The Power of Play and Why Families in Maryland and DC Play Board Games
Remember board games? The ones gathering dust on a shelf or tucked away in a closet? Or maybe you’re one of the rare adults who still loves a good game night and keeps one spread out on the dining room table.
Why am I encouraging you to bring back board games? Because board games are one of the most powerful, and overlooked, ways for families in Maryland and Washington, DC to reconnect. In busy households, gathering around the table is rare, but board games make it possible. They create the kind of face‑to‑face interaction that strengthens emotional bonds and builds healthier family communication.
The dynamic of being in the car is vastly different from being at the table. I often advise parents to take a car ride with their child to encourage more open communication. Children tend to share more freely when they are not facing you. Without having to read your expression, they can speak more openly. Riding in the car offers this advantage. However, today’s families are overprogrammed, so gathering everyone around the dinner table is often a challenge.
This is why I believe families should embrace board games at home, they create valuable, in‑person interactions. Board games are designed for all ages, and playing together is a chance to connect through both conversation and nonverbal cues. These shared moments encourage real conversations you do not want to miss.
Board games also reveal pieces of one’s personality. Think of the Monopoly games you played with your siblings. Who decided to buy up all the houses and never buy hotels? That strategy leads to a slow death for everyone else. Or remember the Scrabble game where one sibling always seemed able to make a word out of every impossible set of letters. How does she do that? She must have tiles in her pockets.
Beyond connection, board games offer personal growth. Every game, from Monopoly to Scrabble, is an exercise in competition, learning rules, and managing both wins and losses. These are valuable life lessons, making board games a real‑life training ground for children, teens, and adults in Maryland and DC.
For more reflections on emotional connection and family well‑being, explore articles on Psychology Today and research from Greater Good Science Center.
If your family is struggling to reconnect, or if you want support building healthier communication at home, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that strengthen emotional connection and family relationships.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
