In schools you can also use the Game as part of children's pedagogy

CEIP la Cala Benidorm, one of the winners of 'The Game at School'

The latest issue of the pedagogy magazine Bordón, collects in a monographic the contributions of experts in the use of the game and toy as tools for education and learning in the classroom.

The Children's Game observatory, composed of experts and created to monitor the application of the Right to Play for children in Spain, has joined this initiative, and several of its members have prepared various articles for the monograph. The monograph was presented yesterday under the name “Game, education and learning. The recreational activity in children's pedagogy ”. It compiles a series of articles in which its authors analyze the importance of the game in the educational field, making reference to studies and analysis of famous authors who have documented the results of the integration of the game in schools.

Highlights the mention of the need for children to learn while playing in Early Childhood Education: It is necessary to take into account the growth of children and adapt games and use toys that adapt to these new learning needs.

The game is a means of approach, contact, appropriation and learning of our closest environment, becoming an extraordinary instrument of integral education

But the game can continue to be used from Primary Education because It becomes an educational tool for the child, not only as an individual, but also as a social. Educational intentionality imposes special conditions on the game that must adapt its playful condition to be an integral part of the child's education. From certain ages the adult can direct the game to encourage the learning of certain contents, but as several authors of Bordón warn, this supervision of the game must be taken care of and regulated so as not to destroy their freedom.

Bordón magazine is published by the Spanish Pedagogy Society since 1947

The game: resource to learn to learn

In many schools in our country the game has become a pedagogical resource included in the curricula of many subjects. This has been revealed by the contest organized by the Children's Game Observatory "The Game at School" in which nursery and primary schools throughout Spain have participated.

The subjects of English and mathematics are in which the game has the greatest presence as a pedagogical tool, and in many cases the game and toys have been included as material and part of the subject during several courses.

The projects presented highlight the importance of the game as resource to “learn to learn” and point out that “a school that educates through play is a school that teaches to be happy”.

Imma Marín (from the Children's Game Observatory, and whom we have interviewed in Peques and Más) has highlighted the work done by the winning schools, “in many cases the game and toys are fully integrated as part of the subjects. It is a educational activity highly valued for its multiple positive results, as those responsible for the projects presented stand out. The game is a way of learning and key to internalize the knowledge acquired. ”

In short, it is about highlighting the importance of the right to play and learn from children.