What’s your stand on children playing video games alongside their older siblings, cousins, or friends? According to a Pew Research Center study, just 21 percent of parents of boys from 12 to 14 years old say video games negatively impact their kids. While this is not a considerable figure, it is alarming because video games can interfere with youngsters’ schooling.
But what if you can hit two birds with one stone? While there are software and tools for kids that can teach them about stuff like coding, video games, which you thought were just about action, gunning, and pointless entertainment, can be great learning tools for these young minds.
Are you wondering about which video games to recommend to your children? Here’s a list from PVP Live.
Welcome Your Kids To The World Of Gaming
‘RollerCoaster Tycoon 3’
Teaches kids business and engineering
Introduce your kids to business at a young age – through video games! Nothing compares to letting them experience the fun and hurdles of managing a business early on. But, they won’t be running a mall or a bookstore chain in this game, but rather their own theme park. Running a business that they love, right?
This strategy-simulation-and-management game will have them take control of everything about their mini-business, from planning to overseeing the construction of a theme park for maximum fun and profit.
Plus, they won’t just plan a fun and perfectly designed park, but they’ll also be able to organize the launch of fireworks in their park. Isn’t that fantastic?
‘Minecraft’
Teaches creativity, solving problems, collaboration, math, reading, and so much more
All right, if you are unaware of the benefits “Minecraft” can give you, it is about time to introduce them to your little ones. This is because the game can teach not only creativity and problem-solving but also reading, collaboration, and more.
You won’t have to worry about letting them try this game, as it won’t be too harsh for their development. Whether it’s surviving, unleashing their creativity, taking on adventures, or teaming up, there’s no better way to let your kids discover the joys of learning through gaming. They may also play “Minecraft” on mobile, Amazon Fire, and Oculus, among other platforms.
‘Cuphead’
Teaches history, critical thinking, problem-solving, and more
It’s not a big game like others on Google Search, but “Cuphead” should be introduced to your kids. Do you know why? This game, introduced in the 70s, the time of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan, will be their classic run-and-gun action game focusing on boss battles. Taking its cue from the cartoons of the 1930s (70s, but 30s, right?), the visuals will take them back to the fun times of the bygone era. Let them experience stuff like watercolor, cel animation, and jazz recordings – those that people in the past considered social media. Sort of.
‘The Oregon Trail’
Teaches critical thinking, history, problem-solving, real-world, and so much more
More so, if your kids are artistically inclined and lack critical thinking skills, consider adding games to their collection alongside their school materials. Among these games is “The Oregon Trail,” which, like “Cuphead,” is also originally a game from the 1970s.
Before starting your journey to the Oregon Trail, you select a job, name your companions, and buy supplies. Today, the game allows you to trade, upgrade your wagon, and purchase food and medicine for survival. It’s also close to real life as you encounter illnesses, highway bandits, food constraints, and other problems of today’s world. It’s the best way for them to learn the realities and harshness of the real world. But the choice is up to you.
‘Goosebumps: The Game’
Teaches reading, puzzles, and critical thinking
What’s great about this game is that you can play it and experience horrors, even if it’s not Halloween or Ghost Month. “Goosebumps: The Game” is based on the book of the same title that your kids may borrow and bring home from their school’s library. Their books can only do so much, so after they finish reading a chapter, they can head to the game version to experience the story themselves. Werewolves, mummies, vampires, and haunted ventriloquist dummies, name it.
‘Wordscapes’
Teaches vocabulary, plain and simple
This must be one of your favorite games inside the train, bus, taxi, or while waiting at the airport for your flight. If your kids suddenly peek through your smartphone while playing this game, allow them to keep going or maybe hand them your phone and have them play “Wordscapes.” You’ll never know how much their writing, speech, and overall vocabulary will improve when they get to school the following day.
‘Roblox’
Teaches social skills and engineering
Don’t hesitate to introduce your kids to the world of MMORPGs. Like “Roblox”! While not a singular game in itself, what they’ll love about “Roblox” is how it can provide a marketplace and hub for user-created experiences and mini-games using the in-game construction tools. Moreover, they can learn the concept of buying and selling, and utilizing the game’s currency, Robux. There’s no “Roblox for Kids” edition, so the gameplay is the same as what you’d experience.
‘Kerbal Space Program’
Teaches science and applied learning
If you think the “Kerbal Space Program” is what you think it is, you couldn’t be more wrong. With your kids playing this, they’ll experience building and sending rockets into space. Worry not, as it is not as simple as the style of “Angry Birds.” This “sandbox” game, like Minecraft, will have them lead the Kerbals Space Agency, composed of tiny green humanoids. Let them try this.
Bubbling Up
Other games that hit the right mark in this talk are “Eloh,” “Zoombinis,” and “Typing of the Dead: Overkill.”
Concluding Statement
Your hesitation to allow your kids to even own a smartphone or tablet is understandable. Video games may have holistic advantages, but seriously, they’re about fun, nothing else. Yet, some video games go a step further moving forward, even teaching kids priceless knowledge.
