by Marae June

Created on: April 29, 2009

The significance and importance of family bonding is immeasurable. While I can't spout off statistics comparing the success rates in life of those children who maintain good relationships with their immediate family compared to those who don't, it isn't hard to see the benefits of a close family. One of the easiest ways to implement and maintain a strong family connection with children is through regular game nights. Especially if started at a young age, the simple, easy and fun game night can be an instant bonding mechanism and is beneficial to both children and parents.

Enforced game nights are likely not to be received with much enthusiasm by older children, so implementing them at an early age can be key, as is regular usage. If it is mandatory for one night a week or month to be game night when a child is 3, they won't be able to argue with it much once they are 13 and have been doing it for years. It will be the norm within the family and possibly something they come to look forward to no matter what their age.

Game nights don't have to be complicated, any sort of game will do as long as they accommodate the size of one's family. Game nights are a bit more effective over movie nights in that they require interaction and discussion so bonds are reinforced, though movie nights can also be a great way to spend the night in with the family.

Through habitual game nights children are given an excellent chance to learn interactive skills, learn to express themselves, and perhaps even enhance their reasoning and intelligence skills based on the games chosen. Most importantly it establishes a safe place for children to be. It helps them to see that their parents are more than just guardians, but are also their guides in life. It would seem that maintaining a familiarity with one's immediate family would be unavoidable growing up in the same household and all, but it's so easy to find that by the time one's child has grown into a teenager (and it happens quicker than you'd think) they know as little about their parents as their parents know about them.

Establishing a bond with one's children that invites them into intimacy and encourages them to seek out their parents for advice and guidance is essential and if started at an early age will last a lifetime. If your teenager doesn't seem to confide in you, ask yourself how well you listened to them as small children, even if it did seem like non-sense. Children understand and perceive much more than they are given credit for by adults.

As busy as we get in life and as silly as it may seem, take the time to set aside one night a week or one night a month at the least, to bond with your family by playing games. Talk to one another, show affection and encourage and support your kids, especially if they feel discouraged by a difficult game or if they are down because they lost. After all, life can easily be seen metaphorically as one big game. Every high and low easily mimics reality and how you respond as a parent will give your child an idea of how you respond to such circumstances in life. Show them the support and love they deserve and that will ultimately help with their maturation and success as adults.

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