Long gone are the Saturday evenings spent sitting around the dining room table dealing Uno cards or tallying Yahtzee scores. If you hand a board game to many kids today, they will probably spend twenty minutes trying to figure out where the USB ports are. I am not saying today’s kids are not smart. Believe me, this generation of children are learning things in kindergarten that we didn’t tackle until at least fourth grade. They are just growing up in an electronic age and their interest in games reflects this.
So, does this mean that family game night is dead? Not necessarily. Now families can gather around the television and have their game night. There is a multitude of family friendly video games on the market today: Families can challenge each other to a car race; Team up to fight off invading aliens; They can even turn family game night into a chance to get fit together. With the invention of the Wii game system, folks are getting up off the couch and using their whole bodies to play video games instead of just their hands. Plenty of activities for children can also be located at kids Vancouver.
Game designers are in tune with this new generation of electronic families. They are creating multi-player games which are meant to be shared. You are also seeing more and more video games geared towards younger children. Popular preschool characters such as Dora the Explorer and Curious George have their own video games now. These games encourage learning through counting and problem solving, not to mention the fine motor skills being developed while manipulating the game controller. They also provide an excellent opportunity for parent/child interaction in a format that is fun for both.
For the old-schoolers who are fans of the classic games such as Monopoly and Battleship, you can now find these favorites in video game format. These new electronic versions of the games add new dimensions and exciting variations on the traditional game play. You can still collect $200 when you pass go, but now you can compete to purchase some of the most famous modern day landmarks in current day cities. In video Battleship, you still get all the thrill of sinking your opponent’s Battleship only now you get to see it in vivid graphics! These aren’t the only classic board games available in video game format. Recognizing the need to keep up with the times, Hasbro has released its Family Game Night game which has incorporated many of its well known board game favorites into one neat little cartridge. Complete with Mr. Potato Head as your host!
These are a sign of the times, and things only seem to be getting more computerized as we move forward. Kids and families today are busier than ever. Between working parents and after school activities, together time is hard to come by. Meaningful, interactive together time is even harder. Why don’t you send your child a text and ask him to meet you at the game counsel Saturday night?
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