12 benefits of outdoor play (and tips for helping kids reap these benefits)
What do studies tell us about the benefits of outdoor play? Here are 12 ways that outdoor time can make kids healthier, happier, and smarter.
Play
Preschool dinosaur activities: Ideas for inspiring pretend play
These preschool dinosaur activities begin with a thought experiment. If you were given a living dinosaur to take care of, what would you do? There are no rules, and kids can use a variety of props to bring their ideas to life. The goal is to learn about dinosaurs, think imaginatively, solve practical problems, and keep a record of your discoveries.
DIY Preschool math games that help kids develop “number sense”
These preschool math games have helped young children develop an intuitive understanding of numbers. Here’s how to make them, and how to play.
Video games and attention: Gaming enhances some attention skills, and hinders others
Studies of video games and attention reveal mixed effects. Some games can boost visual attention, and they may help kids with dyslexia. But there’s a downside.
The effects of video games on school achievement
What are the effects of video games on school achievement? Studies hint that certain types of frequent gaming can reduce a student’s performance in reading. But video games are linked with positive effects, too.
The effects of video games: A guide for the science-minded
© 2010 – 2014, Gwen Dewar, all rights reserved What are the effects of video games? Video games are highly interactive and adaptive, and often induce a sense of psychological “flow” in players — that sense of effortless concentration that makes time fly. Such features make for compelling entertainment, and promising educational applications. But they … Continue reading
Beneficial effects of video games: Do action video games sharpen spatial skills?
Assessing the beneficial effects of video games Some parents worry about video games, and their worries aren’t unwarranted. Video games can be engrossing, so much so that kids neglect other activities, like school work, chores, exercise, and sleep. There is also experimental evidence that playing violent video games has an immediate, negative influence on our … Continue reading
Girl toys, boy toys, and parenting: The science of toy preferences
Yes, manufacturers market “girl toys” and “boy toys”. But are children’s interest in gender-typical toys entirely a matter of cultural training?
Board games for kids: Do they have educational benefits?
© 2009-2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved The benefits of board games for kids? Some are obvious. Kids enjoy playing them, and board games are opportunities for families to play together. In addition, social scientists have argued that games teach lessons about getting along with others (Kamii and DeVries 1980; Zan and Hildebrandt 2005). … Continue reading
Educational video games
Someday, educational video games may revolutionize the way we teach our kids. Are there any good games available now?
Digital cameras for kids: Cool tools and windows into your child’s mind
© 2010 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Digital cameras for kids have many uses. They give us the opportunity to see the world from our kids’ perspectives. They are also useful learning tools–helping kids expand their vocabularies, hone their story-telling skills, and enrich their scientific investigations. Here I review some of the research about … Continue reading
Mancala games for kids: Count and capture games that promote strategic thinking
© 2009 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Mancala games to motivate young mathematicians Looking for activities to motivate your school-aged kids to count and think strategically? Try out mancala. Also known as “count and capture” games, mancala games have an ancient pedigree. There is archeological evidence that these games existed in the Middle East … Continue reading