{"id":1482,"date":"2019-10-04T11:41:24","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T15:41:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellplayedasheville.com\/?p=1482"},"modified":"2019-10-04T11:41:24","modified_gmt":"2019-10-04T15:41:24","slug":"the-health-benefits-of-board-games-for-kids-and-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellplayedasheville.com\/blog\/the-health-benefits-of-board-games-for-kids-and-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"The Health Benefits of Board Games for Kids (and Adults)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why do we love board games? Because they\u2019re fun! But there\u2019s so much more to the hobby than entertainment, and increasingly we\u2019re seeing serious scientific research that proves how valuable games are for learning, cognitive development, socialization, and overall health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, board games literally create superhumans\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maybe superheroes, too\u2026<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Games Increase Brain Function<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right, board games will make your kids smarter.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you play board games, you stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for memory formation and complex thought function (which is true for adults, too.) Games help develop cognitive skills, including decision making, problem-solving, and logical analysis.. And the benefits continue on throughout a person\u2019s life. In older adults, playing games has been shown to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s <\/a>disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One popular \u201cbrain training\u201d game is Carcassonne. Players face off by placing tiles and building a board of the French countryside.  The game requires players to think logically, to plan ahead, and most importantly, how to turn their meeples into the most Victory Points possible!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Games Improve Pattern Recognition Ability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board games also improve pattern recognition — the critical function that embodies the evolved human brain<\/a>.  It\u2019s the fundamental skill that helps us speak complex languages, and learn new skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To put your identification skills to the test, we recommend Spot it!, <\/em>a fun, fast-paced pattern recognition game in which players try to match images shown on multiple cards. Each card features eight different symbols and any two cards have exactly one symbol in common. Whoever spots the most matches wins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They Show the Value of Teamwork<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most universal lessons your kids will learn from board games is the value of teamwork<\/a>. Whether working on group projects at school or on presentations later in their working lives, your kids will need to know how to cooperate and communicate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pandemic <\/em>is the perfect place to start. In this worldwide bestseller, all players must cooperate to win or everyone will lose. Four diseases spread across the world like wildfire and it\u2019s up to a team of scientific specialists to cure the contagions before mankind is entirely wiped out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing Lowers Blood Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turns out, laughing is good for your health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So while you\u2019re plotting your next move you can actually decreases stress<\/a>, which simultaneously lowers blood pressure. And let’s face it, using board games to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease is a winning move. 
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