How Learning Through Games Help Your Child Develop Key Skills for Life
If you’re a parent, the first thought that comes to mind when letting your kids playing any kind of games is the potential dangers rather than potential benefits. You might be afraid that they’re going to get addicted playing these entertaining games and refuse to do any other activities. Especially in the digital era where games exist in various format and devices, it’s easy to see kids spending hours in front of smartphones playing games. But it’s not all bad. When done right, games can be powerful in helping kids to learn key skills for life.
Problems solving skills
A lot of games whether video games or board games require players to search, negotiate, and plan different strategies in order to advance to the next level. Take Legend of Zelda for example, this Nintendo's classic game series feature a mixture of puzzles, adventure gameplay, and exploration. When kids play such games, not only it’s helping their brain development, it also helps them to be creative. While having fun playing the game, they learn other important skills such as understanding and following rules and structures.
Increasing knowledge in history and culture
If you pick the right game, the content of the game can help your kids to learn things such as history and culture. Board games such as Monopoly: Here & Now World Edition will introduce you to different cities and landmarks around the world such as The Eiffel Tower & The Sydney Opera House. Younger kids are curious by nature and they will be most likely ask you questions about those places that are new to them. It’s an opportunity for them to learn something educational in a fun and interactive way.
Games can help your kids to make new friends
Have you noticed that kids are less shy when they’re playing games with their friends? While parents see playing a game as an isolating activity, kids see it as a social activity. Whether it’s an online game or offline, kids are more open to interacting with others in a group setting playing a game. Games like “Telephone” can help kids to sharpen their communication skills and help kids to relax when interacting with other new kids.
Encourages them to be active and in the outdoors more
In July 2016, Pokémon Go is released and become one of the most viral mobile games ever created. Using location-based and Augmented Reality technology, Pokémon Go promotes physical activity and more time spent on the outdoors. Highly popular among kids, Pokémon Go also played by teenagers and even adults. Although not without controversies, games like this still proven to be effective in encouraging kids to get spend more time in the outdoors and be active while catching the Pokémon!
Helps kids to be creators
Besides letting kids have fun while playing a game, they can learn to create something and be proud of it. Educational coding games such as Kodu Game Design from Comodo allows kids to design their own 3D games while learning the fundamentals of coding, creative problem-solving, design thinking, and story-telling. Letting kids be a creator also motivates them to teach, once they’ve created their own game they tend to help other kids to create as well. This promotes their leadership and communications skills in a positive way.
Games can be a powerful catalyst for kids to learn many things that can help them to thrive as they grow. Combining the excitement of a game and a human-centric approach, kids can sustain their learning journey in a creative way. While being strategic in picking the right game can bring more benefits, simply letting the kids play a game can boost their confidence and intelligence level.
