outside - Family game night doesn't mean quarantine. Plan games outside to enjoy the fresh air. Set up an obstacle course with hula hoops and orange cones or create a relay race to see who can carry an egg on a spoon the fastest. Who doesn't love a game of four square in the driveway? Cornhole, paddle ball, spike ball, tag...endless possibilities to be outside, burn excess energy, and enjoy physical activity. It's a win for the whole family.

Just Do It - Dust off the game boards and playing cards. Make family game night a regular feature and get ready to make some light-hearted family memories laughing and playing together!