Nearly all parents I know these days complain about trying to limit their kids’ screen time. They’re always on their tablet, or gaming device, or smartphone. If not, they’re using the computer or zoning out in front of a TV. I can’t help thinking how different these kids’ lives are than mine was when I was growing up!
Why do kids need so much technology? (Or adults, for that matter…) Is it really good for them? Doubtful. Some studies have shown that too much screen time is harmful to children. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that perhaps even too much time with any sort of electronic or even electric device can kill off our contact with simple pleasures in life. I already started talking about this last month when I wrote about what you can learn from making your own Halloween costume.
The holiday season is coming up and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are really just around the corner. What I would like to suggest this year is to consider what gifts you are giving to the children in your life. Do they really have anything to offer them besides the toy world’s equivalent of empty calories? This is why I decided to compile a list of my favorite non-electronic games for young children, specifically those who are still unable to read, so up to about age six.
Most of these are games that I loved as a child and still enjoy playing with my own children. Some are games that I didn’t have when I was young and discovered with my kids. ALL of them are totally manual, in the sense that they have no electric or electronic parts, no batteries, no lights or sounds. They are all much more simple than most of today’s fancy toys and games, but they offer much stimulation to kids in many ways, and many have been loved for generations.
So if you’re not sure what to give a young child this holiday season, consider one of the following Cucicucicoo-approved games!
