With online school beginning for many grade school-aged kids, parents and teachers have begun seeking out educational video games to give kids a way to relax between online lessons. Breaks are essential for young learning minds, especially those new to computer-based learning.

Break time doesn't mean that learning and exploration has to come to an end, however. For many kids, finding a video game filled with skill-building activities is just as valuable as lessons. Games can put kids in 'relax' mode, lowering stress levels and increasing mood-boosting hormones while still keeping a focus on growing skills. How many times does a 4th grader spend 4 hours on math homework? How many times does that same 4th grader play Minecraft for 4 hours?

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Minecraft is just one such example. It's a massive geometric world simulation with a kid-friendly appearance and a focus on building. There's so many ways to turn Minecraft into a lesson-teaching tool. Of course, there's plenty of nuance to the 8-bit world, such as using tools to chop down things or being able to identify certain specific blocks needed in crafting recipes. If a child is capable of using the internet to help explain in-game events that aren't explained by the in-game tutorials, this game will be a hit. If not, there's a bit of a high level of difficulty once players get past the basic stages of building a house in Minecraft. This game requires a player to be able to do some reading, but that's not the main focus at all. Mostly, its an experiment-as-you-go building game with no story or prompts to keep a player moving along. Geometry and planning skills are required and reinforced in stronger players. Minecraft can be just whatever a player makes it.

Other Great Educational Games For Kids

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A series where the plot does keep players moving along a set path would be Nancy DrewThis detective series follows the paperback novel and small screen star as she solves mysteries. There's plenty of minigames along the way, as Drew collects clues and speaks with locals, keeping the interactivity of the experience high. The varying level of difficulty keeps kids between 8-14 entertained. Investigative skills and puzzle solving tests give players learning opportunities, and the low level of nuance in these games mean that players don't have to have video game experience to excel.

Finally, Portal and Portal 2 are a bit more difficult than the previous games, but just as rewarding. Casual players might find the challenges a bit too specific and otherworldly, but with that being said, it's a classic puzzle experience that many young teens grew to love. This title wouldn't be a good first video game, but for children who are comfortable using a keyboard and mouse or controller, it's an exciting adventure. The main character of Portal and Portal 2, Chell, is tasked with moving through a 'relaxation center' at the prompts of a witty robot voice. The main feature to this game is the portal gun, which shoots portals the player has to travel through. It's simple: Walking through the blue portal means coming out wherever the orange portal is located. Players have to interact with the room by locating and avoiding hazards, obtaining cubes through the use of portals, and placing the cubes on large buttons which open doors.

All three of these games build educational skills and provide different levels of challenge. Where Minecraft is easy, Portal 2 is hard. Despite that, all three reward players and provide skill building in their own way.

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