Kids at a board game shop in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 1: Old timers reminisce the time when they used to play ludo, scrabble or monopoly while munching on peanuts or sipping a hot cuppa on lazy Sundays.

Today, they are struggling to create the same interest in the Gen Next, which is invariably hooked on to mobile phones, laptops and play stations.

Lecturer of a city college Ajay Kumar Pati has been trying to get his four-year-old daughter to like board games such as pictionary and scrabble, but she seems to prefer games on daddy’s smart phone. “Board games are very helpful to teach children the value of patience and team spirit. Unfortunately, kids these days are very fidgety. Visuals and animation of video games and various game apps fascinate them more,” said the 45-year-old.

Games and apps from EA Sports, Rockstar Games and Games Loft are the most popular among teenagers in Bhubaneswar.

“I fondly remember playing snakes and ladders, monopoly and ludo with my siblings. We never needed any expensive video games to kill time. They ingrained a competitive spirit in us and were an intrinsic part of our childhood,” he said.

Many believe that board games were a perfect way to bond.

“Nowadays, kids do not go out to play. Families do not go out for shopping. Everything is just a click away. In such a situation, there is no time for family bonding, while in our school going days, Sunday afternoons meant that the whole family would talk over snacks and coffee while playing board games. Today, my granddaughter has little interest in these games,” rues P.N. Moharana, a sexagenarian resident of Rasulgarh.

With more than 100 television channels incessantly beaming some or the other entertainment show, children and teenagers are spoilt for choice. Many are of the view that even the popularity of social media sites is another reason for children turning a blind eye to the board games.

“The sale of board games has gone down considerably in the past five years. Some, however, still opt for them merely because the video games we sell are all products of reputed companies and slightly expensive. Among board games, chess boards are the most sought after ones,” said a salesman at a toy store near Master Canteen Square in the city.