17 September 2023
As a parent, you want your kids to have fun and be engaged in stimulating and educational activities. Board games offer a great way for kids to socialise while building important skills like critical thinking, strategy, and problem-solving. By attending a board game club, kids can find opponents, try out new games and make friends. If you’re wondering how to find a club, here’s some suggestions.
One option is to see if your child's school offers any sort of board game club. This may be during lunchtime or after school. A school club is convenient and it’s also an opportunity for your child to meet children outside of their class and make some new friends.
If there isn't a board game club at your child's school - or if they're looking for something more than what the school offers - another option is starting their own club. This can be a great way for kids to take charge and be leaders. It might take some effort to get things started, but once you've found a few other interested families, it should be smooth sailing. You can even organise club meetings around other activities, so everyone can socialise and get to know each other better.
Board game cafes are increasingly popular and there may well be one on a high street near you. These friendly, relaxed establishments have a huge variety of games you can try out, while you enjoy some food and drink. They often have clubs and groups meeting that you can join, however check with staff whether they are suitable for children to join, as some are geared more towards adults. If they don’t run a children’s club, you could always ask the staff to set one up.
If your child is passionate about board games and wants an opportunity to try out the latest ones, a board game convention could be perfect for them. These events usually take place over a weekend and feature hundreds of games you can try. As you’d expect, they’re attended by people who love board games, so it's a great way to make new friends. Some popular board game conventions include UK Games Expo and Dragonmeet.
If you can't find any board game clubs in your area, there are plenty of online clubs that you can join with your kids. There are lots of websites and apps that allow you to play board games, many of which are free. You can also find online communities dedicated to board gaming where you can chat with other members and get advice on games to play. And, of course, there's always the option of playing against other members in a friendly competition. For safety reasons, make sure you supervise your children when they’re interacting with strangers online.
There are a few options to consider if you're looking for places where your kids can play board games in the UK. You could also check out your local library or community centre, as these venues sometimes host board game clubs.
Photo by Thomas Buchholz on Unsplash