Author: Cat Cooley
Building Character Through Video Games
The holiday season is perfect for family time, whether it’s watching a movie or playing video games together. But these activities can be more than just fun—they offer opportunities to for us to focus on building character through video games and movies. By using transformative questions, you can guide your child to think critically about the themes in the story, such as teamwork, integrity, empathy, and courage. These conversations help your child develop important life skills while strengthening your connection. Let’s explore how you can ask these types of questions after your next family activity.
Teamwork
Movies and video games often showcase teamwork, where characters work together to solve problems or overcome obstacles. When you see teamwork in action, you can ask questions that make your child think about how collaboration leads to success.
Transformative Questions:
- “What made the team successful in the game/movie? How did they help each other?”
This encourages your child to notice how characters work together and what made them effective. - “How would the story have changed if they didn’t work as a team?”
Thinking about different outcomes helps your child see the value of cooperation. - “What role did you play in the game? How did it feel to be part of the team?”
Connecting the lesson to their own experience reinforces the importance of their contribution.
By focusing on teamwork, you help your child recognize the importance of working together, setting the stage for more discussions about cooperation.
Integrity
Many stories challenge characters to make tough decisions that test their values. Discussing integrity can help your child understand why doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult, is important.
Transformative Questions:
- “What tough decision did the character face, and how did they stay true to their values?”
Asking this helps your child explore how integrity shaped the character’s choices. - “Would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?”
This question allows your child to reflect on their own decision-making. - “Why is it important to do the right thing, even when no one is watching?”
Helping your child see the importance of honesty builds their understanding of personal responsibility.
Integrity teaches children to stand by their values, and discussing these moments paves the way for more complex conversations about right and wrong.
Empathy
When characters show compassion or face challenges that require understanding others’ feelings, you can use these moments to teach empathy. Discussing empathy encourages your child to think about how their actions impact others.
Transformative Questions:
- “How did the character feel when they were struggling? How did others help them?”
This question helps your child recognize emotions and how others respond. - “Have you ever felt like the character did? How did it feel when someone helped you?”
Relating the situation to your child’s own life makes the lesson more personal. - “What can you do to help someone who might be feeling the same way?”
Encouraging action based on empathy teaches your child to show kindness in real life.
When children practice empathy, they learn to connect with others and consider their feelings, making this a great topic to discuss after family activities.
Courage
Characters often show courage by standing up for what’s right or facing their fears. These moments can lead to meaningful conversations about bravery in your child’s life.
Transformative Questions:
- “What brave action did the character take? What were they afraid of?”
This question helps your child understand that courage isn’t about being fearless, but about facing fears. - “Can you think of a time when you had to be brave? How did you feel afterward?”
Reflecting on personal experiences helps your child connect to the lesson. - “Why do you think being courageous is important, even when it’s hard?”
This question deepens their understanding of why courage matters in everyday life.
Talking about courage helps your child face their own challenges with confidence, giving them the tools they need to be brave in tough situations.
Conclusion
Building character through video games and movies can seem daunting, but by using transformative questions, you turn them into learning opportunities that build skills like teamwork, integrity, empathy, and courage. These questions help your child think more deeply about their experiences and make connections to their own life. The next time you watch a movie or play a game together, use these questions to start conversations that go beyond the screen and into real life.
Encourage reading with video game books for kids! Discover fun, engaging titles that connect their love of gaming with the joy of reading. Check out these titles!
Internet Safety for Kids: Practical Tips for Parents
The internet is a big part of everyday life, especially for kids. From watching videos and playing games to doing homework, children are spending more time online than ever before. While the internet offers a world of fun and learning, it also comes with risks. That’s why internet safety for kids is so important. As a parent, you can take simple steps to protect your child’s personal information and help them build smart online habits. Here are practical tips to keep your kids safe online.
Strengthen Privacy Settings
To keep your personal information safe, start by setting up strong privacy settings on your child’s apps and devices. Privacy settings control what data is shared, who can see it, and how it’s used. Make sure your child’s accounts are set to private, and review these settings regularly. When kids understand how privacy settings work, they learn to take control of their digital footprint and share only what’s necessary.
Talking with your kids about the importance of privacy can also help them understand why protecting their data is essential. Explain that even though sharing a photo or location might seem fun, it’s not always safe. This will encourage them to think twice before posting or sharing information online. With privacy settings in place, the next step in internet safety for kids is managing your child’s location data.
Manage Location Services
Location services on apps and devices can share your child’s exact whereabouts, which isn’t always safe. Make sure to check which apps are allowed to access your child’s location. For instance, it’s okay for a map app to know your location when you’re using it, but there’s no need for a game or social media app to track where your child is all the time. Adjust the settings so that apps can only use location data when they’re in use, or disable location services altogether if possible. After managing location settings, it’s time to talk about the browsers and search engines your kids are using.
