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We asked for some feedback on why you play games with your family and were inundated with responses.  Below, are just some of the 'real-life' experiences you have had playing games with your family members.

Games are so fun to play as a family because you can laugh and talk, whereas with video games, you simply look at the TV screen; not very personable. I own a toy store now, so I know the value of having children playing games at home!! Michelle Sidney, Kookle Toys
 

My wife and I play games with our four-and-a-half year old daughter several times a week to counteract the hyper stimulation of her TV, iPad, Droid, Wii activities.   Games undoubtedly develop many skills such as colour identification, counting, solving simple mazes and, storyline appreciation.  Social skills are learned simultaneously, like taking turns, patience, and sportsmanship. Parents enjoy educational & nostalgic "family time". Michael Plociniak

It is a time when my husband, son and I can get close together and fully focus on each other and laugh. We tend to enjoy strategy games  that make us think and the games that make us laugh out loud.  I have always loved games and often played them with my girls when they were young and still do today (they are 25 & 27 now). These times were always "our" time and I can see this must of been some influence on them because they too have many games and bring them to all our family gatherings. Michele McKay

For my kids, I think games teach a number of things as they progress from simple games to more complex ones. Taking turns, understanding how to move along a board, counting pips on the die or spaces on the board are all basic skills. But I think once you get past simple roll-and-move games and there's an element of choice, then they start to learn how to make decisions, how to plan ahead. They begin to understand that their choices have consequences, and that winning a game requires thinking about those choices. I recently played a simple dice game with my second-grade daughter, and an unexpected bonus was that she was working on her addition during the game—I had her keep her own score, and she's just been learning how to add two- and three-digit numbers, so it was great practice for her while getting to play a game with dad. Jonathan Liu, Geekdad.com

Games for me provide quality time with my family and friends. I love the laughter that comes while playing games. I am actually considered the Board Game Queen in my family. I can't walk into a board game store without leaving with at least two new games!  Jess Shultzaberger

When playing games with our children, we are able to talk about how they are similar to how the world works.  For example, Monopoly can help explain the current financial situation our world is in, as well as understanding how decisions we make in the moment can have impact on our future (i.e. buying up too many properties in the beginning, leaving no money for unexpected issues, and so forth).   I would definitely say that Monopoly is our favourite, although we also get a real kick out of Twister and, Jenga. We have tried some of the newer games but always find ourselves drawn right back to the old favourites.   Zoe Keegan, LindasLaw.org

Games are good for bringing the family together face-to-face without an electronic distraction.  It teaches children counting, adding (the dice), how to follow rules, how to lose, how to congratulate others, and patience. To me, it's as important as sitting down to dinner as a family. And it's just plain fun!  Karen S. Elliott

They are an opportunity to get together with friends and family and to do an activity together. 

There is also an element of challenge. Dependant on the game you choose there are choices to make in the game and decisions to make and strategies to decide on which influence the outcome. In other words you have to think a bit! 

Games can have an educational element – both in information you learn in a game and in the stimulation to thought they might provide. This might flow from say a historical map used as the game board, language and words encountered, perhaps something about the nature of what the game is simulating – perhaps running a railway or building a cathedral or colonising an island; or just the interaction between the players that the game promotes. Richard Denning, richarddenning.co.uk

We play them because they are fun and most of all provide good quality family time.  I have observed people open up and talk about things they would not normally plus, you learn personality traits about each other.

My 10 year old daughter says, about playing games, that she loves the family time. We are all so busy that this is one of the only times when we truly have good family time. It is challenging right now to include our toddler in with the games because he has such a short attention span but we try to play some age appropriate games with him.

Our children learn different personality traits from us as parents – they see us laughing, they watch carefully how we play the games and learn about us. My daughter knows now how to negotiate with my husband to make 'deals' in Monopoly. She knows I am more of a neat and control freak because I am the one who wants the games set up in a certain way, always checking the rules, etc.  Liana Ling
 

A huge thank you to everybody that took the time to share their stories.  We really appreciate your responses.  Thanks again.

Compiled by Gary Mullen from HandcraftedUK, supplier of Garden Games.

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At the height of summer there are not many things that can beat the feeling of having fun outside with the family.  The barbecue is cooking, you have your friends over and the children are playing their games in the garden.  Sure, the children may be having a great time but there is also a lot of learning happening too.  We have categorised some of the benefits of playing garden games in to cognitive, social and physical aspects.


Cognitive

- Perhaps we should start with the most important point about games.  They’re fun!  The excitement youngsters feel when playing garden games gives them the opportunity  to develop in a positive environment.

-  Garden games also improve the mental agility of children.  They need to use their memories in order to stick with the rules of the game and learn from their mistakes so as not to repeat them.

- Improves analytical thinking.  Whilst waiting for their next ‘turn’ children will learn they need to plan their next move in advance.  They need to try and outsmart the other player in order to win.

- Emotional development.  Depending on the outcome of the garden game being played children are taught to handle losing, helping friends deal with losing and, being gracious when winning.  They also learn how to overcome defeat with the desire to try again.

- Garden games teach children how to succeed.  Games are goal driven so in order to become the winner the child must overcome the obstacles standing in their way.

Social

- Self control.  Garden games are all about rules and regulations.  Children need to stick within the rules of the game; turn taking, impulse control, behaviour that is/isn’t fair.

- Interaction encourages children to be more sociable.  Negotiation, turn taking, correcting and challenging each other all involve communication.

- Strengthens family relationships. No sitting silently in front of the television,  just good old fashioned interaction!

- Children who are withdrawn or anxious can use the playing of garden games to express themselves.  Have you ever seen the shy child getting really in to a garden game?  They often turn in to little monsters!

Physical

- Improves physical agility.  The physical exercise involved with playing a garden game encourages children to keep active and therefore healthier.

- Motor co-ordination is developed. Fine and gross.  Fine responsible for writing and drawing.  Gross responsible for balance, co-ordination and flexibility.

- Fun way to exercise in this digital age.  No sitting immobile in front of the computer or television.  Garden games encourage movement which in turn is a great way for children to keep in shape.

It’s not difficult to see how the benefits of playing a garden game can have a positive impact on every aspect of children’s lives.  There are a lot of lessons that can be learned in the safe and encouraging home environment that will arm children with the skills they need to survive in the ‘real’ world.

Gary Mullen from Garden Games.

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You may reproduce the content of this article onto your own website. However, to do so you must include a link back to HandcraftedUK. Thank you.