Any activity that is set in a structured way of play and is governed by a set of rules and instructions, with given goals and is purposely meant for recreation or competition can be considered as a game. Games involve more than an individual and stimulate a lot of interactions amongst them. Games have been in existence for centuries and they have made a part of man and his social life. Today with the development of the digital world and innovation of technology, games have been programmed and made available on the internet mostly referred as computer or video games. The involvement in the activity that at times may be physically rigorous has had implications mostly positive ones into the human body. Some games can be categorized as sports which are also competitive and mostly physical. Games can be played both in and outdoors depending on its specifications. While many limit games for children alone, there are games that adults play. Apart from being able to have fun from the games, individuals have the chance to improve a lot of their social skills that includes communications and coordination of certain body parts (Linda L. Griffin, 2015).
While people may assume that games are activities only used to pass time, they improve the health and the development of the human being all round.
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Types of Games
Creativity and innovations have led to the formation and development of numerous types of games. This may follow a certain trend, the culture of certain individuals and the place too. Games are countless but their core goal is to ensure a time of enjoyment and ability to learn. The most common games that are recognized globally include the role play games, computer or video games, sports kind of games, strategy games, and simulation games among many others. In this research, we shall take a look at the importance of these games while giving the examples of each in the different categories.
Social Benefits
As we had looked earlier, games involve more than one person and hence in order to play and fulfill the required goals and purpose of the games, the two or more parties must effectively interact to make the game a success. For instance, communication is essential in beginning, continuing and finish of the game. Through communication, there will be a smooth running of the game and ability for the parties to fully enjoy while participating. In the games that involve an instructor who gives the set of rule and acts as a judge, his communication skills are enhanced in a way that he or she must be able to provide the instructions in a simple most basic way that the participants can be able to understand. As for the participants, their ability to attentively listen and follow instructions is improved and sharpened (Lawrence Robinson, 2016.).
Interaction is key in games that involve larger numbers of individuals. These may in many ways improve the relationship of the participants who may be friends, family members, classmates or work colleagues. The ability to interact and get involved with each other while playing improves the connection between the parties involved both physically and emotionally. While parents may be living and experiencing a busy life that involves working longer hours which may at times deny them their social life, involvement in games with their children at home for a period of time may improve their relationship and enhance closure. The parent may have a time that they enjoy together with the children while learning new things from each other. This in most cases improves the understanding between the parent and children because they learn the strength and weaknesses of their children. Furthermore, the hectic day that one may have faced during the day is relieved through the excitement they get from the games and the frequent laughs especially and the peace that accompanies all that.
In reference to the remarks of George Bernard Shaw, he stated that “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing,” His remarks seconds the fact that games in many ways help an individual to feel and get energized which helps them feel much younger too. Furthermore, the amusement that one gets that helps them maintain the smile improves the adrenaline that releases the stress that one had. In addition, the involvement of parents in games with their children cements the bond between them and helps the children to develop their imaginations and creativity while stimulating their minds.
Benefits of role plays in School and Work Settings
Games are not limited to a particular environment and hence can be used to develop and improve productivity in a professional setting. For examples, the normal ways of learning in schools can be so obvious and monotonous at the same time. The use of role plays especially in subjects like English literature improves the memory of the students. It is easier to understand and remember the lesson taught through role plays. As for the teacher, they acquire a sense of connection with their students since they appreciate the introduction of role plays in learning. The students, on the other hand, have the opportunity to participate in class especially for the ones who are never active in class. The skill of memorizing sharpens the memory and improves the level of critically thinking. Furthermore, like in most cases, role plays in cooperated in lessons contributes to the connection between the teachers and students making school and learning more fun (Scholastic Inc, 2016).
It is true that ‘work with no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ In a work setting, most of the managerial personnel have invented ways that involve all the personnel at work in order to improve and enhance productivity. The creativity that colleagues acquire is vital in ensuring that they boost the uniqueness of the company making them outstanding from all other institutes. Many individuals settle on working not because they love what they do but because they aim at making ends meet, but the ability to get involved in games at work may contribute to the development of love for the job. In so doing, teamwork is encouraged this is one of the core things that make a company or an institute to grow al-round. The stress that creeps in, in a workplace either due to required deadlines or demands to deliver is released and helps the individuals to keep functioning well in the work environment and fully deliver. Furthermore, the multitude of tasks and responsibilities assigned to individuals in the workplace may lead to fatigue and weariness. Therefore, the involvement and participation of individuals in games at the workplace help in reduction of weariness by preventing burnouts and helps them get reenergized both physically and psychologically. Where adults are, there must exist disagreements due to the different ways of thinking and different capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, therefore it is much easier to resolve the arising issues and problems because of the connectivity and closeness developed during the games sessions. In the creation and development of love for the job, the individuals acquire other personal skills that improve their authenticity and diligence in the workplace which is vital in supporting and building the productivity of both the individuals and the company at large.
