It was a news that made the Pakistani Nation proud! A bright young boy hailing from Karachi, Syed Emad Ali made history by winning the World Junior Scrabble Championship. He is the only person to have won the championship twice; indeed a unique honor. In an era where most children his age engage in gaming of a different kind, his passion for word games came as a pleasant surprise.
Games like scrabble and crossword puzzles used to be popular a decade or two ago, but they were replaced by fast paced games filled with action. Many youngsters spend hours playing these games and love the adrenalin rush. But what are the benefits of word games and do we still need to play them?
The first and foremost benefit is building a strong vocabulary. Searching for new words; learning their spelling and meaning will definitely improve your written expression and help you in your SAT’s! Researchers also agree that games like Scrabble are known to help improve memory and cognitive capacity. In fact, they are recommended for older people who are at a risk of memory loss. These games also improve concentration and the ability to focus, whereas fast- paced video games make young children restless and agitated. The biggest benefit is socializing and bonding between family and friends as you sit together and play.
So take out the Scrabble that you haven’t used for years and make a start! Open the newspaper and test your vocabulary by solving the crossword puzzles! You never know, you could be the next World champion!