Game nights are a great addition to family fun, and are an amazing way to spend time and bond with your kids. The most popular kid-friendly games that so many of us played growing up include Monopoly, Candy Land, and Chutes and Ladders. Who does not remember fighting with siblings over who was going to be the race car and the banker for a fun filled night of Monopoly with the family? Some serious credit has to be given to parents who spent countless hours playing this seemingly never ending game with a rambunctious group of kiddos.
However, a recent survey put forth by popular gaming site Board Game Geek, suggested that the classic games we know and love may be a thing of the past for today’s parents. The survey asked parents to rate games based on a scale of one to ten. A score of one being, “I would rather bang my head repeatedly against a wall than play,” and a score of ten obviously being the outstanding game choice.
What may come as surprising to some readers is the fact that favorites Monopoly and Candy Land completely tanked. Monopoly, which was reviewed and rated over 10,000 times, had an average score less than five, and Candy Land scored even lower than that at a score of a little over a three. Snakes and Ladders, similar to the possibly better known game of Chutes and Ladders scored even lower at an average score of less than three.
Of the over 2,000 games recommended for children by Board Game Geek, the ones that scored the lowest were games that were mostly based on luck and chance. The games that scored the highest on the site, which many of us have probably never heard of, are ones that require strategy to win, and are educational.
The data from the survey concluded that the top four games recommended for children aged three to ten are Coconuts, Mus, Hive Pocket and Dixit. All four of these games scored a seven or higher on the scale. These four games involve dexterity, strategy and storytelling. They also have a relatively short amount of playtime and involve quick thinking and decision making skills, which makes it more stimulating and enjoyable for children and parents.
However, the argument then arises as to what exactly makes a good board game and for what ages? Yahoo Parenting spoke with Dr. Alan Kazdin, a child development expert who is the director of the Yale Parenting Center, who said that there is really no way to determine the benefit of one game over the other. Kazdin stated that the best games for children and parents are the ones that engage the family as a whole, and ones that make for an all around enjoyable experience. For example, if games have a high frustration level for parents, (who remembers begging their mom and dad to set up the game Mousetrap?), the children will often pick up on those vibes and become aggravated as well. Similarly, games that are overly competitive are likely to be a poor choice for family game night.
So while the top four games according to Board Game Geek may be worth checking out, you may not want to steer clear of those classics that most of us loved as kids. Because does it really matter what game you are playing as long as you are spending some quality time and having a blast with your kids?
By: Lauren DiDonato