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Game Time Strengthens Family Bonds

by Jim Schmotzer2/8/2008 11:30:11 AM

As rainy days and windy weather keeps us indoors, families are provided with wonderful opportunities to strength relationships. One way to make the most of this winter season is through family game times.

Plan a game night with the family for quality bonding time.

Whether you call them table games, board games or something else – spending time together playing games can enhance family relationships and provide fun opportunities for learning.

In addition to skills such as math and information recall, games can help children learn about cooperation, competition, fair play, chance and strategy.

To help family game time be a success, each family should create their own “house rules.” Some suggestions I have are:

• Begin by turning off the TV. This is to be a time where relationships are built as family members interact with each other face-to-face.
• Everybody is to play fair. Rules will be explained and questions answered. Cheating is discouraged.
• If you start a game you play until it is finished. Some children will lose interest and want to quit, breaking the flow of the game and discouraging others. Other children may fear losing and want to quit before this happens. Playing until the game is finished teaches children to finish what they start and to accept natural consequences.
• Always give an honest effort. Family members should be willing to try new games for the benefit of all. Adults should play in a way that doesn’t discourage children. It is helpful to hold back on one’s skills to allow a child the joy of winning.
• Always show respect for each other. Game time should be a time of relationship building, not an opportunity for put-downs.
• Remember it’s only a game. Games are an opportunity to learn and have fun. This needs to be kept in perspective for the enjoyment of all.
• Rotate who chooses what game to play. This allows all to have times when they get to play what they like, and avoids a sense of bullying created when one person always controls the game selection.

Additionally, “big people” games can be adapted to allow younger children to feel grown up. By changing the rules and simplifying the game all family members can participate. When our children were small we played “Monopoly” by doing away with properties and money and simply moved the game pieces around the board a selected number of times. Likewise, with “Trivial Pursuit” we did away with the questions and moved the game pieces around the board giving out colored triangles when a player landed on selected spaces. It allowed the kids to feel grown-up and the game moved at a pace they could enjoy.

All in all, family game times are a great way to spend time together during the cold months of the year. With a good sense of house rules, a great time of learning and growing together can be shared by all.

A Note About the Author: Jim Schmotzer

Jim Schmotzer has been educating kids, adults, and college students for over 20 years. His hobbies include running, reading, and sharing his knowledge of Bellingham history with others. Jim and his wife Connie have two grown sons and three grandchildren.