The game of Jenga is one of physical and mental skill. There are a number of benefits to playing the game, not only physical and mental but psychological as well. Right now, you may be wondering to yourself, “What are the benefits of playing Jenga?”

There are many benefits to playing Jenga, which include improving manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking as well as developing motor, problem-solving, and social skills, just to name a few.

1. Improves Fine Motor Skills.

Fine motor skills include any physical function that uses the small muscles of the body, such as writing, grasping for small objects, and buttoning or unbuttoning clothing. Building a tower, such as the one in Jenga, helps improve fine motor skills. This game is especially good for young children (ages six and up), as it’ll increase their fine motors skills significantly.

2. Improves Manual Dexterity.

Manual dexterity involves using the hands to perform a complicated action quickly and skillfully. Jenga is the ultimate dexterity game as it requires a ‘steady hand’ to shift, tap, remove, and replace wooden blocks in a tower, maintaining its structural integrity. This game is great for adults who want to improve their manual dexterity. It will also help young children to develop this essential life skill.

3. Improves Hand-Eye Coordination.

Hand-eye coordination involves the coordinated control of hand movements with eye movements. Jenga is a game based solely around coordination, in which players take turns removing and replacing wooden blocks (one at a time) from a tower. Playing Jenga with young children will not only help develop their hand-eye coordination but will also ‘fine tune’ yours as well.

4. Improves Problem-Solving Skills.

Problem-solving is, quite simply, identifying a problem and then finding a suitable solution. Jenga is a great game for developing and improving critical thinking. Each player must analyze the tower, assess its structural integrity, and then remove a block (based on what they have analyzed and assessed) without the tower crumbling. This is a necessary skill for children to develop and adults to improve upon.

5. Improves Strategic Thinking.

Strategic thinking involves creating a ‘plan of attack’ in order to achieve the desired outcome. ‘Strategy’ is a part of winning at Jenga, as a player needs to choose a specific block that will not only keep the tower from falling but also make his or her opponent’s next move more difficult. Strategic thinking is a vital tool for success in life, both personally and professionally, especially for teenagers and adults.

AGE; 3+