The game for the child is a fairy-tale world, which he controls. But for a small person, this is not only entertainment, because in the process intelligence develops and the formation of personality takes place. When to start, what to do, what toys to choose for educational activities with preschoolers - these are the most popular questions of parents.
The importance of the game in child development
This activity gives pleasure, joy, self-affirmation, knowledge and experience. The role of the game in the development of preschool children cannot be overestimated. The child is growing, he has new knowledge, but adult activity is still not available to him, and the need to participate in it is great.
The game will come to the rescue and children's opportunities in it are endless. It releases internal restrictions - the child has confidence in his abilities and a sense of inner calm.
In this case, the reasons are clear why psychologists and educators advise in the form of a game to apply knowledge up to a certain age. That is how children will understand and remember everything they need.
There are developmental classes that are aimed at a young child, as well as a younger or older preschooler. All of them are united by one principle - a combination of a game with training. It uses music, art, sports, foreign languages, exact sciences - each of these areas develops children's intelligence. Such classes are relevant not only for kids, but also for those who begin active preparation for study - preschoolers from 5 years old.
Educational games for children activate thought processes, form the necessary skills and abilities that are useful for further successful learning. They include a whole range of exercises, tasks that are selected taking into account the age and skills of the child.
We can distinguish, for example, games for the development of fine motor skills, creative abilities, communication skills, speech, attention, thinking and other mental functions. By the way, many classes cannot be assigned to only one of these categories.
Each of them has many tools and is designed to play a role in the development of preschool children. Games solve various problems and are subject to certain rules. Compliance with them increases the effectiveness of classes and helps the child gain new skills and knowledge. By the way, it is precisely obtained in this way that they are assimilated stronger and easier.
When to start
Do not wait until the baby grows up to do development. There are enough opportunities to give knowledge to even a small child through educational games.
For example, a baby explores the world, the properties of objects. His biggest desire during this period is to touch and pick everything up. This is how its development takes place.
After 1-2 years, games for the development of speech, drawing and coloring will be relevant for the child, in which he will remember the names of colors and shapes. Do not forget about walks in the countryside, in a park or a playground - you can learn a lot there about trees and animals, about insects and birds, about the seasons and much more.
Educational games for children 5 years and older should be as diverse as possible. At this age, for example, a child loves fairy tales, therefore he can be invited to retell, compose, stage mini-performances with a finger or paper theater, as well as draw illustrations, developing imagination and creative abilities; Count and describe heroes, training speech and math skills. Children are able to compose a story from pictures, to learn small poems by heart, to paint, without leaving the contours, sculpt, find differences and more.
There are many game options. It is important not to turn them into a boring lesson, but to try to find something interesting even in the ordinary, because passive perception will not become a pillar of strong knowledge and skills.
Thus, it is never too early to start. The main thing is to choose a suitable occupation taking into account the interests and age of the child.
Educational games: rules and errors
There are several points that parents should consider.
Never cite other children as an example: everyone develops at his own pace, has his own interests and peculiarities. It is more important to observe the results of your child in the past months.
To unleash the potential, there is no need to blindly follow the methodology and not adjust it for yourself.
During the game, children can offer to modify it. Do not bother them - only an independent person is able to take the initiative, propose an idea, his own plan. In addition, the lesson, which was held with pleasure and desire, will make a greater impression and will be more effective.
Do not forget: you need to finish playing before the moment the child feels tired. It is better to stop a little earlier so that he looks forward to the next time.
Even if it seems that the goal is not achieved, do not despair. Children need more time to comprehend and consolidate information.
Features of educational games
Leading experts in psychology and pedagogy distinguish them from ordinary entertainment. Developing consider only those games that:
- multifunctional - you can come up with various classes, using only them;
- the rules are complicated gradually;
- suggest various game options.
In the latter case, such a game is not for one day. Ideally, it should be interesting for a long period of time.
Traditional and author's educational games
The first includes mosaics, pyramids, laces, designers, in-frame, lotto, puzzles, games, walkers. All of them become interesting at a certain age and train various skills. But the most important thing is that each of these games can be complicated, supplemented, diversified. Then it will become even more relevant and interesting.
Author’s educational games are developed by specialists in a particular field of pedagogy and psychology. They also combine the most important principle of learning - to start with a simple and gradually complicate. Among them, for example, “Gyenesh Logical Blocks” is a universal manual that has become one of the most popular in the world.
This is a set of geometric shapes that differ in several ways: color, thickness, shape and size. Details are not repeated. The kid can be invited to look at them, sort them out, build towers, look for similar ones, sort them by one or several properties, add them to touch boxes.
