Board Games Boost Kids’ Math Skills
Board Games Boost Kids' Math Skills
The Power of Board Games for Early Math Skills
Caption: Family game night can be a fun and educational way to help develop math skills in young children.
Family game night just got more exciting! In addition to offering a chance for quality bonding time and entertainment, it turns out that board games can also help build early math skills in young children. Previous research has highlighted the benefits of games for enhancing reading development and literacy. However, a comprehensive study finds that number-based games like Monopoly, Othello, and Chutes and Ladders can also boost mathematical abilities in children.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Jaime Balladares from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, explains, “Board games enhance mathematical abilities for young children. Using board games can be considered a strategy with potential effects on basic and complex math skills. Board games can easily be adapted to include learning objectives related to mathematical skills or other domains.”
These number-based games have a positive impact on counting, addition, and the ability to compare numbers for young children. The study suggests that children benefit greatly from playing board games a few times a week, especially when supervised by a teacher or another trained adult.
The researchers conducted a comprehensive review of 19 studies published from 2000 onward, involving children aged 3 to 9. The majority of these studies focused on the relationship between board games and mathematical skills. In these studies, children participated in special board game sessions approximately twice a week for 20 minutes over a period of six weeks. Some studies assigned children to either a number-focused board game or a game unrelated to numeracy skills, while in others, all participants played number board games but with different assignments.
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Before and after the interventions, children were assessed on their skills in four categories: the ability to name numbers, basic number comprehension (e.g., understanding that nine is greater than three), the ability to add and subtract, and interest in mathematics. Some studies even provided training to parents on incorporating math skills into gameplay.
The results revealed that more than 52% of the analyzed tasks showed significant improvement in the children’s math skills. In 32% of the cases, children in the intervention groups performed better than those who did not participate in the board game sessions. These findings were published in the journal Early Years.
Dr. Balladares emphasizes the importance of further research to explore the effects of these games on other cognitive and developmental skills. With the complexity of games and the need to design more and better educational games, an exciting space for intervention and assessment in board game development is expected to open up in the coming years.
It is worth noting that while board games can provide valuable educational benefits, they should not replace comprehensive math education in schools. These games serve as a complementary tool to enhance children’s understanding and enjoyment of mathematics.
So, the next time you’re planning a family game night, consider adding a number-based board game to the mix. Not only will you create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds, but you’ll also be contributing to your child’s mathematical development in a fun and engaging way.
More Information
For more information on early childhood development, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics.
