The games are fun and children enjoy playing them. This in itself is a strong argument for integrating them into teaching. Playing games is a vital and natural part of growing and learning. Through games, children experience, discover and interact with their environment.
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THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES IN CHILDRENâS DEVELOPMENT
A child's play is the meaning of his life at preschool age. It is his refuge from fears, the field of battles, achievements and successes, reassurances and dreams. It is there that the child's desires, aspirations, feelings, thoughts and needs for active action in the environment in which he lives are born. Play satisfies children's biological and psychological needs and contributes to their mental, emotional, social and moral development.
The different roles in educational games:
Although they are the fruit of the child's imagination, they allow him to acquire a personal experience of good and evil, of what is positive and what is not in his behavior . Games are an important form of entertainment , thanks to which children organize themselves independently and they have a special educational significance. Educational games are a powerful tool because, thanks to toys, children acquire knowledge, enrich their experience and thus develop habits.
Research shows that play can improve children's skills in planning, organizing, getting along with others, and regulating their emotions. In addition, play promotes linguistic, mathematical and social progress, and even helps children manage stress.
HOW TO DEVELOP FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN YOUNG CHILDREN?
Many of your child's daily activities - dressing, eating, writing - require control of small muscles in the hands. Which we commonly call fine motor skills and manual dexterity. All this work for babies is completed with multiple toys to promote gentle learning.
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Your child can do more things on his own when given the opportunity. There are many activities and educational games that can increase muscle strength and coordination, preparing children to grow up and become independent. Many wooden toys or construction games are among the categories most popular with parents because they allow easy handling. completely safe.
For example, the educational puzzle is a great way to fine motor skills development. The child can manipulate the parts, strengthen the muscles of his fingers. The child picks them up, turns them and must hold them carefully. This whole process requires good control, which makes the puzzle an essential but requiring learning tool for babies.
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ADVANTAGES OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
-Team building: Games teach children to get along with others in addition to teaching them the concept of rules and respect. They also learn to think about moral questions and problems.
- Intellectual Benefits: Children learn to detect patterns, plan their next action, and predict the outcome of further steps. They learn through experience and the use of an educational game strengthening our children's ability to develop their intelligence.
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- Impulse control: educational games teach children about life, to follow instructions and to think about their decisions. This results in better performance in educational tasks that require mental focus and self-control. Educational games and workbooks designed to allow children to practice specific areas such as numbers and logic contribute to development. As parents, we face situations every day where our patience is tested.
To raise well-rounded children who will become well-rounded adults, children must be exposed to a multitude of social experiences that will allow them to explore and practice the social skills of patience.
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- Analytical skills: Children learn that with practice, they discover that problem solving is the result of practice. They are not afraid to take more risks and learn from their mistakes. Children develop confidence in their problem-solving skills and improve their analytical skills.
- Cognitive benefits: Educational games can be used to teach mathematics, logic and critical thinking. Many studies have shown that children learn more when they try to explain their reasoning process. Educational games and wooden toys are a powerful learning tool that teaches children that problem solving develops like a muscle. This muscle strengthens with practice, continued effort and learning.
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STIMULATE MEMORY
Playing brain games (or smartgames) helps strengthen several connections between human brain cells. Brain games force participants to remember patterns and shapes, which stimulates memory and thinking. The puzzle that challenges you can increase cognitive functions. The puzzle collection from L'ENFANT MALIN brings together the best brain stimulators on the market for both children (from 3 years old) and adults .
THE MONTESSORI METHOD: What is it?
Montessori is a method of education that relies on self-directed activity, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms, children make creative choices in their learning, while the class and highly trained teacher provide age-appropriate activities to guide the process.
WHO INVENTED THE MONTESSORI METHOD?
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that draws on the way children learn naturally. She opened the first Montessori school - the Casa dei Bambini, or Children's Home - in Rome on January 6, 1907.
(By Author unknown â Nationaal Archief 119-0489, Public domain)
WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES 0-1 YEARS?
Newborns absorb everything, from the tone of your voice to the care you give them. After the first few months, babies are more able to play. The first game many parents try is to share and encourage smiles, faces or laughter! Try a variety of fun activities that engage the senses - singing and playing peek-a-boo, playing with wooden rattles, allowing babies to chew/touch different textures or temperatures (like soft stuffed animals or an ice cube), and singing and singing games. of applause. Even if your baby doesn't understand everything, he develops linguistic, social, problem-solving and other skills thanks to the attention you give him and the responses you give him when you play together.
