If your kids love playing Pokemon Go, turn the addictive game into a learning opportunity. TANG MEI LING & STEPHANIE YEO get tips from the experts.
Never has a game created this much excitement among people of all ages, from preschoolers to grandparents.
Around the world, gamers willingly fanned out of their homes and took on the walkabout roles of Pokemon trainers Ash, Misty and Brock, who hunted Pokemon in various environments in the immensely popular TV animated series of the 1990s.
The craze has gripped Singapore since early August, but as your kids go out to “catch them all”, as the tagline goes, why not use it to teach them useful lessons along the way? Here’s how.
Geography
Kids start to be more aware of their surroundings as they navigate their way towards lures and Pokestops.
“The concept of distance, the shortest path and fundamental map-reading skills can be easily visualised and explained (by parents) while playing the game,” says Albert Tan, Singapore’s Cybersports & Online Gaming Association adviser, and Nanyang Polytechnic’s assistant manager (Academy of Lifelong Learning and Skills).
Albert, who believes that map reading is a life skill, explains: “For example, visiting different Pokestops to maximise the collection of goodies will challenge a player’s logic in route planning.”
English
This story is from the October 2016 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2016 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission
If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.
What Is The Right CCA For Your Primary School Kid?
Co-curricular activities (CCAs) aren’t just frivolous frills. They teach kids important life skills that can’t be found in a classroom lesson. EVELINE GAN finds out how to select the right one for your child.
Why You Shouldn't Let PSLE Stress Take Over Your Kid's Life
PSLE preparations start in Primary 5, which means a high-pressure two years for your family. Here's how to support your child so they can do their best.
Should Your Kid Skip A Vaccine Shot?
Vaccinations are a rite of passage for every Singaporean child, but what if your kid is sick before an appointment, or misses a booster dose? Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions.
Separation Anxiety, Bullies And Other Preschool Blues
Preschool is rarely a smooth journey for children. Sasha Gonzales asks the experts how to handle the most common dilemmas, from separation anxiety to having trouble making new friends.
Is Your Kid Stressed About Starting School This Year?
School kids in Singapore are more stressed than their peers overseas. If your kid is feeling the pressure, here’s how to find what's triggering his anxiety – and how to help.
Speech Problems In Singapore Kids: When Should You Worry?
How can you help your little one get over his stuttering? Should you worry that your tot doesn’t speak as well or isn’t as talkative as his cousin? Sasha Gonzales polls the experts on the pressing speech and language issues in toddlers and preschoolers here.
The Most Common Learning Difficulties In Singapore Kids
Struggling to read, write or count is a common problem for many children, but how do you know when that struggle is actually a learning difficulty or disability? Sasha Gonzales asked three experts to tell us what signs to look out for and when to know to get help.
Can You Really Un-Spoil Your Child?
Yes, there are ways to turn things around – without losing your temper. Here, the experts share strategies you can use in common bratty situations.
Bottoms Up!
Using cloth nappies helps save the Earth – and your wallet, too, say these mums who choose not to put their babies in disposable diapers.