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Developing a Child's Brain with Games and Play
Playing games activates our child’s brain, in particular the part of the brain called the “seeking” system. When seeking is activated in mammals they explore and investigate their environment with curiosity and motivation, which enables them to create methods to reach goals. Activation of this part of the brain is directly related to child self confidence and developing child self esteem.
In human infants and toddlers the seeking system must be activated by stimulation, if not low levels of arousal will follow your child into adulthood, and result in low levels of energy, drive, and a sense of “is that all there is?” The same system that enables a child to build a tower out of shoe boxes is the one that enables the adult to turn a dream into successful business accomplishments. This seeking system in our brain is like a muscle, the more you use it the more curious and creative you become. Providing an enriched learning environment for your child helps them develop in numerous ways: self confidence, increased stress adaption, improved social skills, more brain cells in the memory and learning regions. Parents seem to instinctively know the inherent power of childrens self esteem games, because here at Childrens Self Esteem this page is one of our most super-popular pages. As parents we have been so acutely aware of the difficulty we've had in finding high quality kids self esteem building games that we decided to create whole book of them -- "CHILDRENS SELF ESTEEM GAMES". It's a parent's priceless treasure trove that will take your child from birth to age 8! 70 full pages of self esteem games for building a child's character, capability and self worth. It was researched, kid-play-tested, compiled, and written by us, at Childrens Self Esteem -- you'll find it at the SELF ESTEEM STORE Einstein once said that play is the best method of research. Showing your child how to research their world by such activities as: make a child’s fort out of big cardboard boxes or chairs and sheets; help your child gather things like leaves and wildflowers; go puddle splashing in the rain; build a lake of water in a baking dish for sailing toy boats and make it rain with a watering can; lie on the grass to watch clouds and imagine what faces in the clouds you can see; make an adventure trip out of visiting the backyard and talking about what you find. Here are some games for young children, just to get you thinking. But be sure to check back we’re also in the process of putting together a downloadable eBook of hundreds of games and play situations that you can stage for children of all ages to help them develop this important brain function .
LEAPING LILY PADS - On a carpeted floor, have your toddler hop from one facecloth to the next, like a frog, to snatch up the beanbag dragonfly. MATCH GAME - As you unload the dryer, split pairs of clean socks into two baskets. Place the baskets on opposite sides of the room. Then, while you fold the rest of the laundry, have your child grab a sock from one, race to the other to find its mate, and dash the pair back to you. DRESS FOR SUCCESS- Lay out your child's clothes or pajamas, put on a favorite song, and challenge him to dress himself by tune's end. To up his odds of succeeding, omit any serious clothing bugaboos (like socks and button ups). MAKE AT HOME DRUMS – Round oatmeal cans makes great drums when covered with colorful paper, or Tyvek (unrippable) mailing envelopes. Drum sticks are easily made with chop-sticks and small rubber balls glued onto the ends. HOME MADE HUMMING TUBE - Cut three small holes in the middle of a paper towel tube. Then cover one end of the tube with wax paper secured with a strong rubber band. Now hum into the other end, while using your fingers to plug one, two, or all three holes to vary the pitch. Make one for each kid. HOME MADE TELEPHONE - Transform your old garden hose into a fun new telephone for the kids. Cut any length of hose you desire. Stick a funnel at each end and attach it with duct tape. Now the kids can talk for as long as they want, with no roaming charges. CANDY BRACELETS - All you need for this make and wear treat is some stretchy elastic cord (a sewing supply) and a few rolls of lifesaver candies. -------------------------------- CHECK BACK FOR OUR "101 EASY SELF ESTEEM AND BRAIN BUILDING GAMES" EBOOK -- COMING SOON. Or, email us and ask to be notified when it is ready. ---------------------------------- For stimulating imaginative creative play we love these hand-made toys from Craftsberry. Craftsberry is just what they say "A breath of fresh air in a gadget-filled world". click the image to check it out
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ALLIGATOR POND - Can your child rescue the frog (beanbag) without stepping on any of the alligators (socks)? This obstacle course lets her rise-- or hop, or tiptoe --to the occasion. Set up the game by giving her a bucket of socks to toss around the room; these are the alligators. Now throw a beanbag into the middle and see if she can get to it, pick it up, and wend her way back, all without disturbing one of the pretend reptiles. For a more advanced challenge, ask her to hop there and back on one foot. When you're done playing, make a game of the clean-up too.
