Top tips for playing your children at board games

Board games may not be as cool or as fashionable as mobile apps like Candy Crush, but the sector is performing well and many board game companies are reporting record sales as we spend more time and money disconnecting from technology. As a mom, being able to play a board game with your kids on a weekend is not only good fun, but it gives you a chance to see what they’ve been up to at school and get the gossip you would otherwise have not.

Below, we’ve put together some of the best tips for playing board games with your kids…

Choose the right game

Make sure you pick the right game when you get started with your kids. It can be tempting to stick to something traditional like Cludeo or Monopoly, but the truth is that there are so many awesome titles on the market. See what there is to choose from, and you’ll soon find a game that everyone can enjoy - even the most demanding and impatient of youngsters out there!

Don’t let them win

This is a controversial one, but top parenting bloggers say that you should not make games easy for your children so that they can learn to be a good loser. It’s true - in the real world, your darling children aren’t always going to be the center of attention or win first prize every time, so instilling that in them at an early age is healthy parenting . Having said that, you can let them win if they’re better than you - just play as you would with anyone else and see what happens. To make the game even more fun, let kids group together and play against them.

Swat up in advance

If you’re worried you’re going to be out beaten by your children, then swat up on games in advance by visiting the Meebily blog. Their telephone game tips, for example, means that you will be able to take the lead and play to win. Sure, playing against your children is always going to be different to playing with friends, but it’s good to know that you’ll have a competitive advantage - and it means that if your children get stuck, you’ll be able to give them some pointers and help them become better strategists and team players. Win-win!

Save games for later

Sure, you can’t hit save and close your board game as you would on an app, but if you’re having a good time playing but have to stop for dinner, then save games for player by taking a picture and bundling counters, money and cards into piles so it’s easy to set up next time you’re ready to play. This requires some trust - if your kids are likely to get up during the night and rearrange cards or currencies, then you may need to lock your games away!

Playing board games can be good fun. Give them a go and see how you get on - in no time at all, you’ll be able to build a special relationship with your children and teach them the value of playing fair. Good luck!