GET ON BOARD

Make passing the time fly by during loadshedding by playing board games - not only are they fun, they're also a great way for kids to learn all sorts of things

- KESHIA AFRICA

THE dreaded notification lights up your phone. "Loadshedding starts in 55 minutes. Your first thought is about how you're going to keep your kids occupied for the next two or, heaven forbid, four hours. Most kids these days are far more familiar with electronic games but load-shedding is fast sending us back to basics and board games are a great way to pass the time.

Playing board games has significant benefits for kids, both developmentally and socially, and the best part of it is it's fun. There's a huge variety of games out there, so no matter their age, you're bound to find something your kids will enjoy.

So unpack the Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Cluedo and Risk and gather around a table. Here's why it's good not only for your kids, but for the whole family.

TOP TIP

Keep the games accessible and in full view. Often out of sight is out of mind for kids. If the games are visible they might even initiate gameplay themselves.

1 THEY LEARN WHILE HAVING FUN 

A child is more likely to learn something new when they're having fun. This is referred to as incidental learning because it's not forced.

"They're not going out of their way to learn," says Dr Jean Fourie, an educational psychology lecturer at the University of Johannesburg. "They're learning in the best way having fun.

A child learns more easily when an activity is fun because their self-esteem and confidence are higher.

2 IT HONES THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS

While playing a game, they'll need to communicate, cooperate and compromise. These are all critical social skills that are best learnt while interacting with others in person.

"In an age where screens dominate our lives, it's important to encourage children to engage in face-to-face interactions," says Fred Schouwink, an educational psychologist in private practice.