For Super Working Mums, it should not all be about work work work. A SWM knows how to balance her time between her work and her family. She puts her family first even when she is tempted to do more work.

She spends quality dedicated time with her children.

Sometimes it may be hard to know what to do during your dedicated time with your children.

You could ask them about their day, read to and with them, study the Bible, teach them memory verses and pray with them.

Another thing you can do is play games with them.

Games teach your children:

• strategy skills
• numerical skills outside of the classroom
• colours
• teamwork and the ability to learn how to win or lose a game like a champion
• good sportsmanship
• Life lessons
• Patience
• Problem solving skills

And much more.

Here are four games to help you bond with your children, which you would all enjoy. They best part is that they are gadget free, educational and fun.

1. Snakes and Ladders

This is a popular classic Indian Board game which can be played by two or more players. The rules of the game are very easy rules to follow. There are pictures of snakes and ladders scattered on the squares of the board numbered 1 to 100. You roll a dice and step through the game with your coloured token. If you get to a picture with a ladder you climb up the square but if you land on a picture with a snake, you slide down the board. The game is to get to square 100 first with the help of ladders while avoiding the snakes. It can be played by children from 3 years upwards. More details about snakes and ladders can be found here

2. Ludo

I used to play this game with my siblings and grandmother. It was such an interesting game, I had to introduce it to Bionic. The first time we played it she was really excited. The following day she said to me: “Mum, that game is so amazing”. I couldn’t agree any less.

Bionic and her aunty playing Ludo

Ludo is a game based upon the ancient Indian game of Pachisi. The instructions are easy once you know how to play the game but you can read up on the detailed instructions here

Ludo can be played from children of age three upwards. Both Snakes & Ladders and Ludo can also help your children with their numerical skills: adding, subtracting and counting and strategy.

I was excited when I found a 2 in 1 board game with Ludo on one side, snakes and ladders on the other side. This is the one we have at home, click image to get on Amazon.

3. Tic Tac Toe

Also known as Xs and Os is a game you can create yourself on paper for free. Only two people can play at a time and each take turns marking the spaces in a 3×3 grid. The player who succeeds in placing three of their marks in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row wins the game. This is a very easy but strategic game for children to play and the best plays usually lead to a draw.

source: google images

4. Connect 4

I also played this game with my parents as a child and also with guests that visited. The concept of Connect 4 is similar to Tic Tac Toe.

Only two people can play this game at a time. The objective is that each game players must connect four of their tokens in a straight line, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally into a seven-column, six-row vertically suspended grid. You can read more about the rules here

Like Tic Tac Toe, this is a game of counter strategy where you are trying to connect four tokens but also keeping an eye to prevent your opponent from doing so. You can also set up your opponent by creating two threats to win. It involves a lot of eye and hand coordination.

It is definitely one game I recommend.

If you would like to buy this game you can get it on Amazon. Click the image

All these games will teach your children how to play fair, accept the outcome and manage their emotions. The first time Bionic lost at a snakes and ladders game she wasn’t happy but now she is learning to rejoice with the winner because I rejoice with her when she wins. Lots of high fives and cheers are involved.

So do you play games with your children? Which one of these games do you currently play with your children and which would you be trying out soon?