| Parents see the value in math games to help their | | | | Skill Appropriateness |
| children get a jumpstart on learning. I can attest to | | | | Wouldn't it be easier for parents if games were |
| the value of using games for kids early on, even | | | | ranked in regards to skills appropriateness? |
| before they start pre-school or kindergarten, as a | | | | Parents need to be able to purchase and download |
| way of teaching math concepts (counting, money, | | | | education games that are "ability appropriate" instead |
| addition, and subtraction). | | | | of "age appropriate." It would be much easier if |
| Age Levels Not Always Correct | | | | games could adjust in difficulty to accommodate the |
| One of the frustrating things that parents run into | | | | skill level and needs of the child playing them. |
| when trying to buy games for their children is finding | | | | With some notable exceptions, board and card |
| games that are age-specific and difficulty-level | | | | games had very few alternatives to adjust the |
| appropriate. This can be particularly difficult when a | | | | games skill difficulty. Board games do not allow for |
| child does not meet the age specific expectations as | | | | increase in difficulty without purchasing additional |
| specified on many board games. Your child may be | | | | materials or pieces. Even new applications require |
| either especially exceptional or not as good in | | | | new downloads. To increase difficulty, you are |
| working with the skills involved in the game that is | | | | required to purchase new modules and cards. |
| being played. | | | | Solution for the Future |
| Kids Want to Play Other Games | | | | One has to ask, "is this the best way?" Have we not |
| At Kindergarten age, I remember demanding to play | | | | learned that children are unique and that one size |
| Monopoly, Risk, and even Chess with my older | | | | does not fit all? When will math games start |
| brother while my parents expected me to play | | | | reflecting the needs of our children? |
| Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land with my younger | | | | Since education is taking a forefront in the minds of |
| sister. I really liked these games. It was just rolling | | | | the country, educational games needs to change. |
| the dice and pushing the pieces around as many | | | | Games are no longer for entertainment purposes |
| children do in play. On the other hand, I found jigsaw | | | | only. Math games, reading games, all educational |
| puzzles, specifically those with landscape type | | | | games should be based on the skill levels needed to |
| pictures, particularly difficult even when they were | | | | complete the games and not on the "age" or |
| specified as appropriate for my age group. | | | | "gender" set forth by the makers. |