The Benefits of Playing Monopoly, Jr.
Games Help With Counting and Sharing While Spending Time Together
Jun 15, 2009
When it comes to spending time together, Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages of Children points out that "the most important factor in quality time is not the event itself but that you are doing something together."
For this reason alone, games are a fun way for families to grow and bond. However, playing games have other benefits, and Monopoly, Jr. is a great method for encouraging children with:
- Basic math through counting and number recognition
- Completing simple transactions
- Sharing
Basic Math With Counting and Money
This particular game only has one die to match the small board. When rolling to advance, pre-school children should be encouraged to count out loud so as to add another dimension to the learning process.
In addition to counting, small children are also learning to associate numbers through recognizing the dots on the die, and as they are written on the money of which the denominations range from $1-5.
After several times playing, children will begin to recognize and count the numbers without any help, preparing them for the larger numbers learned in school, and in more advanced games.
Completing Simple Transactions
Many children do not have a firm grasp on how transactions work with there being so much monetary activity in credit and debit cards. Playing a game that involves cash exchanges for property can help give an elementary understanding of the concept that one cannot get something for nothing.
Rather than purchasing real estate, Monopoly, Jr. takes place at an amusement park. Players are not paying rent, but operating ticket booths for rides, and paying to go on them. Children will naturally want to place their ticket booths on every space, but soon find that they have to first land on a vacant square, and then exchange the correct amount of money for it.
Elementary-aged children can increase their involvement by acting as the banker. During the beginning stages of the game, many transactions will occur that require simple subtraction without the use of pencil and paper. Not only will the child stay sharp with these skills, but he or she will also learn that bankers do not necessarily have a lot of money; they merely manage it with little or no influence.
Games With Rules Teach Children How to Play Well With Others
Young children are often accustomed to being in complete control of other games they play, such as make believe with dolls or action figures.
Playing board games with rules that they have not made up, and cannot alter to their own advantage, teaches them that they have to cooperate in order to be included in certain activities. If they do not, they may not be able to participate while others are having fun.
Learning to play well with others can be crucial to a pre-schooler's ability to achieve early educational success, and can help the transition from home to school go more smoothly.
Games of all kinds are great for children and adults to enjoy together. Family activities that increase time together also encourage physical closeness that cannot be made up for elsewhere. Playing Monopoly, Jr. is not only a cost effective form of entertainment, but it is also easy to learn, educational, and fun.
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