Strategic board games are an excellent way to develop and enhance important soft skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking. Playing strategic board games can provide a fun and engaging way to practice and improve soft skills. In addition, they can also promote teamwork, communication, and collaboration as players must often work together to achieve a common goal. Overall, the benefits of playing strategic board games are numerous and can positively impact an individual's development and success.
We have all heard the expression “If the mountain won't go to Mohammed, then Mohammed must come to the mountain”. What do we do as parents when our young children decide that tomorrow morning they want to climb to the top of... Everest? Of course we bring Everest into our living room with the innovative action and strategy board game Get to the peak. The players attempt to get their climbers to the top of Mount Everest, but they need to be careful! The opposing player is on the other side of the mountain and may be able to knock the climbers down. For extra fun, the game is also played in teams.
To successfully get their climbers up, players are required to use soft skills such as decision-making, which is the process of making choices (1), and critical thinking, the process of thinking carefully about a subject or idea, without allowing feelings or opinions to affect us (2). At the same time, the players are challenged to solve a problem, the successful ascent of their climbers, and are responsible for the game's outcome. More specifically, young players learn to take the initiative as victory is decided by their own choices and decisions. Those who choose to take risks and put the climbing axe higher have a better chance of success! So ultimately what do children learn through the game? Responsibility, taking initiative, and risk are not only valid skills, but they are the ones that will bring us one step closer to success!
In case you have more than two players who want to play the game, then the soft skills developed are even more. Players need to communicate effectively, and work as a team rather than as a unit to win the game. Only then will they be able to get their climbers to the highest peak in the world. Just like it happens in real life! No climber attempts to climb a mountain...alone! It would be a total disaster!
Strategic games can be an excellent way for children to enhance their soft skills, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and communication. By engaging in these games, children can develop important life skills that will serve them well in both their personal and social lives.
Βιβλιογραφικές αναφορές
1) https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/decision-making
2) https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/critical-thinking
