Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
Pictionary boasts a wide selection of advantages and benefits. When you’re playing Pictionary or a variation of it, there are specific skills that you need to master. Whether you realize it or not, you can apply the abilities you master outside the game. Today we’re going to explore a few of the benefits and how they can be applied to other areas of your life.
1. It’s a simple game to play.
While people may be familiar with the board game, variations exist where only a pen/pencil and paper are needed, and of course, players need to have some Pictionary words on flashcards. There aren’t too many rules involved. It’s simple, draw a picture of the word and have your teammates guess it.
The simplicity of this game makes it a favorite among a group of friends. A team of two or more will be just fine.
2. The game sparks creativity.
When we play creative games, we stimulate the same part of the brain we use for creative thinking. Pictionary encourages us to come up with new ideas. When we aren’t getting our ideas across to our teammates, it causes us to think outside the box. Complex problems allow us to think deeper and kindle our mental prowess, causing us to become creative individuals.
3. Our visualization is enhanced.
Pictionary causes us to see concepts and words visually. We use our mind’s eye to visualize a concept before drawing it. We are naturally visually inclined; that’s why children learn and understand concepts through pictures.
We process information a lot faster from seeing an image than we do from reading a paragraph. It’s one of the reasons why advertisements consist primarily of pictures instead of sections of writing. By playing Pictionary, we sharpen our visualization skills as we engage a lot more in creative thinking.
4. We can develop our communications skills.
The core of Pictionary is communication through drawing. Even people who don’t engage in the game discussion may feel compelled to guess what the drawer is portraying. Because we play Pictionary in teams, we learn to communicate with others. People bounce ideas off each other when figuring out what picture the drawer is producing.
5. Our focus is improved.
When someone is drawing, everyone will be glued to the drawing, trying to determine the picture, even if it’s the opposing team’s drawing.
Rarely will you ever find someone distracted, looking out the window? That is because games are exciting, causing us to pay attention. As we pay attention, we clarify our focus. We can then focus on one thing at a time when not playing a game of Pictionary.
6. It is fun and exciting.
A game of Pictionary is bound to cause a lot of laughter. You’ll often hear phrases like, “What on Earth is that?” or “is that your idea of…”
The fast-paced nature of the game makes it exhilarating, and when pressed for time, what we think is a good idea may turn out to be hilarious to others. We can all enjoy a good belly laugh. A game like Pictionary can also help us to de-stress. It will take our minds off our workload and cause us to relax.
7. We can adapt the game for many age groups.
Two main versions of the game exist – one for adults and one for juniors. The junior version contains more simple concepts for younger children to understand. However, the good thing is that variations of the game exist where educators can adapt the game accordingly.
Pre-schoolers can draw simple pictures, and a high-school group can have the game adapted to use terms they’ve learned. Right from elemental to advanced, abstract concepts, Pictionary incorporates all age groups.
8. It helps children learn common nouns.
Researchers have used studies to determine the value of Pictionary in teaching students common nouns. Researchers analyzed a group of both fourth and fifth graders. Students who played Pictionary after learning common nouns had scored significantly better than those who did not.
This study led researchers to conclude that incorporating a drawing game into a class to teach common nouns is fun and effective.
9. Pictionary is an excellent revision game.
When it comes to mid-year or final examinations, incorporating Pictionary can be valuable when students revise. It can be advantageous in subjects where terms and model diagrams are needed, like biology.
Students’ revision should be engaging and encourage students to participate. Pictionary provides the perfect review tool in this regard. It is both exciting and encourages participation from everyone.
10. The game stimulates eye-hand coordination.
The act of drawing requires players to use eye-hand coordination. You are getting your pencil to do what your eye is doing. While envisioning an idea or image in your mind, you are trying to recreate it. As you guide the movement of your hand with your eyes, you develop your eye-hand coordination.
11. It helps to process complex ideas quickly.
Pictionary is all about speed in communication. More important than the actual drawing, we have to figure out the best way to present a concept or term, and we have to do it in a limited amount of time.
This practice causes us to process complex ideas with speed. It is a handy skill to develop outside of Pictionary.
12. It encourages logical thinking.
When playing a game of Pictionary, you have to consider your audience. You have to think logically to come up with the best possible solution for your team to win.
It would be best to discipline your thoughts when analyzing a concept to guide your teammates to victory. This process causes you to think logically. Those who are guessing what picture their teammate is drawing also think logically. They have to put themselves in the perspective of the person drawing.
13. It’s great for teamwork exercises.
Pictionary provides the perfect opportunity for social interaction amongst people – helping to break the ice. It’s great for team-building activities and lightening up the atmosphere.
Since Pictionary is a fun, light-hearted game, we can engage more with those around us and learn to work within a team. We can also develop better relationships with our teammates, getting to know them better through a game of Pictionary.
14. It can improve memory retention.
Using pictures to help us link concepts aids us in retaining information. Drawing is a great way to help us grasp new information. Researchers have found out that even those who aren’t good at drawing could recall information better than rewriting their notes.
Also, studies performed on older folks showed that these older folks enhanced their memory through drawing more than any other know study technique.
15. It can boost productivity.
Most companies have realized the link between productivity and an enjoyable work environment. Employers don’t determine success by the number of hours you work but by the quality of work you produce.
We are inclined to be more productive when we have balanced well-being. Games, such as Pictionary, can help us to de-stress and have a positive impact on our well-being. Balanced well-being, in turn, will boost our productivity levels.
Last Word
All-in-all, Pictionary is a brilliant tool to help us focus, get creative, de-stress, and help us develop much-needed life skills. Incorporate Pictionary more often to see the impact of these skills in transforming your study/work and social life.
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.