You are probably a parent or have one. Remember that every day we think about dozens of things, we have countless commitments, and we subconsciously understand that we cannot control time, but we must learn to manage it properly. And do we think about the health of our children, our loved ones and relatives? And for our own health? And this is not just about physical health. Yes, it is desirable to go for preventive examinations every year, to get the mandatory vaccines and more. Are you trying to eat and live healthy, but are you thinking about your mental health and cognitive development?

HOW TO CHOOSE OUR CHILDREN’S TOYS TO STIMULATE THEIR MENTAL DEVELOPMENT?
These days, every child is overwhelmed with piles and piles of toys. Are they all useful to him?

There are many fun toys, but according to numerous scientific studies, the following categories of games are especially useful and necessary for the mental development of children:

Educational games
Math games
Logic games
Memory games
Creative and creative games
Games of wit and dexterity
Strategy and board games
Interactive games
Engage your child’s time with all kinds of logical and strategic games, of course according to his age and stage of development. The chance of raising a happy child increases as you share the game, while reducing the risk of depression and anxiety for both parties. Laughter and play in combination are a great stress reliever, an alternative to get rid of the stress of everyday life and enjoy the company of the interlocutor.

While playing with your child, you will be able to strengthen your relationship and have fun. You can’t even imagine how many benefits there are in a very simple game like sea chess, regular chess or don’t be mad man… These type of board games require strategic planning and a dose of luck of course. In addition to helping little friends improve brain, eye and hand coordination, they stimulate concentration, logical and strategic thinking. Puzzles, for example, activate brain activity as they challenge you to place the correct piece, take it apart and put it back in the correct position. Here is a time when you can encourage the building of social skills and see the emotional reactions to each failure and success.

Children learn by watching you. So make sure you set the right example for your child and the people around you. Every child grows in the environment you provide, make it pleasant for him. Try to be careful in your speech, enrich your vocabulary as well as your general culture. Remember that children sharpen their attention whenever they hear an obscene word, gesture and watch how you handle and react in a tense situation. It is these situations that shape their mental health, and if you behave as if you are mentally unstable, there is a high probability that the child will develop similar problems over time. The feeling of tension, the loss of energy and any activity, the change in sleep and lack of appetite can be a prerequisite for depression and stress that you should pay attention to. Research shows that when parents play with their children, in addition to strengthening the bond between them, it helps both themselves and their children to develop mental and cognitive abilities. Do not forget to develop your children at any time with the help of all kinds of educational games, wooden puzzles.

As you play different games, you actually build trust with the child. The relationship with children is built while they are still young, when you create conditions for them so that they feel safe and secure.

A person is healthy when he is physically and mentally active. Everyone needs play, both young and old. Let go of commitments – they have no end as long as childhood does. Show your child that you have time for him by putting together a puzzle. Take a wooden puzzle in the shape of a dog, for example, if he likes dogs – you can offer him a 2D wooden puzzle, with which, in addition to having fun while he lines up, he will stay in time longer. This is the advantage of wooden toys, they are more durable over time and easy to store.

HOW DO GAMES HELP ADULTS DEAL WITH STRESS AND DEPRESSION?
As we said above, in addition to building skills, games help reduce stress and various depressive conditions in adults. Dealing with depression is an uphill battle that takes away all energy, motivation and self-esteem. It is important not to close in on yourself when you fall into such a state and look for any way to distract yourself. Fresh air, walks, cycling, swimming, reading, meditation are just some of the possibilities you have. A number of studies and experiments have been conducted on the topic of how games and video games reduce the effects of depression. There are many factors that make games effective for people with depression. The key is the engagement they create. Games are much more engaging than other forms of therapy. One of the reasons for this is because they have a reward that the player must reach. It is characteristic of video games, but also of all other strategic and logical board games, which have a profound effect on the cognitive functions of the brain. Winning provides self-confidence and improves mood.

HOW DO TOYS HELP ELDERLY PREVENT DEMENTIA?
In addition to being a fun, anti-depressant, toys and various board games can be helpful in fighting dementia or delaying its progression to the next level. In board games, players aim to remember things, to communicate with each other, to draw reasonable conclusions. The more they play, the more they exercise their memory, improve their language expression, try to cultivate social emotions and reason. You probably know that Alzheimer’s disease impairs patients’ abilities for memory, cognition, emotional control, skills that board games can help with. So, many researchers have applied board games to treat dementia. It is important to choose the right games to train the flexibility of the fingers, the ability of hand-eye coordination, as well as to arouse the interest of the patients to communicate with each other.

And let’s end with a favorite thought of the American writer Robert Fulham: “Don’t worry that your children don’t listen to you, worry that they’re always watching you.” Remember that a good example is the most valuable lesson in good physical and mental health.