benefits of
b ard games
board game fun facts… • The most expensive Monopoly game is worth $2 million dollars. The Sidney Mobell Monopoly set was crafted with rubies, sapphires, diamonds and gold. Even the dice are diamond encrusted. • Candy Land was designed by Eleanor Abbott in 1945 for children recovering from polio.
For a list of fun board games to play with your family, visit KCParent.com.
• According to the Toy Industry Association, $1.86 billion worth of games and puzzles were sold in the United States in 2013. • Archaeologists believe the board game Mancala, or a version of it, dates back to 1600 B.C. • There are 84 words in the English language that contain a “Q” with no “U”…hint, hint, Scrabble players.
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kcparent.com may 2014
A
s another school year comes to an end, kids across the metro will close up their textbooks and set their sights on afternoons poolside, free from the confines of a classroom. Minds may downshift into relaxed gears as the hazy days of summer set in, but that doesn’t mean learning has to come to a complete halt. Board games provide a rich, in-depth learning experience through play that both kids and adults enjoy. The research is in, and it turns out that board games are more than just entertainment. They actually improve brain functions like memory, reasoning, logic and social skills, to name a few. From classics to the latest trends, board games are back and better than ever. So switch off those screens and sneak in some educational fun this summer. The younger the child, the simpler the rules, but don’t dismiss these early childhood games. They really pack a punch in areas such as mathematics, socialization and reading. Leah Heinhauer, a former elementary teacher and Kansas City mom to four kids under the age of 7,