The Checkered Game of Life ... later known simply as Life ... was introduced to American consumers by entrepreneur Milton Bradley in the winter of 1860. Different than earlier board games, Bradley’s game was about life as a quest for accomplishment, which resonated with the country at the time. A phenomenal 45,000 games were sold in the first year, and it continues to be a popular family game.
Aside from the “soft” benefits like spending time together as a family, traditional board games can teach young children such things as hand-eye coordination, visual perception, letter recognition, color recognition and number/shape recognition. Games can also teach children how to “play by the rules,” how to interact with others and ultimately, how to be a good sport.
For young adults, there are many games that are good for building critical thinking skills. For instance, checkers, chess and some card games require serious thought in order to excel. Computer games can be good for strategic thinking, as well. Here are four games you and your family might explore to build your financial skills and mental agility:
LifeThe latest version of Life takes players through a thought-provoking simulation of a person’s life from high school through retirement, with jobs, marriage, kids and many other big life decisions to be made along the way.
MonopolyThe best-selling board game in the world, Monopoly helps young people learn the basics of economics. It provides the opportunity to learn fundamental money concepts and the rewards of wise spending decisions.
CareersIntroduced in 1955, the winner of this classic board game is the player who achieves their life goals the soonest. Before the game begins, each player determines whether they want to pursue fame, money, happiness or a combination of all three. Success in achieving their goal depends on the path they take through the game.
PaydayWant to teach kids to make their money last? Consider the game of Payday. Using a 31-day calendar for the board, players try to make their monthly pay check last. Just like the ‘real world’, players have the choice of investing, taking out loans or going for a long-shot gamble – none of which provide any guarantees for success.
In addition to games being played at home, some games can extend into the classroom to provide a valuable learning experience. The Yes, You Can curriculum includes the Whaddyaknow? game show. This team-based question and answer game introduces students to the basic financial concepts and terms necessary to establish a path to financial independence. Free copies of the game are available through the Educator tab.
Yes You Can is American Century Investments Website to help parents and educators help children for the future.
Posted by Mary-Anne DiBlasio
Western Mass Wellness / Be Well Kids
West Springfield, MA
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