Learning through Games: Analysis

Games are a lot of fun. They are highly enjoyable, and for children in particular. But why is that? What are they getting out of it? Why are games so important? And why should we be both initiating and joining in games with our children?

Games are a form of simulation. As humans, we are strongly drawn to simulations and they play an important role in our lives as they allow us to work out likely cause and effect scenarios without facing the dire consequences that sometimes occur in real life. We surround ourselves in a wide variety of simulations. Novels are a form of simulation where we are able to see the possible consequences of being in a certain scenario.

Films and TV dramas also function in much the same way. Video games are more powerful simulations in that the player has far greater control over the parameters that are used to explore these cause and effect scenarios. I particularly like card and board games. In fact I have quite a stash. But these simulations are not just found in the world around us, they are also in our heads. We are constantly using our imaginations and running simulations along the lines of; “If I did this, then that might happen…”

Simulations are important because observing these simulated scenarios allows us to calibrate what our own reactions will be to real-life scenarios. The simulations that we then run in our heads allow us to predict what the possible outcomes may be of a certain action.

Simulations are particularly important to children as they are able to simulate things that they see adults doing without necessarily being exposed to the same risk. So for example, many board games have some sort of currency, like in monopoly. Children are able to, in the simulation of the board game, exchange and deal with money in a playful and exploratory way that does not lead them to real-world bankruptcy.

Or take for example the fact that many games require you to strategise, to work out probabilities and choose the best possible option. To be able to play at making choices without necessarily facing massive life-changing consequences is important for us as human beings.

Thank you for reading the article,
Juan Lans.