Sure when we remember happy moments of our childhood Little moments of family games come to mind. If I close my eyes I can see myself playing cards or parcheesi with my grandmother, "getting tangled up" with my brothers while playing Twister, playing a football game with my father or spending Sunday afternoons with my mother, in front of a bowl of popcorn and lots of board games.
And is that enjoy family games It will probably be one of the most beautiful childhood memories left for our children, as well as providing them with multiple benefits for their physical and emotional development since they are babies. We tell you all that a little time can play with our kids!
1) Learn through our example
The parents are the main reference of our children during their childhood and his first role model. They imitate us in everything, hence we always insist on the importance of setting an example with our actions.
Through the game they also learn from us, and it is a fantastic opportunity to teach them to play fair, to respect the rest of the participants, to follow the rules of the game, to win honestly and also to know how to lose.
2) The bond between parents and children is strengthened
Any activity that we share and enjoy with our children It will serve to strengthen our bond with them and to improve our relationships.
In addition, through the game we express emotions and feelings, and a pleasant communication is generated between all the participants, so that it helps us to know each other better and to understand the feelings of others.
3) Endorphins are generated
Playing in family is fun and relaxing. It makes us feel good, laugh, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and improve our mood. And all this thanks to the endorphins, the hormones of happiness that the body secretes from pleasant emotions.
Further, Dopamine is also secreted during the game, which enhances the learning process and imagination.
4) Learn while they play
Children learn while playing since they are babies, exploring, experimenting, discovering and solving problems and situations in an imaginative and playful way.
Through the game, the child encourages his curiosity, enthusiasm and perseverance, improve your attention and develop social skills, such as cooperation (through team games), negotiation or conflict resolution (for example, through strategy games such as chess).
5) The game discovers your abilities
During the game children are shown as they are, and the information they provide is really valuable when it comes to detect their virtues, abilities, aptitudes or limitations. In addition, playing together will help us to better understand the tastes of all family members.
6) Your self-esteem is encouraged
When we play with our children they perceive that they are important to us and that we have time to dedicate it exclusively to them and enjoy with them, which helps to strengthen their self-esteem.
In addition, during the game we can help you with positive and motivating phrases that encourage them to overcome or improve the play, and congratulate them and show us proud of the result (whatever it is) and how well they have played.
7) Emotional control
Emotional management consists of know how to regulate and express one's emotions, something that constitutes the key both to understand the emotions of others, and for others to understand us.
It is very important to know how to make a good emotional management, and the game gives us a wonderful moment for it.
Tips to promote family play
Maybe we can come to think that the maelstrom of everyday life, work and housework leave us little time to play with our children. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The important thing is not to spend several hours playing family games, or to think that for children to have fun and learn we have to resort to sophisticated or modern board games. Sometimes, a simple ball, a guessing game or an impromptu theater can give us great and fun moments together.
We must learn to enjoy the opportunities and time the day gives usWell, any time is good to play. So, if we propose it, we will surely find it easy to convert every daily activity (go shopping, prepare dinner, bathe them ...) in a fun and wonderful time to enjoy it with our children.
Remember that children do not need more than the love of their parents and their dedication. And if we add a little creativity and imagination on our part, the result will be second to none.
