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Call me old fashioned, but I felt compelled to respond to a front page article in the Sunday NY Times* about old fashioned board games and the reproduction of them digitally.  While certain strategies and dynamics of the game stay intact, I want to list here the many aspects of a PHYSICAL Board game that build skills that digital versions lack.

These motor skills occur when physically manipuating the required pieces of a board game.   Here’s how:

1. 1. Pincer grasp: As a child moves the piece (whatever it is) it requires the ability to hold and move it,
   

     placing it carefully in a specific place. This develops the pincer grasp.

2. 2. Arm strength and control:  As the piece is moved, the arm works against gravity to make sure the
   

     piece is placed carefully. Solid arm control is a necessary precursor to activities such as writing.

3. 3. In order not to knock over other objects on the board, the movement needs to occur carefully, which
   

     builds “grading of movement,” an important  aspect of all motor activities.

4. 4. Visually scanning a board and the various objects related to the game is in a larger more variable
   

      visual field than on a small computer screen.  This develops visual attention, focus and adds a

      spatial demand. These visual skills are important for reading and writing and math.

5. 5. Use of dice for young children usually requires two hands to cup and shake-this is a mini-motor
   

     workout in itself.  Cupping the hands requires more sophisticated use of hand muscles that are

     essential for fine motor dexterity, especially writing.  Using two hands is a great bilateral action and

     if you haven’t been visiting this website on a regular basis, I’ll tell you that bilateral is critical for

     most aspects of motor development as well as neurological integration.  Grading of movement is

     employed as the child learns to toss the dice on the board (as opposed to hurling them off the board).

6. 6. Spinners required refined use of the index finger.  This requires isolation of movement and good
   

      timing.  It is a mini-motor planning lesson!

7. 7. Physically manipulating (TOUCHING) the game components provides tactile stimulation, which is
   

     alerting and helps develop visual perceptual concepts.  Integrating this system also is important

     for self regulation.  The more children touch and manipulate objects of varying shapes and sizes,

     the better this system becomes. Yes, touching these objects helps to organize the brain and

     leads to improved ability to cope with the world. REALLY!

8. 8. Finally, physically moving the pieces gives sensory feedback that reinforces the sense of one to one
   

     correspondence for learning (math).  Remember all the buzz of the importance of “Manipulatives”

     and schools have spent fortunes to fortify their math programs with these supplies.

There are lots of other great things about board games.  Some of them can occur in the digital version.  Enhanced graphics might even rival or surpass the enticement of the board game version.  But then, that leads to the use of imagination and personal enhancement of the images presented.  I still remember the strong emotional image of longing for that ice cream float, pictured on the 1960‘s version of Candyland. 

IPads are amazing for many things.  They take up a whole lot less room.  I’ll make a simple plea, however.  Please don’t empty the board game closet yet!  Wait until your kids reach 10!

Now about that digital camera Barbie Doll.  Don’t even get me started on the use of women as tools ...

*Here’s the New York Times Article:  http://tinyurl.com/6oghopz

For information on my book talks, click here.

                             Another Reivew:  http://tinyurl.com/7ru2xtt

                                   Most comprehensive review:  http://tinyurl.com/c7pz8fb

*A Sampling of a few organizations promoting natural, healthy play for children:

Children and Nature 

Empowered by Play

Head Start Body Start

*A great book to get you started on changing your children’s school lunch program:

Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa

http://www.amazon.com/Lunch-Wars-School-Revolution-Children/dp/1585428620