By Mariana Pacheco
There are moments when we, as parents, just need a few minutes to ourselves. Whether it be to work on something, cook, clean, or even just breathe, could video games be a good option for keeping our kids engaged in these situations? According to James Paul Gee, author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy, small doses of video games can actually have positive impacts on kids cognitively by improving their pattern recognition, critical thinking, problem solving, and strategic thinking (Gee, 2003).
But, of course, that doesn’t mean kids should play video games for hours, or that they should be playing just any game! There are very popular games that are violent, have inappropriate language, contain sexual content, and are demeaning to women. It’s a good idea to avoid these games, as they may influence children’s attitudes and behaviors in a negative manner.
There are, however, a few wonderful games that are safe and worthwhile.
Here’s a list of fun (kid-approved!) and educational games:
- Minecraft (Creative Mode)
What your kids will learn: Creativity, problem-solving, reading, and math.
Age group: 8 and up
Minecraft is a sandbox/world-building game that lets players explore, gather resources, and craft whatever they need to survive and thrive.
The game has several different modes: survival, where players must gather food and resources in order to survive; creative, where players have access to all the resources in the game and can freely build without needing to worry about managing health or hunger; adventure, where players are essentially playing in survival mode but with an extra layer of difficulty; and multiplayer. Multiplayer includes all of these previously mentioned modes of play, but instead of playing alone, players can either share private worlds with their friends, or they can join large scale, public worlds (or Realms, as Minecraft calls them) and play with people from all over the world. Creative mode eliminates the survival aspects of Minecraft and allows players to easily create structures and mechanisms with the inclusion of an infinite use of blocks and flying.
In creative mode, there is also no in-game chat, and no violence. All in all, Minecraft is a great option for kids of all ages, and it can be purchased for not only the computer and most gaming consoles.
- Kerbal Space Program
What your kids will learn: Physics, the solar system, mathematics, and basic aerospace engineering.
Age group: 8 and up
In this game, you are in charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. When you start a game, you’ll be tasked with building a rocket based on “realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics,” as the creators describe it. Once you get your Kerbals into space, you can explore the solar system, build bases, and construct space stations, while making sure you keep your Kerbals alive. The game got a lot of attention from NASA and the B612 Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to planetary science and planetary defense.
Even if your kids aren’t interested in the campaign side of the game, kids can still play around with testing and making ships in the sandbox mode where they have unlimited access to parts and resources.
Something to keep in mind is that this game can be difficult to run on older computers. As with most simulation games of this sort, the game can very quickly slow down, making it difficult to operate. However, the game is also available on Xbox One and Playstation 4.
- Where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
What your kids will learn: Capitals of countries, the locations of different historical events, and geographical facts.
Age group: 7 and up
Inspired by the Netflix animated series, players use the magnifying glass to talk to local people in different cities and gather clues to figure out Carmen’s next stop. The cool thing is that your child will be learning about geography and history along the way.
Targeting a younger audience, this game can be a great way to keep the younger kids entertained while helping them study at the same time.
- Nancy Drew Interactive Mysteries
What your kids will learn: Historical events and people, critical thinking, foreign cultures, languages, customs, and problem-solving skills.
Age group: 10 and up
This game series is rooted firmly in the classic Nancy Drew mystery novels that many of us grew up reading. In these mystery-solving games, you play as junior detective Nancy Drew, whose superpower is her brain. You’ll need to question suspects, solve puzzles, discover clues, and find your way out of multiple sticky situations to catch the culprit.
These point-and-click adventures are perfect for the older kids, but they can also be enjoyed as a whole family. Fortunately, though these games are only available on computer, they will run just fine on most computers.
- The Democracy Series
What your kids will learn: How the multiple parts of government work, like parties, funding, taxes, elections, policy changes, political capital, budgets, debts, and more. They’ll also learn about compromise, cause and effect, strategy, and conflict resolution.
Age group: 12 and up
The Democracy series is great for older kids and teenagers. In this government simulation game, you are the president or prime minister of a country, and you are in charge of policies in different areas, such as welfare, tax, foreign policy, transport, and many others. Each policy you create affects other factors like voter happiness, crime rates, and air quality. You’ll also have to deal with situations like homelessness or protests.
Due to the heavy management style of these games, these games offer a lot of replayability and hours of problem-solving fun. However, it’s important to note that this game series is currently only available on computers.
- World Rescue
What your kids will learn: Geography, conservation, sustainability, global problems, healthy living, and activism.
Age group: 8 and up
Exclusive to smartphones, World Rescue is a fun option to keep the younger kids entertained while you’re out and about. The game takes place all over the world and teaches kids about all sorts of global issues through a number of engaging mini games.
Like the list above, there are many good options for games out there, it’s just important to be discerning about the content within. If you set clear rules and boundaries regarding video game use, it can be a safe and fun option for entertainment and learning. Sitting down and playing video games with your child can also be a great way to spend time together and bond. I have actually played a few of these games with my son, and we always have a really fun time!
Talking about technology, limits, and how to best use phones can be overwhelming. Try Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good to help you have great conversations! An engaging story with a super helpful workbook, Noah’s New Phone is a great investment in your kids’ futures.
Mariana Pacheco is a senior studying marriage and family studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho. She’s married and has an 8-year-old son and a 7-year-old golden retriever. She has been working as a cultural educator for the past 4 years, where she teaches kids and teens social-emotional skills through stories, activities, art, and games.
Citations:
Gee, J.P. (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
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