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(Unit 7) Topic 6: Ready Set Go: Playing Games in the Classroom ​

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

The Importance of Playing Games in the Classroom

​Topic 6 Page 2

Let's Play Games!

​Play adds joy to life, but specifically game playing brings some unique health and life improving benefits to a person’s life. The foundation of game playing is cooperation.  A game is an excellent social experience. It gives children something to do and creates opportunity for conversation amongst their friends and teachers. Research has continually shown that there are various cognitive benefits that are associated with playing games.

​Preschoolers are at an age where they are typically social and are beginning to enjoy playing with other children. They are much steadier on their feet which enables them to participate in basic gross motor skill games and follow a simple instruction to play along.   

Research has demonstrated how learning games in the classroom translates into meaningful knowledge acquisition and motivation to learn. The best way to teach kids is through hands-on, active learning. 

​It is important to remember that all kids are different and learn at a different pace. Some children may be ready to count the spaces as they move their game piece, play games that involve winning and losing, read some of the words on the game board, or follow the rules to a game. Rules and the concept of losing a game may be frustrating for preschool age children. To avoid unnecessary frustration, keep the game fun by bending the rules and putting less focus on who wins or loses.

​Games with preschoolers will typically not look as structured as they would with school-age children. A casual observer may see the slight change of rules and imagination that is shaping the game and think that it looks a bit chaotic. However, these changes are simply evidence that learning is taking place and the children are shaping this experience into something more familiar or fun to them. As long as the children are learning and practicing skills, they should also be enjoying themselves!

• Can a preschool board game boost math skills?, parentingscience.com, by Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.