Why Use Board Games

 I realize that children do not play boardgames as much now as they did years ago but I love board games for so many reasons. I feel physical boardgames encourage more interaction than when the same game is done online.  It is also a great teaching tool, and it can be so much fun.  I remember we played Monopoly for days.  My dad was a cribbage man (I call it a board game) so I learned to play it and it helped with addition and focus.  Although it is the digital age, it is still good to have students interact with boardgames.

Boardgames are a good way to reinforce basic skills such as addition, subtraction, and other basic operations. A boardgames allows students to practice these skills in a fun setting so they are more likely to be engaged and willing to interact.  In addition, boardgames help students develop strategic planning and decision making.  Students have to decide what the best move is based on the information they have. When students play checkers, chess, and strategic card games encourage logical thinking, problem-solving, and critical reasoning skills.  All of these skills are needed in Math.

Furthermore, boardgames offer students the opportunity to develop a strong number sense. In many games they have to estimate quantities, compare numbers, while understanding the relationships between numbers. Some games that help encourage these skills include Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, or Yahtzee. Many boardgames demand that students perform mental math when one has to add the total of the dice, or cards, subtract points, or totaling scores. It helps them become better at mental math.

If you have students play math specific games, boardgames can be used to introduce or reinforce mathematical concepts in an enjoyable situation.  Rather than assigning a worksheet, let the students play a game so they can learn while having fun.  In addition, boardgames are great for encouraging collaboration since students have to work together to play the game.  Students have to communicate effectively because they are working towards a common goal. In the process, they learn to discuss strategies, communicate, and collaborate which are all necessary skills to do well in math.

Certain boardgames such as Tangram help improve spatial reasoning because they learn to visualize and manipulate shapes, identify symmetry, etc which improves geometric understanding and mathematical thinking. One of the biggest pluses of using boardgames is that they encourage persistence.  Many games have setbacks, challenges, and often requires multiple attempts to be successful.  In the process of developing persistence, they often acquire a growth mindset, all of which help students attacking complex math problems while overcoming obstacles faced during learning.

It is important to know what skills the boardgames are targeting so one can reinforce learning.  In addition, boardgames can be used as supplemental activities and make math more enjoyable for the student.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.