Movie nights can be fun, but family game nights are where you get to know each other. No matter how busy your family is, you can find time once a week or once a month to play a board game or charades together. Making memories is great, but family game night helps with much-needed social skills. A weekly family game night teaches your child how to talk to others and deal with things like competition, sadness, working together, and happiness.
Caregivers at a preschool in Silver Spring can’t stress enough just how meaningful family relationships are for your child’s growth. You’re not just having fun during family game night you are also helping your children develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
How often you have a family game night depends on your family’s schedule. Ideally, you should aim to host one once a week. The more time you set aside for engaging in activities together, the simpler it will be for family game nights to evolve from a one-time event into a long-standing custom in your household.
Family game nights allow for families to bond as they spend the night rolling dice and moving pieces around a board. However, family game night does more than just hep family’s bond, they also encourage healthy development. They support communication skills, encourage face-to-face interactions, improve teamwork, focus on cooperation, teach problem-solving skills, and offer chances for healthy competition.
Silver Spring preschool caregivers say now is the perfect time to bring back family game night! Here are some of the biggest benefits of hosting a weekly family game night.
Are you looking for a fun and inventive way to create lifelong family memories? If so, you seriously need to consider hosting a weekly family game night. From giggling over sending somebody to jail to the cat knocking over the game board on the final lap, playing games is a great way to laugh and let go of stress.
Game nights create joyful experiences you will remember forever, whether you’re laughing as someone blunders through a round, feeling the rush of a rapid-fire round, or learning the rules of a new board game together.
This kind of fun is different from the relaxed, kid-free college days you’re used to, and it will be different from what your kids will call fun in just a few years. But for now, while everyone is still at home together, make the most of it by creating some great moments. Nothing is better than finding a new game and gathering the family around the table to try it out!
If you want to keep family game night fun, change up the games you play. Different board ones use other skills, such as math, language, problem-solving, or even a mix of two or three. You can also bring your kid in on the planning, let them pick the game one night and have them in the kitchen with you preparing snacks.
You want your kids to do well and enjoy the thrill of winning, but it’s also important for them to know what it’s like to lose. If you want your child to learn how to lose politely at family game night, you can show them by shaking hands and giving high-fives to everyone who played, no matter what happened. When you celebrate somebody else’s success, you are setting a great example for your child. They learn from you that it’s okay to lose and celebrate the person who won!
You can improve spatial awareness and fine motor skills with board games. Your child will learn these skills quickly if you let them use the pincer grasp to pick up dice, cards, and other small items. On your next family game night, give your preschooler their own piece to use in a board game or teach them how to set up and take down board games.
Young children can learn from their mistakes, deal with challenges, and develop resilience by playing games. Children who work through strategies and solve difficulties with their parents develop stronger memory skills and are more adept at handling various challenges on their own. One great technique to help your children get valuable practice addressing problems is to play strategic games with them. More importantly, it allows you to model and teach your children efficient problem-solving methods.
All children need positive attention, and it plays a big role in making them feel safe and loved. Family game night is a great way to deliver this kind of attention, as you can’t help but have fun and share inside jokes while sitting around the table playing the newest board game. The best part is you will quickly see just how much your family enjoys each other’s company!
When you work on something from beginning to end, you can be proud of what you’ve done. With a growth mindset, you are always looking for ways to improve, which is something all parents should be teaching their children. For example, you could learn a new game for family game night and stick with it even if you get behind in the first round.
A family game night provides a casual and pleasant environment where family members can feel more comfortable expressing themselves. They may open up and communicate about their ideas, feelings, and thoughts since they are in a nonjudgmental and encouraging setting.
One of the best parts about family game night is the trust that is built in families through the bonds created from spending time together. When children learn to trust somebody, they learn that they can depend on them. Family game nights make everybody feel included, from the young preschooler to the anti-social teenager. Whether it’s the teenager’s favorite card game or a board game geared toward preschoolers, these games teach kids about the importance of teamwork.
Whether it’s a simple card game, a strategy board game, or a team-based activity, family game nights are an important part of a child’s life. Whether it’s one night a week or a couple of times a month through family game nights, They unite family members, teach essential skills, and make moments that will last a lifetime. Caregivers from a preschool in Silver Spring, MD, share that these nights are an excellent way for families to connect and grow together in a world where screens often take over our lives.
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.