How to prepare your child for school with board games?
Every September XNUMX, thousands of children take their first step into adulthood and go to school for the first time. Parents, of course, do everything possible to prepare the kids for this important event. Fortunately, this can also be done in a very beautiful way - with the help of board games!
Anna Polkowska / BoardGameGirl.pl
Backpack? Is. Crayons? Are. Fitness equipment? Washed. From the side of bed linen, we are 100% ready. But will our child do well in school? Will he be able to enter the education system without problems and injuries? Definitely! However, it does not hurt at all if we help him develop basic skills that will allow him to quickly find himself on the school bench. Believe it or not, board games are the perfect tool for that!
A few rules never hurt anyone
One of the hardest things toddlers have to deal with is understanding that there are certain pre-set rules in school. A child who has hitherto spent time doing various activities suddenly has to sit for forty-five minutes at his desk, following the instructions of the teacher and doing his homework. Interestingly, the situation with the board game imposes similar restrictions. If the child understands that there are times when we must obey certain rules, then it will be easier for him to find himself, for example, at school - after all, the easiest way to learn is through imitation, and then through analogy. How to do it? Very simple!
First, when we start a game, try to always do it under the same circumstances - for example, keep playing consistently at the table. This means that everyone sits in his own chair, does not get up from the table during the game, has his own place. It seems to be nothing terrible, but then at school it turns out that sitting on a bench is also a ritual that must be observed. Any game is suitable for this, even a simple one. Monsters for the closet.
Secondly, we deploy the game together (this is less important, the parent can prepare the title for the game), but more importantly, we also hide and put in place together. We make sure that not a single element is lost and the box returns to its place on the shelf. This will definitely help you not to lose your things at school - you won't believe how many rubber bands, scissors and glue bags a first grader can "remake" in just one semester! In addition, sorting elements, especially colored ones, as in the game roostit's just fun!
Thirdly, in a game situation, each player has a turn during which he makes his move, and the rest patiently wait until he finishes. This, in turn, leads to the ability to listen to the rest of the children in the class or the teacher who is teaching them something. The child will not be surprised when he is told that in order to say something, you need to raise your hand - this will be another element of the social "game", which will be absorbed much more easily. Maybe you should start with something cooperative - like dinosaur park is a particularly good game for beginners!
Fourth, in games there is almost always a winner, and therefore a loser. At school, except for Fridays, there are four or even three. If this is the first time a child is faced with a not-so-good situation, this can be a very difficult moment for them. Learning to lose (and win! This is also very important!) is a natural part of entering the world of board games. If you combine business with pleasure by choosing Multiplication potion, it will surprise your math teachers!
Finally, collaboration. I'm not even talking about cooperative games, but about the very fact of being in a group and achieving a goal together - for example, to complete the game from start to finish. Each party teaches that if we jointly submit to the various rules of social life and, in addition, assume the appropriate role for the moment, we can expect good results. Why not do it with Snails are shellfishwhere, in addition, do we need to keep our identity secret from other players?
Of course, I don’t want to fit into the shoes of parents in any way - each of you probably has your own proven way of teaching children the right behaviors - or maybe you are even supporters of a creative rebellion and prefer not to instill in your children “only correct” solutions. I understand and respect this. However, I think that it might be a little easier for them to cope with the problems that await them at school if they understand in advance how the "adult" world works!
