Compounding the situation, were the worldwide quarantines which saw children spending around 2 years in unprecedented isolation. Missed classes, missed friendships, and a whole lot of missed fun. It has taken its toll as teachers and parents are discovering.

If you are recovering at home, there are a lot of things you could do. You could watch a lot of TV, or you could do something that is intellectually stimulating. And board games totally fit the bill! Forget the games of luck where you toss coins or dice or hope for a good hand of cards. Forget the blood thirsty 'shoot everything ' mindless games. Play a board game that switches on the thinking parts of your brain! Play an exciting game of skill, strategy and fun that gets your pulse racing.

In the groundbreaking research article "Playing Video Games During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Effects on Players’ Well-Being" published by Alicia Copeland-Stewart at the University of Glasgow 58% of respondents reported that playing video games impacted their wellbeing.

In a brilliant and thought provoking article published on lifespan.org titled

"What is Post-COVID Brain Fog - and How Can You Recover?" Preston W Douglas MD a neurologist from Newport Neurology had the following advise "Exercising the mind and memory - Exercise it just as you would your biceps. Do crossword puzzles or play card games or Sudoku or Wordle."

Very insightful words from an expert on the human brain.

You could engage in some 'brainless' activities such as chugging beer or watching crap TV where well dressed hosts talk like drunks on the sidewalk and badmouth everything and everyone. Or you could do something meaningful and brain stimulating, such as play a board game such as Chess.

KESS would be so ideal , given the simplicity, no learning curve at all, and yet a game that can get as complex as you want to make it. You can play with a real game set with your family around the dinner table, or you can play online against someone else in a faraway land.

Vaile Wright, senior director of healthcare innovation at the American Psychological Association advised and was quoted by NPR as saying the following:

"Come together and play board games. Show them that yes, life is stressful and here is how we're going to manage it the best we can."

And that is great advise !