How Do Active Games Help a Child’s Development?
You already know, children get bored easily, especially if there’s nothing playful or enjoyable around. And at tender age, they need environments that not just entertain them through playful experiences but also challenge them.
These challenges come in the form of physical and mental games. Some even challenge children to develop social skills and enhance their existing abilities. All of this is part of a child’s development starting from when they’re a toddler to until they’re a healthy, functioning adult.
There are so many physical activity games for kids. There are indoor active games, then there are outdoor activities. But more importantly, how do these games actually affect a child’s development?
What Are the Benefits of Active Games For Your Child’s Development?
For one, gaming usually focuses on physical activity. This is despite the modern outlook on the term “gaming” which often correlates to digital games and video games – like games on mobile phones, consoles, and so on.
The active games are often more challenging because they encourage children to interact with people and things around them. In fact, take a look at how active games fair against passive entertainment for children:
| Aspect | Active Games | Passive Entertainment (e.g. screen time) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | High (kids are moving and exercising) | Low (there’s minimal physical activity) |
| Social interaction | High (kids have to collaborate and compete) | Low (they’re often solitary) |
| Cognitive development | High (active games stimulate problem-solving skills and focus) | Low to moderate (it generally depends on the content they consume) |
| Emotional growth | Often encourages higher emotional regulation (for instance, when they win – or lose) | Usually leads to overstimulation |
According to the owner of Max Adventures, Alex,
“When kids engage in physical and mental challenges through such games, they are not only learning different skills and ideas but they’re also growing in ways that will surely benefit theme for a lifetime. That’s what I personally believe, and so, have experienced too.”
Here are a few more important ways to understand how active can impact your children’s development as they grow.
Physical Benefits
Your kids will be improving their motor skills the more they engage in physical activities like jumping and running. For instance, a simple obstacle course will have them balancing, jumping, and pacing across the whole area.
Similarly, they’ll have a more beneficial experience as they enhance their coordination. Again, we take the example of an obstacle course where they have to balance on beams. Now, that is only possible if a child tries to coordinate between their eyes, hands, and feet.
And finally, we think that as active games keep children moving, they also reduce the risk of obesity. More importantly, it builds a fondness for active play which is eventually good for their cardiovascular health.
Mental Benefits
Then, there are mental health benefits and because fun games can help with brain development. To be more comprehensive, take an active game like “Simon Says” but with physical tasks. Now, the children have to be highly focused along with having good motor skills and coordination.
They have to pay attention to what the game lead is saying. As a result, they are potentially building higher focus and concentration abilities. Then, when it comes to role-playing active games, the children experience a boost in their imagination.
They have to think creative, solve problems in faster and more enjoyable methods. All of this, enhances their confidence and mental strength too, as Alex says:
“Max Adventures has seen…countless kids’ faces light when they solve a puzzle, or maybe, complete a challenge. As soon as they complete a task, and they do it as a team, their sense of confidence is sky-high. And, you can see it on their faces.”
What Are Active Games and Are There Several Types of Them?
Before you dive into what makes an active game helpful for a child’s growth and test it out practically, it’s advisable to understand what we mean by active games. These games are highly engaging and involve coordination and physical movement.
You will see children running, dancing, jumping, and doing a ton of other exercise (which is also good for their overall health). There are different types of active games, some are team sports and others take place in the form of playground activities.
You can narrow them down into two categories – structured games and unstructured games. Now, these can be anything from imaginative games to free play across obstacles courses. Here’s a better breakdown:
Indoor Active Games
First off, not every active game will require an outdoor space like a huge playground or yard. You can encourage children to learn new skills and grow through indoor active games. Think of balloon volleyball or maybe, freeze dancing. They’re the perfect options for rainy days!
They are fun and most importantly, physically engaging. As a result, children will be burning energy, exercising, and most likely, be tired and sleepy right around bedtime (hopefully).
These types of games can encourage their listening and quick thinking skills. And, they are also good for improving their hand-eye coordination, such as during balloon volleyball.
Outdoor Active Games
Next up, we have the classic outdoor games – tag! When children get into the timeless favorites like tag and capture the flag, they’re doing more than just “run and explore”. They are going to be going on scavenger hunts or competing with each other.
In either case, they’re going to build problem-solving skills which will also lead to critical thinking abilities. Now, the more optimized the competition is, the better the skill development and overall child development will be.
Besides, outdoor games are never “outdoor” without lots of running, jumping, and of course, chasing around! Through these activities, your children will develop strength and endurance – and sometimes, these are great starters for children to discover their sports potential.
Structured Group Activities
At Max Adventures here in NYC, we have a range of structured games. We have fun games to help with brain development (research also indicates such benefits of active games). For instance, we have excellently designed, child-proof obstacle courses for children of varying ages.
Moreover, our facility houses one of the finest and most kid-friendly laser tag areas that mix fun with great competition and an environment for skill development. Here’s what Alex, our owner, has to say:
“Here, we have a set of games that are more than just active games to begin with. The children will be engaging with each other, competition not just through small play but through physical activity. And I think, it’s a great place to learn teamwork and perseverance in an environment that is both safe and exciting.”
Final Thoughts
So, do you want your children to do more than just “pass time”? It might be the perfect time to sign up for fun active games for kids where your children will develop new skills as they grow. In the optimistic and heart-warming words of our owner, Alex, we believe that “When kids play actively, they’re having fun while setting up a foundation for a brighter and healthier future.”
Check out the latest games and activities for kids at Max Adventures here in NYC. Your next trip? To an unforgettable experience at our fun center!