Best Games for Early and Pre-Teen Children: Fun and Learning Through Play

Introduction

Play is one of the most important parts of a child's life as it helps in underpinning lots of conceptual and practical learning. Generally, it is viewed as a source of rejuvenation and a leisure time activity for kids. However, play can be strategically used by parents to develop cognitive and social skills among kids. Through the aid of indoor and outdoor games, parents can teach kids some fundamental values of life and enhance their concentration levels.

Other than strengthening a child's ability to focus, such games may also enhance the inherent inclination of the child towards learning and exploring new things in their environment. For younger kids, specifically in the preteen category, creative activities and games can be integrated into their routine to foster social and emotional intelligence. It may also help in the regulation of emotions.

List of Fun Games for Early and Pre-Teen Children

If you're looking for the right kind of games for your child, then here is a list of some exciting activities and games that children may explore to enhance the experience of learning and stay engaged.

• Water Play

Playing with water allows a child to indulge in sensory play, where they understand the difference between solids and liquids. If you're looking forward to making your child understand the concept of velocity, then making them fill water balloons or putting water into various containers can also be a good idea. All these activities will require a great deal of hand-to-eye coordination as well as physical dexterity. Also, playing with water may enhance a child's muscle strength and firmness of fingers.

• Character Play

Providing small characters such as dolls and mini figures to both young boys and girls may enhance their social and emotional intelligence. By being in the vicinity with a miniature figure that resembles their body, they may also become more aware of labels and feelings. Taking care of these miniature toys as a guardian may also help in developing kindness and empathy among kids. Regulation of emotions can be another added benefit.

• Drawing and Painting

Letting a child pursue art and craft projects is a beautiful way of indulging sensory experiences through vibrant colors. This activity can be especially beneficial for kids who find it difficult to express themselves articulately. Additionally, children who are in the stage of learning how to write may find it extremely intriguing. One of the best aspects about such activities is that they can be done in so many different ways such as canvas, painting, hand painting, stamp painting, and making different craft projects as well.

• Jigsaw Puzzles and Blocks

The understanding of various shapes allows a child to analyze their immediate environment logically. It may also help in developing better spatial and logical reasoning skills among kids. Additionally, it may also help them understand the order in which various blocks or puzzle pieces can be organized together to make reasonable objects. Kids may see improvement in understanding various colors and sizes of an object even when they are of the same shape.

• Dancing and Singing

Dancing in singing are vocational disciplines that not only help make a child become calmer and more centered but may also develop better literacy and mathematical skills among kids. Whilst doing such creative and integrative activities, kids also foster the ability to pay attention for a longer duration of time and enhance coordination. Further parents may observe a better sense of rhythm and coordination in the body after practicing dancing and singing for a long duration.

• Imaginative Play

Imaginative play or charades is an essential and creative type of play that many children may be able to do quite naturally. It is a seamless enactment of a hypothetical situation to make the child immersed in the world of adventure and imagination. Such games can have a positive impact on a child's intellectual reasoning capability and make them tap into their unknown potential. Additionally, such activities may also make a child a more confident communicator.

• Nature Play

Playing in nature can fuel a child’s interest in exploring their environment and indulging in studying biology and psychology. It may also make a child more respectful towards nature and make them understand the importance of making mindful decisions. Playing in nature can also be extremely calming and relaxing for the children as they get to observe the flora and fauna more closely to understand the biodiversity. Constant running, jumping, walking, and touching trees and plants may also enhance a child’s motor skills. The kid may also become better at understanding various colors, textures, and shapes. Thus, through nature’s play, the environment can become your child’s biggest teacher.

Conclusion

Learning can be extremely fun and integrative for your little one. Adding such creative games can have a long-term impact on your child's overall well-being and make them more self-aware. These activities can also serve as a common mode for kids and parents to bond and discuss important issues about a child's life. Additionally, it may develop a deep sense of interest and inclination towards self-study.

References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350611079_The_Importance_of_Learning_Through_Play_in_Early_Childhood_Education_Reflection_on_The_Bold_Beginnings_Report

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357012371_Developing_STEM_skills_with_water_games_in_early_childhood

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332580598_The_Use_of_Charades_Games_in_Teaching_Vocabulary_to_the_Junior_High_School_Students

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340328684_Painting_Practical_Support_A_Study_about_the_Usage_of_Painting_Materials_in_Children's_Painting_Works#:~:text=Painting%20is%20one%20of%20the,and%20cognition%20(Chen%202018).&text=education%2C%20using%20experiential%20teaching%20will,of%20students%20(Duncum%202002).&text=materials%20in%20children's%20painting%20education%20can%20help%20children%20improve%20their%20creative%20ability.