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As a parent, you may be ready to do anything it takes to ensure that your child grows up to be a happy and successful individual. You’ve probably thought about the best school to enroll them into, the best neighborhood to move to, thought of some extracurricular activities and classes they can take for overall development and mapped out a schedule to accommodate it all. But did you know that sometimes just playing with them will do the trick?
That’s right, contrary to popular belief, your kids don’t need you to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on them. They just need you to be present and play with them in order to learn and grasp concepts easily. Take learning numbers or colors for example. Anything can seem exciting and engaging during play. This is why game based learning is so highly motivational for kids. So if you want your little ones to learn a skill or a concept quickly, just make a game out of it. This doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated to make either. Here are some games you can make to encourage your kids to learn.
1. Learning The Colors
To create a color recognition game for your kids, gather some cardboard, scissors, colored markers, balls of yarn or ping-pong balls, and tempera or acrylic paint. Begin by fashioning a board from the cardboard, which can even be fashioned from an old box. Cut out circles from the cardboard, with each circle corresponding to a different color you want to teach. Decorate the edges of these circles with the corresponding colors using markers and label each with its color’s name. To play the game, provide balls of yarn or ping-pong balls in the matching colors. The aim is to teach your children color names as they toss the balls into the circles of the corresponding colors. This simple and effective game engages kids in a fun and educational way.
2. Teach Your Kids About Different Measurements And Materials
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This one is a no-brainer because all you really need is sand and water. Now playing with these two together may seem like nothing but a big mess to you. But did you know that playing with sand and water can be essential for introducing your kids to the world of science and math? They can learn about different materials like solids and liquids and grasp what they mean in simple terms. They can start to grasp measurements with cups and other toys, and they can develop their fine motor skills, which are crucial for their development. So the next time they jump into the sand box with a bucket full of water, join in on the fun! Everything is a learning experience after all.
3. Learning Geometric Shapes
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This can be quite tricky for some kids, but there is a way to simplify the learning experience and make it fun. For this engaging game, you’ll need around 5 feet of poster board, adhesive tape, and colored markers. Begin by arranging the poster board to the desired length, either using a single piece or sticking together smaller ones. Then, draw various geometric shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and rhombuses onto the poster board. Enhance their distinctiveness by coloring each shape differently – for instance, painting all triangles purple and circles green. This not only makes the game more visually appealing but also aids in shape recognition. Tape the poster board onto the ground, creating a mat-like surface. The fun begins when your child plays hopscotch, hopping from one shape to another. You can also adapt it into a Twister-style game, placing one end on a specific shape and the other on a different one. This way, your kids can take turns learning shapes or learn them together as a group activity. It’s an enjoyable and educational game that helps children grasp geometric shapes with ease.
4. Teach Your Kids Manners With Pretend Play
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Toys that encourage kids to role play help enhance their imagination and learn how to interact with the real world. This is a great plus point for parents. How awesome is that! Mothers who didn’t have the chance to be involved in these kinds of games reported having problems with handling their children whereas mothers who did, found it easier to teach their children appropriate behaviors in the imaginary world. See, we knew all that time you spent being “sick” wasn’t going to be wasted. Playing games like doctor or house-house or even cooking may seem stereotypical, but this is how your children understand how to behave in appropriate ways in numerous situations and environments.
Teaching your kids new things can sometimes be challenging and stressful. It can even get boring due to all the repetition. This is why it’s so important to find fun ways to help your child learn important lessons. Happy parenting!
Easy-to-Make Educational Kids Games for Fun Learning
Watch this video to discover five easy-to-make educational kids games that promote color recognition, math skills, shape learning, and social manners. Dive in and learn fun, hands-on activities now!
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