While many educators and child psychologist will say that children need to be up and out playing rather than sitting in the house with games, not all games are bad. Some games encourage and require children to think and use academic skills.
There are many games out there that were designed to help strengthen certain skills in children.
One study proved exactly that point.
After one research study it was found that preschool children from low income families greatly benefited from a playing board game.
The children made gains in counting skills and other skills after participating in a game that required them to count the markers on the board in order to move their game piece.
During the experiment two groups of children were studied. One group played a game with numbered squares. The second group played a game that had colored squares. The two games used spinners. The first group was directed to move either one or two spaces. The second group was directed to move by colors.
The first group showed improvement in skills and the second group did not.
The study suggests that one way to help strengthen math skills among young preschool age children is to provide opportunities for the children to play board games. However the study also shows that the type of game provided is very important.
Head start and state pre kindergarten programs should be supplied with the board games and allow the children time to play them. The study suggested games such as Chutes and Ladders.
There are many games out there that involve counting, sorting, and shape identifying. Be certain to read the box and check for the appropriate age group before buying a game. Some games suggest that they are educational however the educational aspect is only very small.
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