How Board Games Aid Math Development in Children

According to a recent study by Chilean experts, playing board games with kids might help them learn arithmetic and boost their grades. The advantages of board games for young children have been researched at Santiago, Chile’s Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. This kind of practice improves focus, memory, logical thinking, and language learning, according to earlier scientific research. However, no one has yet thoroughly examined the advantages of board games for teaching mathematics in the classroom.

19 worldwide research on the connection between board games and mathematics, including kids between the ages of three and nine, were compiled by Dr. Jaime Balladares and colleagues. The kids played two 20-minute board game sessions a week, on average. Parents, instructors, or therapists were in charge of the sessions.

The findings revealed that a third of the kids who participated in the play sessions outperformed their peers on tests of logical thinking and mental arithmetic. Additionally, they were more driven than their classmates to complete arithmetic assignments requiring numeracy abilities.

The board games that the scientists took into consideration include those in which the player must strategically play cards to retain an advantage or maneuver pawns across a board to affect the status of the other players. These include time-honored board games like chess and checkers as well as strategic ones like “Othello” or “Connect 4.” Contrary to games of chance and skill, “Monopoly” is also included on the list.

Contrary to what purists would believe, strategy and logic video games might help young players improve their arithmetic abilities. The authors of the research, which was published in the journal Early Years, indicate that their impact on children under six is less substantial than that of conventional board games.

They suggest educators to employ board games more often in math lessons as a result. Despite the fact that this fundamental academic topic has a reputation for being difficult to learn and, therefore, to teach, new research has shown that using a lighthearted, enjoyable teaching style makes arithmetic simpler to learn. According to one research, using music in the classroom might increase student enthusiasm and lower anxiety levels.