The Benefits of Playing Educational Games with Kids

There is a wide variety of educational games which are ideal learning tools for kids in preschool and even older. Examples of these games include interactive games, board games, video games, card games and so on. A large percentage of these kids enjoy these games and in the process of playing the games, the kids learn and there is a reasonable improvement in their cognitive abilities. There are other benefits associated with kids playing educational games as it brings a parent, guardian or teacher closer to the kid if they participate in it together.

In this article we will be looking at the benefits of kids playing educational games.

1. Motor Skills
Mostly, games that help develop motor skills in kids involves a high level of physical interaction. These games are meant for toddlers, kids in pre-school and kindergartners. Examples of these types of educational games include Twister which enhances manual dexterity and balance. Video games also help kids have an improved hand-eye coordination and helps them focus visually while making use of their hands.

2. Social Development
It has been proven medically that educational interactive games provide kids with the advantage of having an improved social skills as these games help children be able to have organized communication with other children.

Even without an adult present, as long as its a game kids create rules for the game, negotiate the rules, follow the rules and they do all they can to keep the game going. This alone fosters the sense of organization and team work amongst kids. Learning interactive games plays a big role in resolving conflicts and skills of mediation.

3. Improvement in focus and Memory
Educational games such as board games bring out the best out of kids in terms of focus and their ability to pay rapt attention. There are kids who get tired of doing things easily but they might not set tired of playing games because of the hope that they would advance and possibly the rewards hidden in the game. Overall, kids playing games for a long time is a way of helping kids develop the patient and mature parts of them.

Board games and other games which deal with concentration often require repetition and memorization to be successful in them. When kids play these games frequently, their power of being able to memorize is harnessed and they get used to it. Many tests for kids come in the same formats these games come in and the kids who engage in these educational games stand better chances of excelling in those tests.

4. Self-Esteem
The feeling that comes with winning a game level and advancing to another level gives kids a feeling of excitement and thus have their confidence level increased. The tactics employed to win a level may be applied in other productive areas of the kids lives which is a good thing because they can pursue something because they have utmost confidence in it.

5. Creativity
There are some educational games that involve expressing creatively such as Cranium and Pictionary. These games make kids think outside the box to give explanation of things in ways others would not normally think. Games that make kids get creative like these also help kids nurture their self-esteem and they tend to have confidence their abilities.