Do you remember playing board and card games with your family, friends, or classmates? While we look back at those times with fond memories of fun and bonding, it was also a learning experience. I love incorporating games into my kid's learning. Never overlook the simple, old fashion games--they have lessons to teach!
Parents should play Old Maid, the classic matching card game, with their children because it teaches academic and soft skills. Here is why you should play this game with your young learners.
Academic Reasons
Old Maid is a great game to help kids learn how to think critically and strategies. It's a great game to help kids think critically and strategically. The goal of Old Maid is to identify which cards can be matched and make all the matches before anyone else while ensuring that you don't have the "old maid" card in your hand. Once someone starts playing, they begin to form strategies to either ensure that they avoid or get rid of the unwanted card.
The game is great for improving visual perception skills. It is essential to understand how the cards are different and that they are not the same--it's crucial to tell the difference. The game also helps with hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Dealing, handling, and manipulating cards help kids build their ability to control their hands and fingers, and this can translate into improved ability with things like penmanship.
Depending on what version of the game you get, it can be a good review for reading skills, shapes, colors, and numbers.
Like most games, Old Maid teaches students to follow directions and focus on an "objective" or goal.
Soft Skill Reasons
I'm sure you've never been around a kid who was a bad loser or a poor winner (yes, I'm dripping with sarcasm here). However, both of these skills are important. The best way to teach this is when natural teaching moments come up in low-stake environments like a friendly card game. If they lose poorly, it's time to teach them some skills to get out of that mode. If they win ungraciously, it is time to show them that attitude will garner no friendships. It's better to learn these life lessons over a game like Old Maid than during a sporting competition, after academic achievements in a group setting are announced, or in a public playground.
In addition, playing games gives us a chance to peek into a child's moral compass. Are they willing to cheat to win? Are they willing to do something to make others lose? Either way, if you observe, you might better understand the way your child thinks. Then you can take note and provide gentle guidance of their moral compass is a bit off-center of due-North.
In conclusion, playing Old Maid with your child is a great way to spend quality time together while teaching them essential academic and soft skills. In addition, it is an affordable, easy-to-learn game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So next time you are looking for something to do, why not break out the deck of cards and give Old Maid a try?
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