Sponsored

A couple of years ago, I introduced you to a fantastic book to help solve the problem of finding activities to do with nieces and nephews of just about any age - that also keep the grownups in the game. Now, Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen, the pair behind the bestselling UNBORED: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun, are introducing UNBORED GAMES: Serious Fun for Everyone (Bloomsbury / October 2014). Game play just got even more fun.

Studies show that the “QualAuntie Time” we spend with our nieces and nephews, i.e. the time we dedicate to uninterrupted play and adventure, helps develop their cognitive skills and expertise, their creativity and social skills. While being completely entertaining, UNBORED GAMES enables us all to take games more seriously.

Active games, played indoors, outdoors, online, and offline, help improve coordination and develop agility, as well as build self-confidence. Games stretch our imaginations and while helping players develop problem-solving skills. Even video games helping kids develop determination and tenacity in order to get to the next level, a skill every child should develop.

What I like about UNBORED GAMES is how it doesn’t focus solely on new games, or strictly the classics, but all types of games, including a remix of the old with the new. Hairdryer Ping Pong anyone? There are DIY games and games to play without any prep required. Whichever games they choose to try first, UNBORED GAMES will empower kids to get “unbored” themselves and play games that will thrill them as they develop. In fact, don’t be surprised if the book inspires them to create their very own games.

Still unconvinced? Take it from the UNBORED GAMES "GAME ON! Manifesto," i.e. the Top 10 list of reasons for kids and grownups to take games—from boardgames to active outdoor games to videogames—seriously. Share these with your nieces and nephews the next time they say: "We're bored!"



1. Gaming encourages you to develop skills and expertise, by practicing something over and over. More importantly, gaming challenges you to teach yourself how to do something.
    
2. Although we live in a “throwaway” culture, gaming is all about hacking, modifying, and improving stuff you already own. If you don’t like the way a game works, instead of tossing it out you can make it work better.

3. Active games not only help you improve your coordination and develop agility and flexibility, but they also build self-confidence. There is no more enjoyable way to get and stay fit than to run around playing a game.

4. Games exercise your imagination and develop your problem-solving skills. Plus, playing games encourages you to hack, modify, and improve your own mindset and behavior.

5. Gaming makes you resilient and determined; you have to develop “grit.” Why bother? Because developing grit helps you to become independent. Gaming teaches you to actually do what you say you’re going to do.
   
6. What are you really good at? What motivates you? What makes you happy? Gaming teaches you the answers to these important questions: not just who you are, but what makes you tick.  
   
7. Gaming teaches you that your environment is modifiable. You realize that everyday life is a puzzle to be solved: the more difficult the obstacles, the more fun you’ll have figuring out how to beat them.
   
8. Sharing games with others—teaching and learning the best strategies—is very rewarding. Whether you win or lose the game doesn’t matter, because although gaming is competitive, playing a game is always a collaboration.
    
9. Jumping in and making mistakes is the fastest way to learn how to play a game. Not worrying about being perfect, and just trying your best, is known as “fun failure.”
    
10. Each time you play a game, you enter a world in which grownups aren’t in control. When it comes to games, there are no teachers or coaches—it’s up to you, with a little help from your friends.

For more information on UNBORED GAMES, visit Unbored.net, and connect on Facebook at Facebook.com/unboredguide