{"id":15578,"date":"2025-07-18T07:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T11:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=15578"},"modified":"2025-07-05T06:52:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T10:52:52","slug":"the-smartest-kids-always-play-this-type-of-game-according-to-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/psychology\/relationships-and-society\/the-smartest-kids-always-play-this-type-of-game-according-to-experts-15578\/","title":{"rendered":"The smartest kids always play this type of game, according to experts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>According to child psychologists, certain types of play can help kids become better thinkers, better communicators, and more socially aware. And no, we&#8217;re not talking about <a href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/psychology\/relationships-and-society\/neither-rigid-control-nor-total-freedom-how-to-set-healthy-screen-limits-for-your-kids-12132\/\"><strong>screen time<\/strong><\/a> or academic apps.<\/p>\n<p>A great way to support a child&#8217;s brain development is through <strong>board games<\/strong>. Experts like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacefulparenthappykids.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Dr. Laura Markham<\/strong><\/a> and Claire Lerner highlight that games involving turn-taking, strategy, and teamwork can boost reasoning skills and emotional regulation. In the following sections, we&#8217;ll explore the many benefits of board games and which ones are best for your child&#8217;s growth.<\/p>\n<h2>The benefits of board games for kids<\/h2>\n<p>Board games help kids <strong>think ahead, follow rules, read social cues, and manage emotions<\/strong>, all in the context of play. When a child plays a structured game, they&#8217;re not just learning how to win or lose; they&#8217;re practicing focus, patience, memory, and logic.<\/p>\n<p>Experts agree that playing together\u2014especially away from screens\u2014helps kids <strong>develop verbal and social skills<\/strong> in a more natural way. Dr. Markham emphasizes that competitive games, when managed well by adults, can teach sportsmanship and resilience.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond cognitive skills, board games support <strong>emotional growth<\/strong>. Waiting your turn, dealing with frustration, or handling a surprise win or loss are moments where kids build self-control and awareness. That emotional flexibility is a key part of what makes a child not just smart, but well-adjusted to group dynamics.<\/p>\n<p>Games also open up opportunities for<strong> families to connect<\/strong>. Shared, fun activities like board games create space for conversation, laughter, bonding, and quality time, which positively impact a child&#8217;s confidence and sense of security.<\/p>\n<h2>Best board games for kids to build brain power<\/h2>\n<p>Every board game comes with its unique characteristics and advantages. The best ones for kids combine fun with challenge and encourage different types of thinking. Here are some expert-approved picks that support learning without feeling like work:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Memory match or concentration-style games<\/strong>: These boost short-term memory, visual focus, and attention span. They&#8217;re simple enough for younger kids and can be played solo or with others.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Guess Who?<\/strong>: Encourages deductive reasoning and verbal description skills. Kids learn how to ask targeted questions and process new information quickly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Connect 4<\/strong>: Teaches pattern recognition and planning abilities. Kids begin to understand strategy while enjoying a fast-paced, repeatable game.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game<\/strong>: Great for preschoolers. It improves fine motor skills, color recognition, and early counting, all wrapped in a playful animal theme.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Zingo<\/strong>: A fun take on bingo that sharpens word recognition and matching skills. Ideal for early readers and younger children.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Outfoxed!<\/strong>: A cooperative mystery game that teaches logical reasoning and teamwork. Kids work together to solve a puzzle instead of competing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Uno or Uno Junior<\/strong>: Helps with number recognition, color sorting, and turn-taking. It also introduces kids to basic strategy in a light way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for a way to support your child&#8217;s development without turning to screens or textbooks, board games are a top option. They&#8217;re <strong>engaging, social, and easy to include in their weekly routine<\/strong>. Most importantly, they help build skills that last well beyond childhood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to child psychologists, certain types of play can help kids become better thinkers, better communicators, and more socially aware. And no, we&#8217;re not talking about screen time or academic apps. A great way to support a child&#8217;s brain development is through board games. Experts like Dr. Laura Markham and Claire Lerner highlight that games &#8230; <a title=\"The smartest kids always play this type of game, according to experts\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/psychology\/relationships-and-society\/the-smartest-kids-always-play-this-type-of-game-according-to-experts-15578\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The smartest kids always play this type of game, according to experts\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":15579,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-relationships-and-society"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15578"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15588,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15578\/revisions\/15588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}