Learning is a tedious task, but it doesn’t have to be mundane; in today’s age, interactive children’s games are helping to bridge the gap between learning and having fun. Online learning games for kids don’t just engage children in learning but also expose them to different experiences that might be missing from traditional education.
The development of cognition and emotion in a child is quite essential, especially in the formative years, and the growth of society has the same level of importance. The application of technology, therefore, further facilitates these developments. Integrating online games with the learning process would create an empowered, dynamic, curious, and creative environment for a learner.
The following detailed description of the advantages of online learning games and the way they affect child development during such vital years will show this outline.
1.Cognitive development
At the age of 6-10, children think in concrete operations. As they age, they develop the ability to think and reason, which is Cognitive Development
Online learning games are the optimum solution for enhancing cognitive development at an early age. A study published in 2022 by the National Institute of Health showed that children who played three hours of video games daily performed significantly better on cognitive thinking tests than those who did not play games.
Another Indonesian study has shown that game-based learning (GBL) platforms enhance learning and learning experiences for both teachers and students. Games such as Dragonbox require juggling multiple tasks at once. Research shows that switching tasks consecutively increases brain activity in children, hence making the transition to real-world activities and learning easier and more efficient.
2.Social and emotional development
Online learning games often feature multiplayer features, fostering collaboration and teamwork in the imaginations of young students. Games like minecraft stress creating through teamwork and building the self-esteem of young minds through achievement and success.
Another critical component of online learning games is actively involving kids through role-plays and scenarios. These games benefit young minds by helping them develop a stronger comprehension of emotional control and the value of empathy in forming wholesome social bonds.
3.Motor skills improvement
Motor skills are how the body uses muscles to perform specific tasks. Fine motor skills use smaller muscles, specifically hand and wrist muscles. These include grasping skills and eye-hand coordination.
Gross motor skills use larger muscles and muscle groups. They include rolling, crawling, and walking.
A study published in the Journal of Sports Science in 2023 revealed that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) showed significant improvements in both the use of games in the classroom to develop fine and gross motor skills.
Online learning games can help improve children’s motor skills. Kids playing games on a touchscreen use constant hand and finger movements; hence, dexterity is acquired in games directly linked to writing and drawing. Additionally, various games help children develop their hand-eye coordination by making them replicate their hand movements based on what is seen on the screen. Movement-based games engross and entertain children, increasing physical activity and gross motor skills.
4.Customized Learning Experiences
Research in 2021 showed that 9.5% of the participants agreed that personalized learning is the optimum solution for a maximum increase in productivity and motivation in learning.
The main advantage of online learning games for children is that they are tailored to suit each learner’s needs. Apps such as Kidsage make the learning process personal for the child and, as such, tempt the learner to keep on learning by spurring interest in the process.
Kidsage also offers a parent dashboard for parents to keep track of their child’s progress and see what areas their child may be facing difficulty in. This allows you to supplement extra learning activities for your child in the area they might struggle with.
5.Drawbacks
Although learning interactive games provide children with an easy and efficient source of knowledge, it is also essential to recognize that they might become more harmful than helpful without supervision. Prolonged use of devices can cause several issues in children, such as poor vision and posture problems. Hence, it is crucial to monitor your child’s gameplay and screen time properly; most apps offer a parental supervision mode to ensure your child’s safety.
Proper research on online games, using parental controls, and reviewing the game community are some tips that can be considered. Sitting down with your child on their device is the best solution.
Conclusion :
To sum up, interactive learning games has many benefits. They help impart critical life skills to children and provide assurance of personalized, inclusive learning experiences. These innovative, neat tools are now accessible to parents and educators for early childhood education. It is through this that we can better prepare our future generation.
