According to the Toy Industry Association, three-quarters of consumers purchased toys last year intended for educational purposes. Was this the result of parents taking an interest in their child's academia or are toy companies knowledgeable about child development? Either way, it is a trend that will benefit kids. Kids need to play, and they know how to pick the best games.
The belief that play is crucial in child development is not new. People, especially educators, are familiar with Jean Piaget. Piaget observed children over a period of time and discovered that their development occurred in stages. He called the idea Stages of Cognitive Development. There are four stages - sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations and formal operations.
During the sensorimotor stage (birth to 2), infants gain motor skills through experiences, such as looking around and touching objects. By the preoperational stage (2-6), children comprehend symbols and use their imaginations to pretend play. Children at the concrete operations stage (6-12) are capable of completing mental exercises and multi-tasking. The last stage, formal operations (12-adolescence), is when kids are more likely to independently problem solve.
Games that are popular with children tend to incorporate the skills necessary for their proper development. Kids know they need to play and can do so in many ways and at all different stages of life. Luckily, kids today have many options when deciding what games to play. There are PC games, online games, math games and party games.
Kids PC Games
Technological advancements allowed for a new industry to flourish - PC games. With personal computers in schools and homes, PC games are quite popular amongst kids. This type of play is popular with kids because it is interactive and requires movement. The games with imaginative graphics and challenging obstacles appeal to many children. PC games are not only fun for children but also educational. They require kids to strategize, coordinate and recall patterns all of which are valuable skills to learn.
Kids Online Games
Surfing the net has become safer for children with the invention of programs parents and schools can use to restrict access to inappropriate sites. Now, kids can find online games appropriate for themselves to play at home or at school. The popular educational online games are generally played independently. Kids practice language and mathematics problem solving in a visual pleasing environment complete with challenges, adventures and even sound. Online games with pictures, puzzles and animals tend to capture children's imaginations
Kids Math Games
Every kid can do math. Kids may not think they can successfully manipulate numbers, but math is not just about solving equations. Math also encompasses shapes and spatial recognition. Children learn these skills by taking something apart and putting it back together again. Thinking about sequencing and finding the missing link is a motivator for kids. For kids that like numbers, grab a game with money or a game that requires score to be kept. The competitiveness of keeping score is attractive, and money is very popular with kids and adults alike.
Kids Party Games
Parties give kids an opportunity to socialize with friends and play games. Party games are played in groups, and the popular ones consist of rules and competitions. Party games can be outdoors or indoors. Popular outdoor games involve special equipment and running. Indoor games that incorporate passing something around or having the children move around are also popular. A prize at the end of the game is always welcome. Depending upon the age of the child, different levels of competitiveness are more appropriate than others. Young kids do not always handle losing well. Sometimes, it is best to give all children a small token for participation.
Along with Piaget, it appears parents, kids and the toy industry recognizes the benefits of play. Games provide an outlet for play through experimenting, moving, socializing and thinking. They continue to be designed, produced and sold to each upcoming generation for the purposes of fun and education. Games will always be popular with kids.
