6 Amazing Benefits of Educational Games For Kids

How would you feel if your child is categorised as a back-bencher and socially-awkward student who doesn’t participate in the class? Add to it, someone who is least interested in what the teacher is speaking.

It is the indicator of the fact that your hummingbird lives in its secret, little world. As much as parents desire their kids to follow the crowd, we cannot ignore that some may achieve extraordinary milestones, despite the initial years of failure.

Fortunately, parents of this age have digital tools to improve the necessary skills of their kids. The children of Gen Z have grown up with the internet being a huge part of their lives. They are the most tech-savvy generation ever existed, and much of what they learn happens through tech.

The technological age of learning

Technology is also aiding kids in learning about new things. The application of online games in education generates plenty of benefits for the learning process. However, for a long time, parents have had concerns about games being detrimental to child development.

It is imperative to hit a balance when it comes to integrating technology into a kid’s life. They should not spend every second of their day in front of a computer screen. But, exposing them to educational games is also imperative.

Educational games teach subjects like science, mathematics, computer programming, and geography, etc. Statista reports that the average time spent playing video games among 13 to 18-year-olds in the US is 50 minutes. Even younger kids spend a good part of the day fiddling through their devices.

Instead of trying to separate kids from technology, many educators have advised embracing the high-tech methods of education, such as game-based-learning and educational video games.

This blog features six amazing positive effects of educational games on your little darlings.

1. It improves hand-eye coordination

Games that require children to use a keyboard, a gamepad, or a mouse to operate can help develop hand-eye coordination. It tunes them up about how a computer works as they have to focus on-screen action while using their hands to control what is happening simultaneously.

A study from the University of Toronto found that people who regularly play action video games like Assassin’s Creed or Call of Duty are better able to grab the sensorimotor tasks. They also demonstrate better hand-eye coordination as compared to those who do not play video games.

Alongside this, it is vital to acknowledge the growing role of technology in human lives. It demands strong hand-eye coordination. Hence, getting children used to this skill at an early age has many advantages.

2. It improves a child’s memory

Games often revolve around the utilisation of memory. There are video games whereby a child has to remember instructions provided at the beginning to finish the game. Some require tracking various elements or memorising critical sequences.

New research funded by the UK’s Medical Research Council has revealed that basic computer gaming can rewire the brain of a child. It enhances their memory and neural connectivity over a short period.

What matters is choosing the right genre of games for your child. There has been a lot of criticism on games with violence and sexist elements, and their detrimental effect on the minds of young children. Therefore, as parents and educators, you should spot child-friendly platforms that feature games without any violence.

For example, several platforms like airG MiniMe 500c are listed as children-friendly by ‘kidSAFE Seal Program.’ As a parent, you can opt for these platforms as they are entirely safe for children of all age groups. These platforms combine attractive graphics with academic concepts to keep the child in a learning loop.

3. It develops social skills

Children who actively play video games are more likely to have better social skills than their non-gaming peers. A study conducted by the team of researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York analysed the mental health data of thousands of students. It concluded that children who played video games had better peer relationships and good social skills.

This happens as many games require players to work together in teams. They must refine their communication skills to compete against each other and craft strategies to win as a team. Moreover, it also contributes to improving their self-esteem.

Educators are now pressing over the importance of early childhood education because it leads to a self-confident and socially-stable adult. They believe educational games could be beneficial in improving the early learning capabilities of children.

4. It teaches problem-solving skills

Video games can help to improve a child’s problem-solving skills through appropriate brain-development. Many recent games, such as Bakugan: Defenders of the Core, involve critical-thinking and planning to pass each level.

“Modding” in this game is the process whereby players have to customise the appearance of each character. It allows for creative expression and highlights gamers’ interests.

Paul Darvasi explains how games can create a significant impact on a child’s brain.

He says:

“Students must exercise critical thinking, resilience, and creative problem solving to succeed in an alternate reality game.”

It isn’t necessary to label the games as “educational” to believe they reap learning outcomes. Each game that compels a child to make decisions, use strategies, anticipate results and express their personalities contribute to the development of problem-solving skills.

5. It helps kids with attention disorders

Research has proven that educational games help kids with attention disorders to focus on the task at hand. With so many children finding it hard to pay attention, technology ignites a new ray of hope. People are eager to embrace methods of education to overcome the attention disorders in kids. A study by a professor at Nottingham University also concluded that kids with ADHD could benefit from game-based learning.

6. It sparks creativity

Gaming often stimulates a child to think differently. Out-of-the-box ideas and unique solutions allow a child to reach their targets in these games. An experimental study published by the Creativity Research Journal provided a link between some video games and creativity.

The 353 chosen participants were divided into different groups. One group played Minecraft with and without instructions, the other group watched a TV show, and others played a car-racing game.

In the end, the researchers found that the participants who played Minecraft executed subsequent tasks with more creativity.

Parting thoughts

We have only listed a few benefits of educational games in this blog. Moreover, several studies prove why educational games are beneficial for kids. It brings us to state that learning and gaming should not stand as two competing domains. Instead, we can make a powerful combination of the two to help educate our children.

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