Rainy afternoon gaming

As a kid, one of my big brothers was a big computer nerd. I remember playing games on his old desktop computers. One that really sticks in my mind was Lemmings. I used to love that game! I probably spent hours just mindlessly playing away, carefree and having fun. It was also a really good way for me to connect and spend time with my brother, it definitely was a good way to bond.

While there’s often a worry of too much screen time for our kids these days, I do think that there is a place for gaming. In moderation, laying computer games can be a fun pastime, and for many kids a great way to learn new skills. Whether it’s figuring out how to finish a level on a platform game or using logic to solve a puzzle-type game – computer games aren’t just mindless fun.

We often enjoy a bit of gaming as a family – we have a Wii which, especially last year in lockdown, gives us hours of fun. My six-year-old especially loves to play games, he’d probably spend all day playing if I let him!

I am mindful of how much time he spends on a screen, I see how much he gains from playing – fun but also logic skills. I find games often a good way to bring in some ‘educational’ skills without them really realising what you are doing. I’m always on the lookout for some new games for him to play, recently I came across plays.org. On a rainy day, it proved the perfect way to occupy him while I worked alongside.

With over 100 games to choose from – including platform type games, and Math, Logic, Typing, even word games – he was in his element. His current favourite is Playful Kitty – he managed to complete all 24 levels all by himself – figuring out how to get the ball of wool down to the kitty. he was also excited to find a Super Mario inspired game!

A few fun games, with some sneaky educational ones in between, and it was the perfect way to spend a couple of hours. There are a few games on there that I think I might like to have a play on too – it’s not just for kiddos! Did you have a favourite computer game growing up? Do you play know with your kids?

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