Emotional and Behavioral Benefits of a Standardized Program with Modern Board Games

Modern board games serve as a viable, scalable, and highly engaging pedagogical tool for fostering emotional intelligence and social inclusion among 5th-grade students. By implementing a structured 10-week intervention, educators can achieve social-emotional outcomes comparable to established programs like Sociescuela. These game-based approaches effectively reduce peer rejection and enhance interpersonal skills, providing a practical alternative for school-based development that students report finding significantly more enjoyable than traditional methods.

The efficacy of these interventions is supported by a robust body of research, including randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews that validate the use of serious games for improving executive functions and conflict resolution. While the immediate benefits of such programs are clear, longitudinal data indicates that these gains do not persist independently over the long term. A one-year follow-up reveals that the positive impacts on emotional intelligence and peer acceptance diminish without ongoing reinforcement, suggesting that the initial success of the intervention is contingent upon sustained or continuous application rather than a singular, time-limited exposure.

Ultimately, while modern board games represent an accessible and effective method for improving social-emotional learning and academic outcomes in children and adolescents, they function best as part of a recurring educational framework. To ensure long-term stability in student development, schools should integrate these game-based tools into a consistent, long-term curriculum rather than relying on short-term initiatives. This approach leverages the inherent engagement of modern gaming to create a durable foundation for social growth and emotional maturity within the classroom environment.