Some professions entail practical ways of learning their professional skills and the best way to enhance that is through the role-play games, for instance, jobs like medical practice and military jobs. In a scenario where the medics have to collect injured people in a given area, load them in an ambulance and attend to them while offering first aid before they get to the health center where the facilities needed to test and treat are, practicing medics are involved in role plays that help them familiarize with the real situations that they can handle in future. This not only helps them to acquire strategic skills of making quick decisions to save a life but are also engaged in a possible incident that they might get involved in. In the case of militia individual, role plays games that help them identify the situations they are possibly to face, improves their ability to face fears and embrace courage which will help in fully attending to the duties assigned. For instance, role plays that may involve ways they can capture criminals or ways they can save hostages are vital in increasing and sharpening their skills in their field. This role play games like many other games improve their teamwork which is essential in any profession. In addition, aside from the team accomplishing their duties, each individual is satisfied at the end with a well-done job which is key in any job. In the examples provided, challenges are inevitable but the games incorporated helps the participants to enjoy and embrace problem-solving skills that will come handy even in the individual’s lives. While activity does not necessarily mean productivity, it is vital for employees and employers to understand the need and importance of games at workplaces to enhance the growth of individuals and the company (Educause, 2014).
Mental Benefits
Many games while they are considered to be a form of entertainment and a way to keep oneself busy, they help in the development of the brain in children and the sharpening of the functions of the brain in adults. For example, games like board games, for older children improve their ability to be creative in formulating things. Children who play with Legos improve their ability to create items they are familiar with and advance in coming up with things they have internalized and created in their mind. On the other hand, they are able to recognize, numbers, letters, shapes, and improve their ability to group similar items. While playing they are able to count, read and coordinate their body parts like the hands and the eyes at the same time. Moreover, it is vital for the children because their minds learn faster and they easily grasp the purpose and goals of the games. Other children learn more advanced games like chess which helps them in developing mental skills like strategic thinking and also improves their ability to be quick in their decision-making. These types of games and many others may pose adults to acknowledge the children and refer to them as geniuses yet it is just the ability to exercise the brain making it able to function well. Their level of understanding and remembering things they have learned is enhanced and improved. Children are on the other and able to acquire social skills like being patient, as for the case of games that require them to wait in turns. Their ability to focus and be attentive to accomplish a given game improves the child’s mental growth in being able to be focused on something and communicate, interact and share with other children In adults the same happens and they are able to initiate a quick mind that helps them in developing better brain functionality like quick decision-making. On the other hand, mental games help the adults to retain their level of memory which may not be lost as they get older as expected. The brain like any other organ needs exercising which helps in maintaining a good and quality development (Linda L. Griffin, 2015).
As for games like computer and video games, the participant is able to improve their ability to concentrate on a particular activity in a period of time hence may help even in other fields of concentration in work or school work. Furthermore, the participant is able to be alert in order to accomplish the game. Both of these skills may come in handy in other areas that do not have to be games or sports and therefore improve the performance of individuals in other activities (Isabela Granic, 2014).
Health Benefits
As mentioned earlier, most games improve the functionality of the brain by enhancing the ability of the individual to improve their concentration, memory, understanding, alertness, creativity, innovation and many others. The ability of the brain to function in such ways encourages a healthy mind. Furthermore, the ability of an individual to release stress helps in stabilizing their mental state which may hinder illnesses like anxiety and depression or serious cases like psychosis.
Many other games may be physical which in most cases help in the blood circulation and ability of the body to develop a stronger immune system that can improve the body system by fighting illnesses and preventing any toxins from entering the blood system. The excitement that accompanies some childish games ensures that the participants laugh their hearts out which is medicine to the body. Laughter enhances the formation of endorphins which help in preventing negativity and any emotions that are harmful to the body.
In competitive games, the individuals are in most cases motivated to become the best which creates an inner desire to accomplish the goal of becoming the top. This feeling ensures that the individual focuses on strategies that will help them in fulfilling their desire. Such zeal is helpful since it's not only developed for the game but it develops in other areas of life which are crucial like for instance education where the individual develops a zeal to learn and become the best or at work where the desire to do an exceptional job. Games have an impact in the lives of humans and therefore should be embraced in any field, environment, and different age sets.
The involvement in games is as important as any other activity that is considered important in the life of any human. Games not only help in passing time but create a fun time that the participants can enjoy together while interacting. Many social skills are developed while playing like communications skills which are very important in any setup. The involvement of games in a work setting and schools reduces the monotony that is developed in theories and the usual norms and formulas of conducting the activities expected. Furthermore, the games played at work or school encourages innovation and productivity which helps in the growth and development of the individuals and their performances. Games are not limited to the competitive setup but any activity that involves more parties, in cooperated with rules and instructions and has a set goal qualifies to be a game.
References
Educause. (2014, March 11). 7 Things You Should Know About Games and Learning . Retrieved Dec 1, 2016, from Eli: https://library.educause.edu/resources/2014/3/7-things-you-should-know-about-games-and-learning
Isabela Granic, A. L. (2014). The Benefits of Playing Video Games. Nijmegen: Radboud University .
Lawrence Robinson, M. S. (2016., October). How Play Benefits Your Relationships, Job, Bonding, and Mood . Retrieved Dec 1, 2016, from The Benefits of Play for Adults: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm
Linda L. Griffin, J. B. (2015). Teaching Games for Understanding: Theory, Research, and Practice. Human Kinetics.
Scholastic Inc. (2016). The Benefits of Board Games . Retrieved Dec 1, 2016, from Parents Raising Readers & Learners: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/creativity-play/benefits-board-games
