If you can believe it, August has already passed us by! With a dwindling supply of summer days at our collective disposal, it’s time to get aggressive about rest and relaxation.
via Tenor
As you rush out to Labor Day cookouts and/or stand in security at the airport for a late-season trip, take some time to center yourself with these helpful resources from the Filament Games blog. From building resilience to enhancing social-emotional learning, and from cultivating mindfulness to developing long-term planning skills, games are proving to be powerful tools for personal growth and education – skills that’ll serve us well long after the summer sun has set.
This roundup compiles our articles from the past month, each highlighting how games can be leveraged for more than just entertainment. Discover how the world of gaming is opening new doors in personal development and education! For more resources like this, follow us on X and Facebook – and don’t forget to bookmark this post so you can easily return to it later.
In this article, we explore how well-designed video games can be powerful tools for building resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset. We dive into recent studies that shed light on the surprising benefits of gaming, from improved decision-making skills to enhanced emotional regulation. The article examines how games provide a safe space for experimentation and learning from mistakes, essential components in building resilience. We also discuss the concept of “grit” and how video games are particularly well-suited to developing this crucial trait. Whether you’re an educator looking to foster resilience in your students or simply interested in the psychological benefits of gaming, this blog offers valuable insights into how games can shape more resilient minds.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a hot topic in education, and for good reason. In this post, we showcase some amazing video games that are great for promoting social-emotional learning. From the narrative card game Signs of the Sojourner to the multiplayer adventure Sky: Children of the Light, we explore how these games cover a wide range of topics and use different mechanics to teach skills like empathy, perspective-taking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. We also highlight games like Prism, designed to help neurotypical children develop empathy towards peers on the autism spectrum, and Spiritfarer, which explores themes of life, death, and compassion. This article is a must-read for educators and parents looking to leverage the power of games for social-emotional development.
Diving deeper into the intersection of game-based learning and social-emotional learning, this research roundup explores the latest studies on how educational games can help students develop crucial SEL competencies. We break down five recent studies, including research on the effectiveness of the game-based social-emotional program emoTIC for adolescents, the impact of high school esports leagues on academic and social-emotional learning, and the potential of biofeedback-based video games in fostering emotion regulation. This article provides a fascinating glimpse into the future of learning, backed by solid scientific evidence.
In our increasingly stressful world, mindfulness practices are more important than ever. This article explores how digital tools, including both apps and games, are revolutionizing the way people approach mental health and emotional well-being. We take a look at games like flOw and ABZU, which create meditative experiences through gameplay, as well as apps like Calm that offer a variety of interactive mindfulness tools. We also spotlight Playne, an innovative game that turns meditation into an epic journey. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or looking for fresh ways to enhance your practice, this article offers a wealth of digital options to help you find your zen.
Our final article of the month explores how certain video games are teaching players the art of long-term planning and delayed gratification. We spotlight recent game releases that create experiences rewarding patient players with rich, satisfying gameplay. From guiding civilizations across millennia in “The Fermi Paradox” to building sustainable cities in Urbek City Builder, these games cultivate skills crucial for tackling real-world, long-term challenges. We also look at Sapiens, a prehistoric civilization builder that takes the concept of delayed gratification to new heights, and Kainga: Seeds of Civilization, which combines long-term strategy with adaptability. This article is perfect for anyone interested in how games can foster strategic thinking and patience.
This month, we’ve written about how games can transform personal development and education at every level! These blogs contain not just the theory behind game-based learning, but also its practical applications and real-world impact. The future of learning is playful and full of potential – and we’re thrilled to be part of it. Ready to make game-based learning a part of your curriculum or personal development plan? Reach out to us – we can help you create custom educational games that can make a real difference in players’ lives.