Learning Through Games

Play is not what children do instead of learning. Play is how children learn. The challenge for teachers is to design games that are genuinely playful and genuinely educational — games where the learning is embedded in the fun, not bolted on after.

What makes a game educational?

A game is educational when the skills it requires are the skills you want children to practise. A memory game that uses vocabulary reinforces memory for that vocabulary. A strategy game that requires reading instructions practises reading for purpose. The game mechanics should do the pedagogical work.

Games for different purposes

Some games are best for building knowledge (matching games, quiz formats), others for developing skills (pattern recognition, sequencing), and others for social learning (cooperative games, negotiation games). Know what you want to achieve before selecting a game format.

Cooperative vs competitive games

Competitive games motivate many children — but they discourage the children who most need encouragement. Cooperative games, where the class works together against the game rather than against each other, include all players and generate shared celebration when the group succeeds. Both formats have their place, but cooperative games are often underused.

Games as review

A five-minute game at the end of a unit is one of the most efficient review formats available. Children are alert, motivated, and actively retrieving information. The playful context reduces test anxiety while producing the same memory benefits as a quiz. Bingo, memory, and card-matching formats work well here.

Making your own games

Children learn deeply from designing games, not just playing them. Ask a group to create a maths game for younger children. They must understand the content well enough to turn it into questions and rules — a higher-order task that reveals both gaps and strengths.