Board Games that Families Should Play Together

My son and I have sat in the same room and sent instant messages to each other. I watch friends of mine text their kids that are in the same house. We are hooked on technology and though it allows us to communicate with each other virtually any time of the day or night, it's not doing much for the immediate family unit in the way of actually developing communication and social skills.

Those are skills that can actually be developed by playing board games with family members. Not only can we all benefit from the social aspect of it, but we sharpen other skills along the way. Read about how you can sharpen your skills and bring your family together using the board games listed below.

Monopoly: The game of Monopoly comes in just about any kind of theme you can imagine, so it's a simple task to find on that will interest some or all of the family. This game teaches about fair play, money management, the benefits of investing, capitalism and the process of meeting goals. Not only that, but it really is fun to play. Younger children may have a difficult time mastering some of the skills needed, but with a bit of help from the adults, they too can enjoy this game.

Chess: Chess teaches a wealth of skills to children. It's not an easy game to master. Participants can learn strategic skills, appreciation for minor characters and sequential processes to name just a few. Chess helps to encourage abstract thinking and planning. This game offers so many benefits that it's really hard to name them all. It also happens to be a board game that has its own reputation and sense of respect.

Yahtzee: This game is especially good for developing math skills like number recognition, math functions and organizational skills. Even really young children can play this game as a way to practice counting, even though they may need guidance and help with the adding and organizing aspect.

Aggravation: This game goes by other names, like "Trouble" and so on. I grew up knowing it as Aggravation. The whole family can play this game. One of the skills best learned from this particular game is patience. That's because you can be on the verge of winning the game and basically end up having to start all over!

Pick Up Sticks: So you think you have a steady hand? Try playing a game of pick up sticks with your child and see who has the steadier hand. This game is one that usually causes lots of laughs as the payers try to pick up one stick without moving any of the others. It's a great game for hand eye coordination and the development of fine motor skills.

These are just some of the games that can bring families together. They get to develop personal skills while learning good sportsmanship and bonding with other family members. Families who play board games together seem to enjoy each other more and be able to relax around each other. Maybe it's because they've seen the silly side of each other or maybe it's just because they got to really know each other as they sat around chatting and playing board games.

If you have fond memories of playing board games with your family, feel free to add them to the list through the comments section and tell us about your personal experience!