4 Video Games That Promote The Learning Of Values in Children
It is obvious that video games are part of our lifestyle and our culture. It is no secret that video games generate great addiction and dependency in children, and it is understandable that this issue generates some concern, especially for parents. However, video games also promote the learning of values in children.
The educational value of video games
Despite the fact that video games continue to generate certain mistrust, from the pedagogical field it has been recognized that there are a number of video games that promote the learning of values in children. In view of this, many teachers have integrated video games as one more educational tool.
The document Teens, videogames, and Civics, prepared by a series of academic specialists, points out the tremendous educational power that video games have to integrate thinking, social interaction and technology in the learning experience.
Video games that promote the learning of values in children
Scribblenauts
Scribblenauts , a word-based adventure game, will not only develop your child’s imagination and logic, but will naturally teach the value of generosity and solidarity. This video game has as its main hero Maxwell, who must collect a series of stars called Starites to free his brothers from a curse.
The particularity of Scribblenauts lies in the variability of solving the different levels through imagination. The player must use creativity to write in Maxwell’s magic notebook what is needed to solve the situation.
However, the value of this game is not only its potential to develop imagination and logic to solve problems. Ultimately, the purpose of the game is to help a series of characters to obtain the Starites.
Despite the fact that the characters who require Maxwell’s help to solve their problems are highly diverse among themselves; no distinction is made. In this way, the message that is transmitted is not only about the solidarity that we must use, but that our help must be offered to all equally and without judgment.
Minecraft, one of the video games that promote the learning of values
The Minecraft revolution is such that many are the teachers who have included it in their classes and methodology as another learning tool, due to its high and recognized educational value.
Israel Fernández points out that Minecraft not only brings dynamism to the lessons but also originates and facilitates a series of learning and skills in children : it promotes spatial memory, mental calculation and the ability to face abstract problems.
However, apart from facilitating the development of a series of skills and abilities, Minecraft teaches a value necessary to function in life: responsibility.
This video game basically consists of building 3D structures through blocks, using imagination and exploration. In Minecraft , children develop a sense of responsibility by having to manage and control their own resources.
Super Lucky’s Tale
A platform video game focused on playing with the family, not only because it is recommended for all ages, but also because of its intrinsically family history. Lucky and his sister Lyra team up to stop the Pussycat Litter before they poison the world. However, Lucky is trapped in a magical book and must escape from it to save his sister Lyra.
Lucky, the protagonist of this video game, has to face numerous challenges and problems, and a great series of solo villains. However, despite this, the protagonist is optimistic in the face of adversity.
In doing so, Super Lucky’s Tale teaches the value of tolerance for frustration and the importance of looking for and seeing the bright side of problems, even when the going gets tough.
Zelda: a breath of the Wild
The latest installment in the popular and award-winning Zelda saga has been widely recognized by critics, as it is an open-world adventure that encourages imagination and exploration, as well as respect and tolerance.
Link, the main hero of the entire Zelda series , awakens after a hundred years and without memories in a devastated Hyrule. On the journey to recover his memory and discover what happened in this time, Link will meet multiple and diverse peoples and races with whom he will cooperate to rebuild the kingdom.
The philosophy of the Zelda saga permeates throughout the entire journey of the game. The active and committed role of our hero, the importance of differentiating good from evil, treating those around us well, etc., teach how valuable and admirable it is to respect others.
Conclusions about video games that promote the learning of values in children
Contrary to those who claim that video games isolate, Professors Constance Steinkuehler and Dmitri Williams find that games not only do not promote isolation, but are opening up new social networks.
In fact, many games require young people to work together as a team to a much greater degree than when working on most class assignments. Without a doubt, this strong social component of some video games encourages teamwork and the value of respecting each other in order to cooperate.
It is true that in the market most video games have violence and competitiveness as their central axis. However, for this we should not underestimate those video games that strive to break out of the norm and that struggle to offer a different content in which respect, teamwork and solidarity take place.
