Mapleton bingo offers fun, connection, and surprising health benefits

ON the first Friday of each month, the community of Mapleton gather at the Library Community Centre to play Bingo.

This is not only a great fund-raiser but also a chance to make new friends, meet your neighbours, have a laugh and try your luck. The delicious home baked treats are a welcomed break. The fresh pikelets and the fruit cake are now a regular feature as they have become so popular.

There is not only cash prizes for winning ‘full house’ bingo games, but a lucky door prize, special game prizes and a team trivia prize. Although everyone is a winner with the trivia. Bingo has a great way of bringing people together and creates the perfect environment where everyone feels welcome.

Whatever your skill level, you can play and have a lot of fun. We make sure there is a ‘bingo leader’ at each table to assist newcomers.

Bingo has been recognised as a great way to sharpen memory and thinking skills. Researchers have found there are multiple health benefits to playing on a regular basis. It is a social game and tends to move at a relatively quick pace. To play, you have to listen to the caller and scan your card to see if it contains the number called. If it does, you have to mark the number and be ready for the next number to be called. You also have to identify the various ways in which you can win (straight horizontal or vertical line, diagonal line, four corners, etc).

Winning strategies can change from game to game. Players interact and chat with each other. For some adults, the chance to socialise is more of a priority than playing is. It’s also a game the whole family can play, so it’s great for encouraging intergenerational connections.

Bingo also improves a sense of well-being; engages the brain to maintain cognitive abilities and focus; relieves stress; Prevents isolation and depression; and preserves hand-eye coordination.

• Our next game is on Friday 6th February starting at 9.30am. Grab a friend and come along. Bookings preferred but not essential. Email mapletonlibrary@gmail.com to ensure there are enough pikelets and cake for you and you. Did we mention the delicious morning tea? All this for just $12.