Play: A Key To Kids' Success

Do you know why playing games with our kids is so important?

I am sure some of you will say, "Because they are fun and can be educational." You would be right. However, I want to share with you more details:

Games are fun and therefore motivating. Children often they forget they are learning and practicing things like math, reading, and science.

Games show how we use math is real life. Solving mathmatics problems and solutions are needed to play the games and parallels real life situations.

Games can enhance the understanding of mathmatic relationships. Often several skills are combined in games.

Some games inspire children to create their own games or variations fostering advanced logical reasoning.

Children love to play games, therefore they are more likely to take risks to practice, succeed, and learn from "mistakes made".

Games help children to accept that there are more than one answer and more than one method to solve problems.

Games help children to communicate mathmatically, in logical sequencing. Games require students to justify their thinking and rationalize their decisions.

Games help children learn sequential skills, by going around a board, moving back and forth, taking turns or even more advanced strategic planning.

Games help children to learn social - survival skills. Participants must play by the rules, learn to be a good winner and loser, take chances, make decisions, and cooperate with others.

Some games help children learn and understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs. What is needed before being able to move to the next point.

Playing games with adults is importantbecause it helps a child understand humanity and what really make an individual special. A child realizes adults are not perfect and have to work by using a persons strengths and being willing to identify and use their weaknesses as well.

Playing games is like a micro - representation of living life. Observing and playing games that encourage making mistakes, causing errors, and having doubt are really very good things!

Thomas Edison said he learn 1000 ways not to make a light bulb before he got it right. I am sure glad he kept going after 100th time!!



** Thank you Robin Follmer for your help with this blog!