Screen Time Was Destroying My Family Until I did These Three Things.

We live in a world in which our time has been taken over by screens and technology. Unfortunately, this epidemic has stretched beyond the adults in the world. As stated by the US National Library of Medicine, a whopping 68% of children under three are using screen media on a daily basis. Teenagers, on average, spend up to nine hours daily within some realm of media. If you ask me, it is time to take our kids back!  ​

Replace TV time with something more interactive.

Board gaming can be the saving grace to combat the ugly face of daily media intake. We have as a company found that when we are playing a game with our families, it goes beyond just having fun. Board games can help your home and here are 3 reasons why:

Ghost Stories Monster Book Plushie from the card game Camping with Sasquatch

1. Get to know those in your home
 
Too often do people find themselves more a roommate in their household rather than a solid functioning unit. Look at your own life at times. Do you ever see those in your home doing their own separate things? Board gaming can be that solid activity to get the kids to put down the Fortnite and force them to interact with those in the home face to face.
 
In our own homes, we have found, that if you set aside some time to meet at the table to play together you will find out amazing things about those you deem closest to you. For instance, I discovered my 6-year-old daughter had a love for singing over a game of King of Toyko. I also found out my two-year-old son loves the taste of meeples! Some of the best conversations we have had in our home have been when we meet around a good game. 
 
Along with the fun conversation derived from getting together, we are able to dig deeper and find meaningful relationship building moments. Whether it be that you find out your child is struggling in math or is getting bullied by someone in his/her class, playing games around a table can help open up your child. 
 
Gaming can become a relationship savior as well. We all know those teenager moments when everything a parent says is annoying; we have all been there. But granting your teen that moment of choosing their favorite game or selecting a specific character to use can grant you access to world of communication. This is done in an inviting, non-threating way that is both beneficial for the parent and the youth. 
 
I, like you, have a strong desire to deepen meaningful relationships within the walls of my home. With that said, the inclusion of board games as a regular activity gets the whole house buzzing and adds a slow down we so desperately need in our everyday lives. Whether you’re new to gaming or a seasoned vet, there is both fun and accomplishment found in a simple night of gaming.

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Interactive family time playing Camping with Sasquatch

2. Develop character through imagination and play
 
If you ever want to be amazed at how humans develop, look no further than your kids. I never knew how cool that was until I became a dad. Watching my youngest expand his imagination beyond bounds is a joy to witness. Though media in moderation can contribute to the creative growth of a child, nothing, in my opinion, mirrors the creativity found in board gaming.
 
Whether it's becoming a screenwriter in What the Film?! or being a descendant of one of the three little pigs in Grimm Forest, the supply of imaginative excursions is endless.  Along with creativity, your child will be able to learn cognitive skills through consistent gaming as a family. With a wide array of games, you can find the perfect blend for fun and any type of development your family needs.
 
In my household we have been able to use gaming as a life lesson tool as well. Among those lessons is that of problem solving. Having younger children, I find it really hard to teach independence on a daily basis and with that said I love to feel needed by my child.  To fill that void I have been able to use modern day board gaming to teach my children about decision-making.  Even though these choices don’t leave lasting effects on the world, giving a child the power to choose an outcome is magical.
 
Another great takeaway can be the lesson on patience, both with others and ourselves.  Through turn-taking and consequences of waiting, you can give your child a glimpse of what the real world will teach them. I have found this to be amazing in dealing with my two-year-old, though rough to enforce, when you are able to have him understand this lesson, it really is parenting made easy. 

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Family game time playing Camping with Sasquatch

3. Practice social interaction 
 
One of the simplest facets of everyday life is social interaction. Unfortunately, now more than ever people are overlooking this key attribute of development. Social interaction like many skills in life gets better with practice. It is so sad to see so many fill the void of speaking to one another by endlessly scrolling through a Facebook feed. 
 
Humans were meant to feel! It is so much better to laugh with others than it is to laugh alone. Board games help me teach this lesson to the little ones roaming my home. Take my 6-year-old for instance, she grew up a timid girl afraid to speak to people while hiding behind my legs. Now to watch her explain her favorite game to new friends is beyond heartwarming. Board gaming can be a conduit of comfortability to those trying to grow up and find themselves. 
 
Board gaming is a great tool for introverted children to be able to open up in an easy fashion. I can recall having a young guest in our home who was very quiet and kept to himself. We played What The Film?! with him which involves creative storytelling.  Though hesitant at first, he was able to open up and change in real-time. My family can be the same way as this guest. Just by the simple action of choosing the right game for the right person in your home, you can grant them access to the confidence they may need to reach their fullest potential.
 
Though this list can go on forever, these three things are benefits I’ve found in my own home. The inclusion of board gaming in your home can make a difference and help us gain a bit more control of our homes. I can attest that a family that plays together, stays together.

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