I was out “garage saleing” this weekend and noticed that there were quite a few board games being sold. I’m wondering how many kids actually play board games now that we’re in the age of electronics. Do they even know what board games are? Do they consider them “old school” without even trying them?

As kids growing up in the 1960s, we played board games on a regular basis. We played Monopoly, Shenanigans, Mouse Trap, Hands Down, Clue, and Chutes & Ladders, to name a few.   I remember whose house was famous for what game. Cyndi’s house was the Monopoly place, Jane’s was Clue, our house was Parcheesi, and John’s was just about every other game. Of course Candyland was by far my favorite! I wonder why??!!

Some advantages to playing board games included the fact that they MADE you interact with other kids. They involved other kids! They involved reading. There was strategy; you had to think. There was sportsmanship, sometimes good and sometimes not so good! And setting up and playing the games involved following directions.

I’m not taking away from any of the games played electronically today, because I play them. But what I am talking about is that sense of involvement with others, not just sitting next to someone as you both play a game on the computer or the phone. The age is gone, but the board games are still around in stores and at garage sales. I encourage you to get out an old board game, get some friends together and have fun!