Since I play a lot of board games and read a lot, my child sees this and follows my example. Of course, this isn’t a guarantee for anything. It’s entirely possible that my 8-year-old will grow up to read less and not play board games at all—though I’d be surprised—but since there’s a model for these activities, it’s easy to offer them now.
And why does this matter? It’s hard to convince someone that life exists beyond digital devices if we don’t truly believe it ourselves. I have my phone in my hand too, and I spend a lot of time online, but at the same time, I engage in plenty of offline activities with joy, which allows me to represent this lifestyle authentically.
And this authenticity isn’t just important as a parent—it’s crucial as a teacher too. When I taught methodology at university, one of the key points I emphasized was that choosing the right approach isn’t just about the students and the subject matter—it’s also about choosing methods that align with ourselves.
Modern, effective pedagogy is child-centered, but it’s equally important that what we say and do resonates with us as well. So if we want children to read and play board games, it’s not enough to simply ask them, persuade them, or try to force them into it.
A key concept in pedagogy is the learning environment. What kind of atmosphere do we create? What objects surround the child? How are we present in that space?
Both at home and in every educational setting I’ve had the privilege to shape, books and board games have always been abundant. And these aren’t just decorations—they regularly come off the shelves and become a natural part of life.
Making something happen organically is far more effective than forcing children into it.
Since 2012, I’ve been working with disadvantaged children and youth, and I have memories of dozens of conversations about how they spend their free time and what their hobbies are. I’m guessing no one will be surprised when I say that they are always shocked when I tell them that I love spending most of my free time reading. But because they constantly see me with a book, and because I’ve incorporated shared reading into our sessions, this has become something of a package—an idea they can easily accept from me.
Since 2012, I’ve been working with disadvantaged children and youth, and I have memories of dozens of conversations about how they spend their free time and what their hobbies are. I’m guessing no one will be surprised when I say that they are always shocked when I tell them that I love spending most of my free time reading. But because they constantly see me with a book, and because I’ve incorporated shared reading into our sessions, this has become something of a package—an idea they can easily accept from me.
Since 2012, I’ve been working with disadvantaged children and youth, and I have memories of dozens of conversations about how they spend their free time and what their hobbies are. I’m guessing no one will be surprised when I say that they are always shocked when I tell them that I love spending most of my free time reading. But because they constantly see me with a book, and because I’ve incorporated shared reading into our sessions, this has become something of a package—an idea they can easily accept from me.
Board Games
I honestly expected that by 2025, whether people still play board games would no longer be a topic of discussion. David Sax’s 2016 book, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, already explored this subject, particularly through the growing popularity of board game cafés.
So we’ve been talking about the golden age of board gaming for quite a while now, yet the question remains just as relevant: How do I get my child to sit down and play a board game instead of using digital devices?
The challenge I can easily identify is that those who struggle to get children to play board games often lack familiarity with the world of modern board games. Starting with Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, or even chess might not be the best idea. The reason we talk about a golden age of board gaming is that year after year, a vast number of modern games are released. Their target audience? Today's people. Us. And our kids.
By exploring this immense selection, I firmly believe it’s impossible not to find a game—or games—that your child would enjoy. I’ve never met children who couldn’t be engaged in board games.
But here’s the catch: this doesn’t mean everyone will fall in love with them. I’ve certainly met children who didn’t become board game enthusiasts, but even they were happy to play occasionally. Long-term rejection? That’s something I’ve only encountered in isolated cases.
From Successes to Children's Games
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular to create children's versions of successful games originally aimed at adults. And many of these have turned out quite well.
From Successes to Children's Games
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular to create children's versions of successful games originally aimed at adults. And many of these have turned out quite well.
From Successes to Children's Games
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular to create children's versions of successful games originally aimed at adults. And many of these have turned out quite well.
How to Motivate Children to Play Board Games? Tips:
Play yourself! If children see adults playing, they will be more willing to join in. This applies to parents at home as well as to teachers in the school staff.
Show them that this is a cool and popular hobby. A video from Spiel Essen can work well for this, but even better is a board gaming event where it's clear how many people are playing. It's worth visiting a popular board game café, for example.
Choose the right board game: consider the theme, duration, and age group. There are countless recommendation videos available, and staff at board game specialty stores are usually happy to help. A great gaming experience starts with a great game. Prepare ahead, but you can also decide together!
A board game-friendly environment can make a big difference. Having plenty of game boxes and accessories as part of your living or learning space creates a setting that naturally encourages play.
By integrating board games into learning, the competition isn't against digital devices but against direct, traditional methods of learning. And this is a competition the games are sure to win!
Just do it! This is the most important advice. If you don’t believe in it or don’t give it a try, it definitely won’t work. Do it! Try it! Sooner or later, it will work if you do it right.
How to Motivate Children to Play Board Games? Tips:
Play yourself! If children see adults playing, they will be more willing to join in. This applies to parents at home as well as to teachers in the school staff.
Show them that this is a cool and popular hobby. A video from Spiel Essen can work well for this, but even better is a board gaming event where it's clear how many people are playing. It's worth visiting a popular board game café, for example.
Choose the right board game: consider the theme, duration, and age group. There are countless recommendation videos available, and staff at board game specialty stores are usually happy to help. A great gaming experience starts with a great game. Prepare ahead, but you can also decide together!
A board game-friendly environment can make a big difference. Having plenty of game boxes and accessories as part of your living or learning space creates a setting that naturally encourages play.
By integrating board games into learning, the competition isn't against digital devices but against direct, traditional methods of learning. And this is a competition the games are sure to win!
Just do it! This is the most important advice. If you don’t believe in it or don’t give it a try, it definitely won’t work. Do it! Try it! Sooner or later, it will work if you do it right.
How to Motivate Children to Play Board Games? Tips:
Play yourself! If children see adults playing, they will be more willing to join in. This applies to parents at home as well as to teachers in the school staff.
Show them that this is a cool and popular hobby. A video from Spiel Essen can work well for this, but even better is a board gaming event where it's clear how many people are playing. It's worth visiting a popular board game café, for example.
Choose the right board game: consider the theme, duration, and age group. There are countless recommendation videos available, and staff at board game specialty stores are usually happy to help. A great gaming experience starts with a great game. Prepare ahead, but you can also decide together!
A board game-friendly environment can make a big difference. Having plenty of game boxes and accessories as part of your living or learning space creates a setting that naturally encourages play.
By integrating board games into learning, the competition isn't against digital devices but against direct, traditional methods of learning. And this is a competition the games are sure to win!
Just do it! This is the most important advice. If you don’t believe in it or don’t give it a try, it definitely won’t work. Do it! Try it! Sooner or later, it will work if you do it right.
Reading
How does reading come into play? Personally, it's easy for me to connect the two, as both are hobbies I deeply enjoy. On the other hand, there are many ways in which reading and board gaming can be seen as similar. Both are often discussed in terms of their role in the 21st century, and both tend to have the general perception of being distant from today's children. I could probably say the same about reading and books as I did about board games earlier. One thing to add, however, is that a love for board games and the use of certain games can positively influence reading motivation and the development of reading comprehension. This is exactly what our eBook is about.
Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading
Transform reading from a chore into play with our research-backed board game guide
Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading
Transform reading from a chore into play with our research-backed board game guide
Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading
Transform reading from a chore into play with our research-backed board game guide
It might not be the path for everyone, but if someone is already thinking: "It would be great to play board games, read with the kids," then there's definitely a goal behind it. Whether through this article or the eBook, we hope it has been helpful, but feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Explore Board games further
Explore Board games further
