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Overview
We all want our kids to learn as they play, but sometimes it's hard to find games that are fun and educational. Whether you want your child to play educational games that you can make at home or interactive games on the computer, these ideas will get you started and will improve your child's math, spelling and vocabulary skills. -
Counting Jars Game
This game is easy to make and will help your child learn basic math and counting. Be sure to play it with your child if he's younger than age 4, and make sure he doesn't put any pieces in his mouth. Find 10 plastic containers with lids; peanut butter jars, coffee containers, or tubs from margarine or sour cream work well, or you can buy some that match from a craft store. Cut the numbers one through 10 from colored craft foam, and stick each number on the lid of one jar. This gives a textured feel to the numbers, although you can also write them on with marker if you prefer. Fill each jar with the corresponding number of small objects, such as buttons, dice, beads, pebbles or toy soldiers. If your child is young, keep the objects the same, such as 10 buttons that are the same size, shape and color. If he's older, you can use buttons that are different. Take your child's finger, and trace the number on the top of the container as if you're writing it, and say the number. Have him empty out the contents, and count with him as he puts them back in, one by one. Then have him take them out again, and show him how to make piles of different amounts, or patterns. If the items are different, let him categorize them by size, shape or color. Then have him count them back into the container so he knows that there's always the same number, no matter what you do with the objects. To take it a step further, have him empty the contents of two containers, sort them by different qualities, count how many are in each pile, and then count them back into their proper container. Finally, let him empty the contents of several jars, and mix them all up. Then have him count them back into their respective containers. If he ends up with a number of objects that doesn't match the number on the lid, have him correct it and put them in the right container.
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Brain Teaser Art
This is another simple math game, but the results can be as complicated as you make them. Use a stencil that has different geometric shapes on it, and trace out some pictures compiled of the various shapes. Make an animal out of many circles, or a house out of triangles, squares and rectangles, and keep track of how many shapes you use. Use a variety of crayons to color your design, then give the paper to your child. Have him count how many shapes are in the drawing. The more jumbled your design is, the more difficult it will be to count the shapes. If he gets the number wrong, have him try again. You can let him count all the shapes in one tally, or each different type of shape that appears. -
Spool-A-Word
This game is also easy to create and will increase your child's spelling and vocabulary skills. Prepare three empty spools by holding them horizontally, and using different colored permanent markers on each, write the following letters around the barrel: on the first s, r, l, g, f; on the second a, e, i, o, u; and on the third n, t, d, p, b. Slide the spools in that order onto a new pencil that hasn't been sharpened yet. Have your child turn the spools to see how many words he can spell in a minute, such as "set," "lap" or "rat." When he's finished, let another child take a turn, or you play. Whoever gets the most words in a minute wins -
Four Square
This game requires two players, or two teams, and can test them on any subject you choose. Make the playing board by creating a large grid on a piece of construction paper, five squares across and five squares down for a total of 25 blocks. Use two different colors of construction paper to make game pieces for the two teams, the same size as the blocks, or slightly smaller. Make a list of questions, words or math problems. Call out a question, problem, or a word to spell. The first player answers, and if he's right, places a game piece anywhere on the grid. Next let the second player answer, and put his color on the board if he gets it right. The first player to get four squares in a row, whether up, down or on a diagonal, wins. -
Online Games
Scores of fun and educational games are online, and respectable sites can be found (see Resources). It's always a good idea to supervise your child's computer time, but you can feel confident that these sites are kid-friendly and safe. You'll find games to help your child learn math, language, science and social studies, as well as memory games, seasonal games, puzzle games and classic games that you played as a kid. So whether you go high tech or low tech, there are lots of ways to help your child have fun as he learns, and learn as he has fun.
