The games we play in childhood prepare us for the game of life in adulthood

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What Do Children Learn And Experience Through Playing Games ?

How many of us parents play with our children? I am sure that there are times when they ask, "Mommy (or daddy), will you play with me?" When that happens, do we gladly join them in their adventure or do we dismiss them with remarks like ... "Oh honey, mommy is too busy right now. Maybe some other time ok ?"

If you play learning games with your children for at least fifteen minutes to half an hour a day, you will be able to help them develop crucial skills they will require in their lives. That does not mean that you need to play with them each time they play. When children play, they are not just having fun, they are learning about the world around them as well. When children are having fun they are open and interested, and learning mode is switched on.

Depending on what games they play, through playing games children learn:

Many new words and to express themselves using words, numbers, colours and shapes.

To figure out and resolve problems, both with materials and with people.

To discover useful skills and ideas and to see themselves as capable and creative people.

To plan and apply ideas or objects so as to achieve the results they desire.

To interact with other children through the creation and accomplishment of mutually fulfilling projects.

Social skills like sharing, courtesy towards one another, taking turns, discernment of emotions and cooperation with each others.

To practice their motor skills.

To expand their imaginations and become more creative.

To apply their imagination, improvise, and to think flexibly in exploring options.

To focus, pay attention, and concentrate on tasks till they are completed.

To select appropriate choices among numerous options.

Best of all, children are much more happy, spirited and peaceful when they have ample opportunities to play and explore because play allows them to sort out their feelings in creative and non-destructive ways, and play comes so naturally.

In a sense the child picks up knowledge through dynamic experimentation. Step by step, children acquire concepts of peer relationships --- discriminations, judgements, taking apart and putting together, to envisage and to formulate.

If you observe children at play, you may learn that they discover their world in the same manner as scientists discover new phenomenon and test those new ideas.

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When children keenly explore their environment and pursue with their inborn curiosity in play, even though it may not be apparent, the learning process is actually taking place.

From all these we can see that through playing games, many of life's essential skills and knowledge are being experienced by a child, and in the most subtle way, the child is learning. These experiences become the building blocks upon which their future decisions and actions in life will be made and taken.