Learning does not need to be cumbersome. It only takes innovation and clever thinking to discover other ways to imbue knowledge on children and even on adults. To do this, one has to simply add two variables: fun plus learning. The result? Well, educational board games for one.
Board games entice people to join in. In more ways than one they have to utilize their minds to memorize facts or solve problems to win. This way, they are more likely to engage on learning as much as they engage on gaming. Learning and gaming go hand in hand in this case, which makes information stick longer and faster in their heads compared to traditional teaching methods.
Educational board games are also great as an after school activity for children. Learning doesn’t have to start and stop at school. Continuing their schooling in a subtler and fun manner-i.e. educational board games-can help them out. Games like these help them enhance the way they think things through, quicken how they process information, and liven them up and motivate them to learn more.
Of course, they simply think that they are having fun and playing games, which is the important factor with educational board games. Making them feel that what they are doing is learning will encumber them. On the other hand, making them feel that what they are doing is fun makes them doubly enthusiastic, and at the back of their heads they are already storing knowledge. Moreover, if children are home schooled, educational board games are a great way to teach them.
But not all board games are applicable for everyone. Each game will have to depend on age.
Ages Three and Up
Looking back, most baby toys are made especially to enhance the mental capabilities of the baby. Games like these, are Cariboo. This game enhances the child’s recognition of colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. Being able to discern these very simple things is extremely important in a child’s development.
Ages Six to Nine
At this stage, children need more slightly complex games. In fact, they can even start playing educational board games many adults still find enjoyable. This means that board games for this age bracket has to have more complex rules, and they have to strategize, or reason out, and as well as discern spatial and color perception. Games that can fall under this category can be Dominoes, Checkers or Chinese checkers, Uno, and even Monopoly.
Ages Nine to Twelve
For this crucial stage, physical and mental changes are happening in a young person. The games integrated in here have more complex rules. They have to utilize their thinking more. This keeps them on track and their brain on alert. They also need to learn about teamwork at this stage. Board games for this age bracket help youngsters interact with others and develop the need to win in games. Monopoly is still applicable at this stage, but games like Clue (a detective game), the Game of Life, and even chess can now be incorporated.
Thirteen and Beyond
By the time they are thirteen, they can begin enjoying most board games adults play. They need to utilize math skills, logic, and more complex strategizing for games at this level. Card games are great as well, though teaching them gambling isn’t a good thing to integrate to their education. Scrabble is a better way to incorporate vocabulary and math skills for this age. Chess, too, is even more applicable for them. Basically, any adult educational board games can apply.
However, people still need to remember that at this stage, children are still easily influenced. Bad education is even worse than ignorance, so be careful what trait is being imbued on a young, susceptible person’s mind.