As per the ‘American Academy of Pediatrics’ play promotes the development of various skills like language, cognitive, emotional, social, and self-regulation. These are essential for healthy brain functioning. And promotes the overall development of a child.
Games and play also help the learner to discover the world around him/her. And these opportunities/activities make this entire process joyous and happy for the learner throughout. At the same time, games also have an educational significance. Because they enrich the experience of young learners. And develop necessary skills in them.
Here are some tips that can help you to plan better games and Fun activities for your Kids:
1. Choose Age-appropriate Games
At all stages of a child’s development, we must focus on the development of the gross and fine motor skills of the child. Always include activities as per the child’s age group, and make sure you also consider the child’s liking.
For toddlers, games like throwing balls, simple body movements, clapping, and blocks, etc. go well. And for elementary school-going age groups, toys, props, drama, dressing competitions, etc. are quite beneficial.
Choose the right age-appropriate activity. And ensure that your child gets fully engaged in it. Games can be perfect to improve the child’s overall confidence level. And these also develop some great qualities like resilience in kids.
2. Select Games that Helps Develop Problem-Solving Skills in Children
We all know that games are ideal to inculcate desirable skillsets in children. And the ones that promote problem-solving are the best options for elementary school age groups. Select games like problem and solution cards, clue games, jumbled words and sentences (order, arrange and rearrange formats) to develop these essential 21st- century skills in your loved ones. And let the child attempt to solve these at least once, all by himself/herself.
These games are beneficial for a child’s cognitive growth. And also keep the child purposefully engaged. A real online school uses the game-based learning approach to foster these new-age skills in the students.
The revenue of the worldwide game-based learning speaks volumes about its prospects in the years to come. {Statistics reveal that the worldwide game-based learning market will reach a revenue of 24 billion U.S dollars by the year 2024}
3. Focus on Emotional Development as well
Childhood is also the right time to let the child explore his/her emotions. So let the children interact with each other, as much as possible. Healthy conversations with family and friends results in increased self-confidence and helps one to overcome stage fright and performance anxieties.
Let your child play outdoor games with other kids. And support this emotional development through the discovery of relationships. Another benefit of outdoor activities is that they automatically reduce the harmful screen time of your kids, which is also equally important for us as parents.
For indoor games and additional learning opportunities, you can also provide simple props such as pillows, cushions, cardboard boxes, cotton (for snow effect), etc. as these support conceptual understanding of some real-world scenarios. Feel free to suggest inputs to add fun elements. Because indoor activities will help the children to retain the understanding gained through these experiences.
4. Spend Time with your Kids
Play-time gets even better for your kid when they get your company. Try to spare some time for your kids regularly. And share the joy of being with them. This duration will teach your kids innumerable values. And will give you a share of your leisure time as well.
Have fun with the kid and answer the questions that pop out of his/her inquisitive mind. Support your child’s imagination by opening them towards space science and technology. It’s also fun to call over some of your kid’s friends at home. And arrange for some group activities/games. Try to incorporate some real-world scenarios/problem-solving in these as well. And see how the young minds surprise you with their novel and innovative ideas.
5. Make use of Positive Reinforcement Techniques
The age-old positive reinforcement techniques are all about cementing positive behavior by attaching rewards with it. In the case of our kids, these strategies help them to know the difference between desirable and undesirable behavior. Because we share our views with them through numerous verbal and nonverbal clues. Which in turn acquaints them with our thoughts about certain behavior traits and actions.
Try to reinforce your child’s behavior by choosing any of these methods. And let the child comprehend the positive outcomes of that particular action. Smiley stickers, hearts, cartoon cut-outs, and even candies can do wonders for our young learners. So make sure you use enough of these to instill a love for desirable behavior in your kid.
You can also have a simple cut-out or chart pinned up at home. And keep adding stars in this to make the child’s achievements count.
6. Supervise and Monitor during Independent Playtime
You can decide the child’s independent playtime as per his/her age group. But this independent time does not mean leaving the child on his own completely. Try to monitor the child indirectly without interfering much. And suggest changes if you feel the need of doing so.
Also, ensure that the kid stays safe. Because at times, equipment like blocks or props can lead to unforeseen accidents.
You can share your inputs during open-ended activities. Because the kid might need your assistance in the form of guidance at times. Do not disturb your child’s discovery learning process. And just keep an eye silently on the activities/attempts and efforts initiated by him/her.
Final Thoughts:
Your child’s development phase is an imperative time of his/her life. And games are a perfect medium to teach them self-advocacy skills since the early stages of their childhood. Play allows them to vent out their emotional distress. And also makes them better at decision making, interest finding, and independent working.
Your inputs, efforts, and creativity can be a great support in your child’s holistic development. Go ahead and try these useful tips for your kids. And see the wonders of their creative minds unfold new possibilities of excellence with time.
