"How Digital Games Help Kids Learn" by Jenna Sherman

Here at Brevik Homeroom Educational Services, we offer everything from comprehensive curriculum development to individualized tutoring, to meet the needs of every client. We pride ourselves on our diversity of services as well as on our adaptability in a myriad of instructional approaches. The prominence of technological integration in academia of the 21st century cannot be overstated. Furthermore, the utilization of making learning fun in education, through the use of video games for example, is also paramount to establishing and maintaining passion for learning among many students. In addition to our remote teaching services, we are proud to provide our clients with an ever-growing list of educational gaming and technology links, which can be found in our resources page.

Please enjoy this contribution to our blog by Jenna Sherman, who wonderfully elucidates just how effective and helpful video games can be in teaching kids how to better understand and engage with the world around them. ~Dr. Brevik

**********Helpful Internet Ettiquette & Tips to Remember**********

Practical Measures

Online education, resources and tools are a part of our world. Protecting children from identity theft and other threats is an essential aspect of utilizing websites and apps that help children develop intellectually and emotionally. Parents must understand and address cybersecurity risks and teach children proper online safety and etiquette, and they must install safeguards like firewalls and virus protection software.

Screen Time

Even with safety measures in place, parents must establish rules to ensure children do not spend excessive time on computer games. Parental controls support efforts to keep internet experiences safe and productive. Moms and dads can manage all devices on a network, turn off Wi-Fi, filter content and limit screen time with software such as Qustodio and Circle Home Plus. With boundaries established, parents can rest assured that kids are learning and growing in the healthiest way possible.

**********

How Digital Games Help Kids Learn

Online education is now an integral part of homeschool lesson plans, remote programs and after-school practice. There are digital programs available that teach everything from coordination to reading to coding. And as every educator knows, play is an excellent way for children to learn. One effective method to foster a child's creativity, critical thinking and more is to create educational play opportunities—in other words, gamify it.

Game-based learning is becoming an essential tool for teachers and parents, and to help you make it part of your child’s educational experience, Brevik Homeroom offers the following information.

Social and Emotional Development

Video games are useful for teaching children social concepts such as ethical decision-making, empathy and problem-solving. Players learn that their in-game actions affect the outcome. Story formats require reflective, critical thinking. Taking things a step further, virtual reality experiences are highly influential when they accompany cultural, societal, social and historical lessons.

Sparking Interest in Subjects

Sometimes, getting children interested in specific subjects is a challenging endeavor. It can be tricky to get a child excited about math, for instance, but incorporating play into lesson plans helps children engage in learning. Digital games motivate students to take an active role in building arithmetic and other mathematical skills, per Education Week.

Gaming can teach science information better than many other instructional techniques that kids might otherwise feel are dull, like reading and lectures. eSchool News notes simulations can be invaluable for teaching, keeping students actively attentive to the learning process. They also eliminate time constraints, allowing children to model long experiments such as growing plants or evolving species.

Beyond science and math, games offer a gateway into reading and writing, too. Night Zookeeper is a perfect example of an interactive, fun game that sparks students’ excitement about words, sentences and grammar skills.

Here are some other educational opportunities for kids that are discreetly veiled behind entertainment:

● Peekapak is a game to enhance social studies education. Interactive activities teach concepts like community awareness, self-regulation and empathy. For grades K-5, this program includes printable resources and activities.

● IXL Math for grades K-12 provides individualized math practice with immediate corrections, so children learn the right methods right away.

● BrainPOP is a platform offering educational opportunities for K-12 students. There are free videos, featured movies and daily quizzes.

● Starfall is a website that teaches children how to read, write and speak with interactive play and fun games. It offers language arts, writing, reading comprehension and math for grades K-3 that align with Common Core standards.

Curriculum Design

Developing lesson plans and personalized learning options can be a daunting task for an educator or parent. Including both traditional and online games are valuable additions to help achieve educational goals. Think of it as an opportunity to engage kids on their home turf. Furthermore, it’s a chance not only to capture their interest in familiar territory, it’s a smart way to expand their capabilities.

Games inspire learners to develop skills and work interactively to achieve objectives. They help children become more invested in their knowledge and education and teach them concepts like collaboration, cause-effect and more. According to one study cited by ExtendEd Notes, gaming can even help develop the skills necessary to increase success in college.

Studies show that playing digital games improves critical thinking, motor and social development. Games are also practical tools for teaching educational skills and strengthening understanding, making them a valuable addition to a child's curriculum.

Let Brevik Homeroom optimize your child’s learning experience with a personalized program!