Mobile phones have completely changed our lives. A device that was invented with the objective of making phone calls easier controls almost everything in our daily life today. From ordering food to booking cabs to shopping and making financial transactions, we are largely dependent on mobile phones. Mobile phones are even giving other sources of entertainment like television, cinema and music devices a run for their money.
Today’s children are hooked to mobile phones from a very young age. From playing games to watching films and listening to music, children use mobile phones with ease. At the same time, they are fast losing interest in indoor and outdoor games.
Board games, which were once a part of every child’s growing up years, have lost much of their popularity. Although toy companies still manufacture these games, there certainly has been a decline in the demand for once-popular childhood staples like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Chinese Chequers, Monopoly, Brainvita and many others.
A few board games have been modified by app developers and are available on app stores, but the charm of playing these games on a phone is just not the same. Board games are not only a source of entertainment but also help in learning skills like concentration, critical thinking, strategising, problem solving and so on. Sunday POST speaks to a few doctors, parents and toy stores to explore the reason behind children losing interest in board games.
Sriparna Nayak, mother of an 11-year-old, says, “Nowadays kids are addicted to mobile phones as they have access to unlimited games. Though playing games on mobile phones and watching television for long durations is not good for health, it’s difficult to make children understand. The parents are also at fault because they hand over mobile phones to their children to play games. Many parents find traditional board games boring. A lot of new games are available in toy stores and online too. Earlier, I too didn’t mind my daughter Naisha playing games on the mobile phone but following a suggestion from one of my friends, I bought a board game for her.”
Sriparna encouraged her daughter to play board games and, over a period of time, Naisha developed interest in these games. “Today, she has a large collection of board games. Our family is addicted to Scrabble. We even play Ludo together,” she says.
Although there are quite a few interesting games available on Google Play Store like Candy land and Ho-Ho! Cherry O, which help in developing some skills in tiny tots, Sriparna feels playing board games helps a child to develop concentration power. “Moreover, all board games have set rules and players need to follow them. This also helps children in understanding the importance of following rules and regulations,” she says.
Five-year old Ujjwal Rayguru’s mother Pratima is a teacher in a private school. Pratima didn’t know the benefits of playing board games before she joined the school. “After my colleagues told me about the benefits, I researched on the Internet. I came to know a lot of interesting things about board games. I like my daughter to play board games when she is not studying. Earlier, she found it boring, but my husband and I taught her how to play those games and she soon started taking interest,” says Pratima.
However, not all parents realise the benefits of playing board games, although most played them during their growing up years. Puri-based Jharana Parida does not allow her daughter Rachita to play board games, as she feels that they are boring and a waste of time. She feels kids played those games decades ago because they had few other options. “I still remember those vacations. We used to play board games to pass time. But today there are so many options for kids. My daughter Rachita is in Class VI and there is a lot of academic pressure. When she gets free time, she prefers watching cartoons on television or on YouTube. When she was a little younger, she used to play Scrabble, but I don’t think it helped her much. Today, she is not interested in board games,” Jharana says.
To a large extent, parents are lackadaisical about introducing their children to board games. While many are not aware of the benefits of board games, others consider it old-fashioned.
Many children too feel that playing board games is waste of time. Kirti Das, a Class V student from Bhubaneswar, says, “I don’t like playing board games because they are boring. There are more interesting and attractive options on mobile phones. Besides, someone needs to teach me how to play board games. There are so many rules that must be followed. I prefer watching cartoons in my free time.”
However, there are children who think differently. Naisha Mishra, a Class VI student from Loyola School, Bhubaneswar, says, “I do play games on the mobile, but I also love playing board games like Scrabble, chess, Monopoly and Chinese Chequers. Earlier, I spent a lot of time watching television or playing games on mobile phones, but my parents told me how board games are better. In fact, I find board games more interesting than mobile phone games. I also have a huge collection of puzzles.”
Bhubaneswar-based Rojalin Prushty, who works as a facilitator at an organisation that works with differently abled children in Odisha, says board games are one of the best resources for the mental development of kids, as they not only keep them busy but also improve their concentration. “There are many parents who are completely unaware of board games. But even those who know are unaware of the benefits,” she says.
Rojalin frequently suggests to parents to engage their children in board games. “Most board games like Ludo, chess, Scrabble and Monopoly can be enjoyed even by adults unlike many games available on mobile phones. I have introduced many kids to board games. Interestingly, kids can be taught many things while playing board games,” she says, adding, “Kids love to play games on mobile phones because it’s like watching a film. There is audio and movement of images. Board games don’t offer these. Even parents find them boring and, in most cases, they try to keep their children engaged by giving them mobile phones, so that they themselves are free to do their own work. In fact, every school should allot a period for board games when teachers train students and engage them in playing these games.”
Doctors say that technology has become a barrier in some ways in the physical and mental development of children. So much so that children addicted to mobile phones are reluctant to play outdoor games. “Smartphones have changed almost everything around us today. With the introduction of online games and other virtual reality games like Playstation and Xbox, children no longer take interest in board games, which is vital to their brain’s development. Board games can’t be played alone unlike the games on mobile phones. Board games help children learn teamwork and they also develop a sense of healthy competition, whereas sitting in one place at a stretch and staring at mobile and computer screens can give rise to serious health issues,” says Amrit Patjoshi, a Bhubaneswar-based psychiatrist.
“More than the child, the parents are to be blamed. They get their children addicted to mobile phones so that they remain engaged. Board games have to be taught and parents initially need to play them with their children. But they don’t do it. Parents often come to me complaining that their kids are so addicted to mobile phones that they are not willing to put them aside even while having food. This is a cause of concern. Instead, if they engage their children in board games, it will help in greater bonding among family members. Board games are helpful in teaching a child life values like sharing and teamwork,” adds Amrit.
Kamalakanta Lenka, a toy store owner at Jaydev Vihar, Bhubaneswar, says that demand for board games is on the decline. “I have noticed that parents buy costly toys and apparel but not too many go for traditional board games anymore. Some people come and randomly ask for toys that can keep their children engaged. A few rely on our advice and buy board games, but many others feel they are old-fashioned. Instead, they prefer expensive toys that have an attractive packaging,” he adds.
“We have a variety of board games, both traditional and contemporary, like puzzles, battle board game, jumble word board, Ludo, building blocks, Chinese Chequers, Snakes and Ladders, and Zenga, but parents often do not buy them because they have to spend time with their children to teach these games. Instead, they prefer buying remote-control cars and aeroplanes or dolls,” he adds.
Suryakant Pradhan, a psychiatrist from Bhubaneswar, says that virtual reality games available on mobile phones are no match to traditional board games. “Board games are designed in such a way that they can be enjoyed by both children and adults. In fact, parents too won’t find it boring playing such games with their children and vice versa. There are several advantages of playing board games. First, it creates an environment of happiness around those playing. Besides, it has been proved that those who play these games develop great reflexes and are faster in responding. Playing board games is also a stress buster. The most important thing is that it helps in increasing a child’s memory and cognitive skills because all these games require a high level of concentration,” he says.
BRATATI BARAL, OP