The choice of games becomes even wider if you add special albums to the blocks. The goal of the game for the smallest is to select the desired shape to complete the image of the animal or object.
For older children, it is required to find a certain figure if symbols of thickness, size, etc. are given.
A child will be able not only to memorize geometric shapes, but also to develop attention, memory, thinking, the ability to analyze, highlight the properties of objects and generalize them.
There are many similar authoring games: Voskobovich’s square, Zaitsev’s cubes, Kuyziner’s sticks, Nikitin’s cubes. Each of the games has proven its role in the development of preschool children. All of them have certain rules, but you can always make something of your own.
The development of fine motor skills
Many have heard about this, but do not know when and where to start. There is a relationship between the level of development of fine motor skills and the mental development of the child.
The ability to control the hand is important for writing. This skill is evaluated when preparing for school in the same way as speech, memory, attention.
Games for the development of fine motor skills are diverse:
- hand massage;
- finger games: gymnastics, theater, the figures of which are placed on a separate finger;
- modeling, drawing and application - cutting, gluing, coloring, contouring, plotting through a stencil;
- games with small objects: cereals, beads, small pompons, buttons, they can be sorted, laid out tracks, added to thematic boxes.
These are the main types of games for fine motor skills, but there are many others: lacing, embroidery, stringing of elastic bands and more.
Creativity development
This type of activity is interesting for children of any age. The game, as a means of developing imagination, fantasy, innovative thinking, teaches you to create something beautiful with your own hands.
A child can share his vision of the world through drawing, modeling, applique, collage, crafts from natural materials, knitting.
In games for the development of creative abilities, such materials as pencils, paints, felt-tip pens, scissors, colored paper, plasticine, clay are often used.
With their help, you can make an application of flower petals or tree leaves; turn a picture with an abstract spot into a full-fledged illustration; draw a nonexistent animal, tree, planet; illustrate your favorite fairy tale; guess the mood from the finished portrait or finish painting it and more.
But creative abilities are not only the ability to draw, glue or sculpt, but also the development of acting talent, the ability to master the word, and creative thinking, because the child is looking for means to portray the idea, using facial expressions, gestures, objects.
In the process of such activities, children lose various life situations, as well as experiencing emotions that were still inaccessible.
You can take advantage of a large number of games, many of which do not require supporting material. For example, ask a question without the help of words, play a pantomime that develops body language and gestures, as well as the ability to create original images.
Intelligence development
Experts note the leading role of the game in the development of preschool children. It is during this period that the foundation of knowledge is laid with its help. In the future, he has a significant impact on intelligence.
This concept includes the development of mental abilities, such as thinking, attention, memory, perception. The formation of these mental qualities is facilitated by didactic games. They are used both in preschool and in the classroom at home.
The peculiarity lies in the fact that cognitive information is necessarily diluted with a game element. It can be an entertaining search for an answer, a surprise moment, a fabulous reality. Gradually complicating the material, the adult brings new knowledge to the child.
When choosing tasks, it is important to consider age. And you can start after the child has understood the rules and purpose of the game.
Speech development
Many mothers from the very birth of the baby are in an exciting wait for the moment when they can hear his first words. A little speed up the event will help games for the development of children's speech.
Proper breathing is essential. When practicing, you can blow out a candle, play snowflakes (blow on cotton). Soap bubbles, pipes and whistles are also useful.
Do not forget about games for the development of colloquial speech. This is facilitated by reading, retelling, description of pictures.
The richer the child’s speech, the easier it will be able to express his thought, and the more successful will be his interaction with peers and adults. In addition, the correct pronunciation is important for spelling, as written speech is closely dependent on the oral.
Communication skills development
From birth, a baby is surrounded by many sounds, but his communication with the outside world occurs only with the help of words. Communicative skills do not only develop naturally. Didactic and subject role-playing games will help. Communicate, listen, hear and interact with people also need to learn.
Of great importance are outdoor and collective games. For example, say hello to the whole group one at a time; as accurately as possible to repeat after the player all his movements; move the train with eyes closed; play the situation, depicting all the emotions and experiences; say compliments to each other, laying out flowers to make a beautiful clearing.
All these and many other games for the development of communication skills develop a sense of unity and unity, the ability to act in a team, establish friendly relations, trust and help, develop verbal and non-verbal interaction.
Conclusion
In the development of preschool children, the role of the game is especially noticeable. This is the most suitable period for the formation of skills that are so necessary in adulthood. It is in this way that a child can fully realize himself and easily acquire new knowledge and skills.