Use Secure Browsers and Search Engines
When your child browses the internet, it’s important to use a secure browser that prioritizes privacy. Regular web browsers often track what users do online and collect their data. Some even target users with ads based on their browsing habits. However, secure browsers and search engines block this kind of tracking. Consider switching to a browser that emphasizes security features, or use a kid-friendly search engine that doesn’t store data or show ads.
Review App Permissions
Every app on your child’s device asks for permissions to access things like the camera, microphone, contacts, and location. While some of these permissions are necessary for apps to work correctly, others might not be. Review these permissions and turn off access to anything that doesn’t make sense. For example, if a game doesn’t need to use the microphone, there’s no reason for it to have access to it. Regularly check permissions to ensure apps don’t have more access than they should. Finally, be cautious when creating new online accounts.
Be Careful with New Logins
When signing up for new apps or websites, it can be tempting to log in using existing accounts, like Gmail or Facebook. While this option might be fast and easy, it can give the new app access to data from the existing account. Instead, consider creating a new account from scratch. This way, you can control exactly what information is shared and keep your child’s other accounts secure. If using an existing account is necessary, make sure to review what data the app is requesting and opt out of anything that isn’t essential.
Conclusion
In a world where kids are spending more time online, internet safety should be a priority for every parent. By managing privacy settings, controlling location services, using secure browsers, and being cautious about app permissions, you can help your child navigate the online world safely. Taking a few simple steps today can protect their personal information and teach them how to make smart choices online.
Encourage open conversations with your kids about internet safety, and make sure they know they can come to you with any questions or concerns. With your guidance, they can learn how to enjoy the internet without compromising their safety.
Encourage reading with video game books for kids! Discover fun, engaging titles that connect their love of gaming with the joy of reading. Check out these titles!
Best Educational Video Games for Toddlers
Finding the right balance between fun and learning can be tricky, especially when it comes to screen time for little ones. Luckily, there are plenty of Educational Video Games for Toddlers that combine both! These games not only keep your child entertained but also help them develop important skills like problem-solving, coordination, and early learning concepts. Let’s explore some of the best options that will make screen time both fun and educational for your toddler.
PBS Kids Games App
The PBS KIDS Games app makes learning fun and safe with amazing games featuring favorites like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Donkey Hodie, Alma’s Way, and more! Play hundreds of free educational games designed for your child and watch as they learn with their favorite PBS characters.
LeapFrog Leap TV: Blaze and the Monster Machine
Race towards victory with 15 monster truck-size adventures. Playing solo or with a friend, use body motion and science, technology, engineering and mathmatics (STEM) skills to join Blaze and AJ on the most super-duper stunt track in Axle City. The learning grows at each child’s level as they play.
VTech InnoTab Software – Go! Go! Smart Wheels
It’s a busy day in Alphabet Town and the residents have a lot to do in the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Busy Day in Alphabet Town game for InnoTab®. Join Casey the Car, Paul the Police Car, Frank the Fire Truck and Cyrus the Cement Mixer as they take you on adventures! Match letters with Casey in the mechanic’s shop. Help Paul examine clues and find missing letters. Listen to letter sounds and help Frank rescue the kittens from the tree. Put on your hard hat and help Cyrus build roads while practicing handwriting skills. Then put yourself in the driver’s seat with Photo Fun using the InnoTab® built-in camera. Plus, read all about the Go! Go! Smart Wheels® adventure in the interactive e-book that includes a story dictionary. Learn about letters, numbers, handwriting, vocabulary and more while exploring the big city of Alphabet Town!
ABCmouse
Unlock your child’s learning potential with the Step-by-Step Learning Path! Dive into the complete ABCmouse curriculum, featuring over 850 exciting lessons across 10 levels. Watch your child advance while being motivated every step of the way with fun Tickets and Rewards System!
LeapFrog Learning Friends Preschool Adventures: Fox’s City Field Trip!
Go on a grand adventure to see how the city runs and works. Learn about communities and neighborhoods, physical environments and safety with Fox and his friends.
LeapFrog Disney Doc McStuffins
Use problem-solving skills to help Doc McStuffins treat toy patients and learn health lessons.
LeapFrog Disney The Little Mermaid Learning Game
Dive into Ariel’s adventures, and use mathematics skills to explore special moments from her enchanting life. Search for fascinating human artifacts in exciting underwater treasure hunts, and dance the night away with Prince Eric!
Conclusion
With so many great Educational Video Games for Toddlers available, you can feel confident that screen time is helping your little one learn and grow. These games offer the perfect blend of entertainment and education, giving toddlers a chance to explore new skills while having fun. So, the next time your toddler asks for screen time, you can reach for one of these games and know they’re learning while they play!
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