Social games help preschoolers learn about the concepts of sharing and cooperation. When playing games, children must take turns and sometimes work together to finish the game, such as in team sports or puzzle solving. Board games help children practice sharing by taking turns and keeping their own game pieces to themselves and not taking their neighbors'. According to a study by the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis in 1994, preschool children learned vital cooperation skills through the implementation of social games.
Throughout life, it is necessary to follow rules of all kinds. There are rules for social situations, rules for school, rules for the road and rules and laws for how to live life. Preschoolers who are just discovering the concept of self often do not want to follow rules. Social games are a fun way to introduce the concept of following rules for the good of self and others. Games teach children to follow the rules so everyone can have fun. Both board games and active games have clear rules for children to follow.
Social games also help preschoolers learn how to control their emotions. Children can learn how to win without gloating and how to loose without getting angry. These are important skills that children will use throughout life. Team sports and board games are some of the best kind of social games for learning self-control. According to the 1994 study by the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, engaging in social games helps children control emotions and aggression.
Many preschoolers are unaware of how to play with others. The children may prefer to play alone or try to boss the other children into playing exactly how they want. The use of social games gives children a way to play together with a clear part for all children to play. This eliminates bossing and can also draw shy children into a group setting. Within the confines of a game, children can learn how to interact with one another in a safe environment.