Educational Games and Family Recreation
The importance of play and the types of games our children choose
Play is an integral part of being human. As children we learn a great deal about life and the world through play. We explore the boundaries of what is possible with our mind and bodies as well as learning about our roles in society. Different means of play also have different lessons to teach. Playing with toys can be a great aid in learning, but is a very free-form activity that can lead to many possible lessons. It is also a way of play that can become anti-social in the sense that a child can play alone with a toy without having to share or interact with other children. In contrast, games, unlike toys, provide the opportunity for both children and adults to come together and learn about not only the fun and interesting ways of playing them, but also about each other and how to interact in a social environment.
There are many types of games, each with different and varied lessons to teach. In this day and age some of the most popular games are video or computer games. Video games are actually quite amazing in their versatility and design. From simple puzzle games, and sports games to more violent "shooter" games and RPGs, video games have come a long way and have much to offer. However, there are also many pitfalls involved in their use.
Obviously there are issues with many of the more popular video games being too violent or anti-social. As an example there are games that involve selling drugs, shooting police, and stealing cars, among other things. Parents are right to be concerned about what this teaches their children. It desensitizes them to violence and helps reinforce anti-social behavior, as well as undermining both parental and social authority. Besides that video games often are the cause of disruption in the household due to arguments that arise when it is time to stop playing them, or if the parents feel that the games are monopolizing their child's time. Part of the problem is that parent's don't play these games with their kids, so they don't know what the games are about, or what value they have. Also, the problem of anti-social behavior arises yet again in the fact that often times these games are played alone in front of the TV, or in a child's room, and they become removed from any social situations where they would have to interact with other people. This is not to say that video games don't have any positive attributes, they do, but parents need to be careful of what games their children are playing, and be more involved in their child's activites.
One way to gain the value of playing games without many of the anti-social aspects of video games is to encourage the playing of card or board games. Many of the same positive lessons presented in a video game are still present in card or board games, and they have the added bonus of always being played with others, thus introducing a social aspect that is usually not a part of video games.(with some exceptions). Playing a game around the table, be it a board game, card game, or anything else offers a more enriching social situation than a video game almost always. It introduces everyone to the idea of a socially acceptable outlet for aggression and competition where the outcome is important, and everyone must follow the same rules.
Game play in general is a more serious experience than free play with toys, where imagination becomes secondary to achieving a concrete specific goal. To achieve these goals players often have to interact on an interpersonal level with each other to resolve disputes over rules interpretations, deal with frustrations and define the acceptable limits of social behavior that often translate directly into real-world situations. For instance in every game there is a certain amount of patience and long-term concentration needed to see your moves, analyze the possibilities, and wait for your turn to act. Table top games, board games, card games, and other kinds of games are also a great opportunity to spend time with your family. In this day and age it seems everyone could use an excuse to socialize more in a family setting. Instead of everyone running off to their room after dinner or watching TV, bring out a game and spend some quality time getting to know each other. It helps people bond as a group, establishes what each individual is good at, and gives the family an activity that everyone can participate in.
Recently there has been a surge in the production of another kind of board game that has social value beyond just playing with other people, the cooperative board game. In these games it is not enough to simply play the game against other players, you actually need to cooperate as a team to win the game. There is a diminishing of the importance of competition, though it still remains as all the players are usually competing against the game itself, but a rise in the importance of cooperation. Children and adults alike can learn the art of cooperation while still having fun and being entertained. There is a different social skill set involved in playing a cooperative game than a competitive one. Communication and coordination between players becomes the defining aspects of such a game, bringing the players closer together when their shared victory or defeat is realized. There are now a wide variety of cooperative games available ranging from simple games for younger children to more complex games suitable for the whole family.
And don't forget this holiday season what great gifts games can be. Instead of giving a family each individual gifts you can get them a game suitable for everyone.
Games are easy to find, and cover a wide variety of interests and difficulty. You can almost always find a game that fits the occasion. Many offer educational value in the raw sense that trivia games and the like actually teach facts about the world around us. Many also offer educational value in another sense, that they teach not facts, but mechanics of real life, such as money management social interaction, and practical decision making. Add to that the idea that playing games brings the family closer together and you have a beautiful gift that says you care about an entire family. We hope you have a great holiday season and take the time to browse through our offerings of games. We try to carry only what we consider to be the best games with the most playability, educational content and entertainment value available. It's our way of saying we care about you and your family. Happy Holidays to all, and Happy Game playing from us here at the Northwest Nature Shop.
Games And Puzzles
Games For Young Children
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