People with special needs often love board games.  Sure, there is the fun of competition, and it’s always good to learn new things.  Games offer the chance to practice new skill sets, to develop the ability to synthesize concepts, to work toward a particular goal, and to enhance social skills.  That last one alone is worth the price of a game or two.

My son is the director of a therapeutic riding center for special needs clients.  Many of us miss out on the warmth and love offered by folks with special needs because we are uncomfortable with people who are different.  We don’t know what to say or how to act.  The shortcoming is ours, not theirs.  We take for granted that the physical differences we see are indicators of a different heart.  If there is a different heart, it is often bigger and more open than our own.

We could all take the chance to get to know someone outside our comfort zone.  Maybe a point of connection could be an afternoon of game play.  How about Bingo or Dominoes?  Think big and bright.  Pick a couple of board games for special needs children or adults and volunteer some time at a local day camp or group home.  You’ll be the one who gets the most from the effort.