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WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES 1-3 YEARS OLD?
Toddlers are ready for educational games that get their growing brains and bodies working! Explore concepts like âinâ and âoutâ â show your child what âinâ is by placing an object in a box, then explain what âoutâ is by removing it. Try sorting games, like matching pairs of objects or identifying an object that is not like the others in a group. Hiding objects for your child to find can help them develop problem solving skills. Clapping games, finger games, all help children develop their language, memory, observation skills and physical coordination.
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WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL GAMES 4-5 years old?
Preschoolers can develop their thinking and problem-solving skills through games that challenge them. Card games (we place several pairs of cards face down on the ground, turn them over in turn and try to remember the location of each card), fishing, war and Uno develop memory and ability to count. Puzzles - whether simple puzzles you can make yourself or puzzles to put together - help develop cognitive functions and teach patience. Simple board games like Candy Land, Life, and Falls and Ladders develop counting skills and help children explore the concept of consequences. For many children, the best games are the ones they create themselves - try making up a game with your child!
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CONSTRUCTION GAME
The construction game is one of the educational games par excellence. Fun and creative for all children and regardless of their ages. It is a good way to introduce shapes and colors and it is a real means of expression.
New generations of construction games and toys have appeared in recent years such as the magnetic construction game which is a very good complement to the wooden construction games .
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8 ideas for fun indoor educational activities that will help children once they return to school:
- Discover a new country or a new culture
You don't need to have traveled the whole world and master several languages ââto introduce your children to new countries or new cultures. No matter their age, there are fun ways to allow your children to discover other cultures without leaving home. This could include trying new cuisines, embracing the culture of new places through re-enactment of performances (singing and dancing) and learning English for example. Play a game with your kids by letting them blindly point to a location on a map, after which you all find a way to bring some aspect of that location into your home, even if just for a day!
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- Practice telling stories out loud and writing them down
There is a difference between reading aloud and reading in your head, and this is probably something you can improve with your child. Let him build his confidence and use his vivid imagination when he tells a story directly in his head. If it's a new activity, you can help him build the story until he is more confident. Storytelling is a skill they can have fun with now and appreciate later. Participate in the storytelling activity by asking questions when there is space to do so. Then try to help them put their story on paper.
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Whether your little ones are avid readers or just starting to read, reading is a great way to build connections and help them build their vocabulary. Reading with you can give them a different perspective on a story they've already read, and you'll enjoy cuddle time together. From babies onwards, reading is a very engaging and essential activity for them.
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- Teach them to paint or draw
Creativity is an innate gift in many children, but it can also be encouraged through immersion. If you've tried quilting or making origami hearts for greeting cards, the next step might be teaching children to draw or paint. Feed their imagination by teaching them what a pencil and brush can do. Chances are you'll be surprised by how quickly they learn!
(photo credit: @canva)
- Download educational printouts
There are many materials online that can help you create favorable learning conditions at home. Whether you need a simple worksheet or something more crafty, just do some research to find the options that best suit the project you have in mind. You can also download educational and exciting games on the site lululataupe.com.
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Watch a fun and interesting documentary
Documentaries have a way of taking you into a whole new world, and since the kids are home, you can take them with you this time. Take a break from homeschooling, make some popcorn and sit back and get caught up in a kid-friendly TV space. Today there are many platforms allowing you to watch documentaries for free such as youtube.fr
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- Teach them the importance of reducing screen time.
Limiting screen time is important for your child's overall development. If you come from a household with lax screen time rules, keep in mind that if you change things, there will likely be protests. When it comes to screen time, the younger the child, the less they have to watch â and that certainly doesn't mean older kids are free to do whatever they want! Try diverting your children's need to be glued to the screen with more educational activities that can be done offline like educational games.
Knowing relax is a skill everyone needs, and children are not excluded. Bouncing off the walls seems to be a normal state of mind for most children, but this state of mind tends to deteriorate quickly. However, you can teach your children that relaxing has benefits, including better concentration and decreased stress levels. If you like yoga, you can organize a group session with your children or try guided meditation. These activities can not only help them channel their boundless energy, but also improve their flexibility and overall fitness.
(photo credit: @canva)
Research has shown that educational games are essential for healthy development in early childhood and beyond. The educational game allows children to put into practice what they know, but also what they don't know. It allows them to experiment through trial and error, find solutions to problems, develop the best strategies and gain new confidence and skills.
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