Family Play

In this seemingly complex world, it's hard for many parents to find any free time in their day, let alone a moment or two to catch their own breath and relax. Even kids have busier schedules than they did in the past, juggling the demands of numerous extracurricular activities and a large volume of homework assignments. As a result, it's not surprising to discover that families are finding it much harder to spend more quality time together.

Studies have continuously demonstrated that even the simplest of interactions parents have with their children, such as a conversation in the car on the way to school, can have overwhelmingly positive effects. These exchanges afford kids a deeper emotional and psychological bond with their parents, as well as provide everyone a chance to connect after spending the better part of the day apart from one another.

One of the easiest -- and most fun -- ways for parents and kids to come together is through playing games. In fact, one community in Ridgewood, N.J. went so far as to create its own event called "Ready, Set, Relax!" For this one night every March, all homework, sports practices and religious classes are cancelled so families can play games and relax .

Conceived by a wide spectrum of parents, community leaders and school representatives, the Ridgewood Family Night is now in its third successive year. However, there is an issue when families come together to play games. "Finding a way to bridge the gap between the interests and skill level of both kids and adults presents a unique challenge" says Dr. Tina Seelig, a Stanford University professor and creator of educational children's games. "Ideally as a parent, you want a game that is both fun for the entire family, as well as educational."

So why is it that parents and kids are having a hard time finding games that engage everyone on an equal level? While parents tend to have a difficult time bonding with their children over their favorite, and often complicated, video games, kids can get frustrated with traditional games that are designed for an older audience.

In an attempt to solve this problem, an innovative game developer called the b EQUAL Company has introduced a revolutionary concept in interactive games that aims to bring families together. Their first two titles, "Time Troopers" and "Show Me the Wild!" feature exclusive, patent-pending technology called "Dynamic Leveling." This new technology allows everyone to select their own difficulty level based on their age, and then continuously and automatically adjusts the game questions to each player's performance level.

Produced in association with The History Channel, Time Troopers stars comic legend John Cleese, who guides players through the greatest moments in history. The National Geographic's Show Me The Wild! is an adventure through the wild animal kingdom.

"I have begun evaluating b EQUAL's games and find them to be very easy for any family to play because you only need your TV, DVD player and remote control," adds Dr. Seelig. "Young children will especially enjoy that they can actually compete on an equal footing with their parents and older siblings. This will ensure that everyone is having a great time, while also learning a tremendous amount about history and animals."

So while your schedule continues to be jammed with errands and things that need to get done, it appears to be getting a little easier to create your family's own special game night. It can be as simple as spending some time before or after dinner, or even setting aside an entire evening devoted to maximum family fun.

To learn more about the Ridgewood Family Night, you can visit www.readysetrelax.org. For more information about family games, visit www.edugaming.com. To participate in future research studies on family games, send an email to research@bequal.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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