Learning Tools

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WHY PLAY GAMES?

  1. Games are generally inexpensive and readily accessible.
  2. Games provide motivating and rewarding opportunities to enhance cognitive skills, such as attention, memory, sequencing and perception.
  3. Games may be familiar to the child.
  4. Games can often be adapted to the child's current cognitive level.
  5. Games provide an opportunity for the child to develop or reinforce appropriate social skills, such as waiting their turn and following a specific set of rules.

HOW TO START

  1. Encourage the child to choose a game. A game that is chosen by the child is more likely to interest them.
  2. Ask the child to verbally list the rules that are to be followed. Some children may need prompting to attain a sufficient number of rules to complete the game.
  3. Discuss who will be playing and in what order.
  4. Follow the sequence of rules and turns as closely as possible, without frustrating the child.

SKILLS THAT GAMES CAN HELP DEVELOP

  1. Attention — Most games require each participant to remain attentive. Some games, such as Uno and Slapjack, make attention their primary focus.
  2. Perceptual Skills — Some games may require the child to use discrimination, matching and scanning skills. Candyland, for instance, requires the participant to scan the board for the next appropriate color or picture to match. Checkers requires discrimination between red and black game pieces and the ability to scan the board for potential moves. Guess Who requires the player to scan faces and pick out differences and attributes, such as hair color, glasses and facial features.
  3. Memory Skills — Games such as Memory, Concentration, Trivial Pursuit and Simon require participants to use external memory aids to succeed.
  4. Problem-Solving and Planning Skills — Connect Four, Clue and Sequence require the development of planning and problem-solving skills. This type of game requires the player to develop a "plan of attack" and anticipate what other players might be planning.

Art Activities
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