The best kind of learning for kids aged two to six is the kind that does so through curiosity and excitement. Children this age can certainly be forced to sit still if enough effort is exerted while the rules of arithmetic are being demonstrated to them, but what good does it do if they’re daydreaming? Without knowledge being retained, efforts to tutor toddlers is wasted. You might as well surrender them to video games instead.
Really, you should. Parents have been skeptical of the video game’s role in childhood development, but so long as the right children games are being given to kids to use, they provide an incredibly beneficial tool in the teaching of tots. The truth of the matter is that nothing grabs the attention of kids like the glow of a monitor or the microscopic on-goings being displayed on a mobile phone or handheld game console.
The options vary greatly, and it really depends on the academic needs of the child, the budget of the parent, and the technology available around the house. The simplest and more readily available educational gaming option for parents is probably the phone app. If you have an iPhone, PopMath Basic Math or Interactive Alphabet are awesome choices. Phones that operate using Android can also get great educational resources such as Math Flash Cards and Dr. Suess’s ABC.
Sophisticated web-based interactive educational learning environments are also available that are increasingly being used by parents, teachers, and even school districts. They include a vast variety of games that help kids understand the fundamentals of math, reading, and writing. In addition to games and puzzles, these sites tend to also include videos, printable activities, and books. Art can also be created using online interfaces, which can be printed too, so kids can proudly carry on using the fridge as an art gallery.
Video games exist because they entertain people. But if they can also educate, then their significance rises from mere novelty to vital academic tool. When augmented reality morphs into serious academic usage, the kids of today that grew up learning via computer games are going to fall right into line without a problem. It’s the way of the future, so it should be integrated into the development of those who will inherit that future.
