Feb 26
0

How to improve second grade math through games?

By | Skidos | No Comments

As children grow and enter new grades, fresh concepts from the world of mathematics keep knocking their door. To help them improve their understanding of mathematical concepts, one of the best things you can do is use games. They will make it easier for them to learn the concepts which they encounter, and which keep getting tougher as grades advance. Practice is the path to perfection in mathematics and 2nd grade math games will keep your children practicing the concepts they have learnt. 

An early interest in math is important and games, being entertaining mediums of learning, make math interesting for your children. Their performance in the games will also help you track their progress and let you know the impact they are having on their school grades. Let’s have a look at the concepts your 2nd grader is dealing with and how math games for 2nd grade can help them in tackling them.

  1. Place value

Place value helps in understanding the meaning of a number. The value of a digit in a number depends on its position in the number. It is one of the most important ideas in second grade math and is extremely important for a solid foundation in mathematics. Math games for 2nd grade will let your child use place value to understand the meaning of larger numbers, compare numbers and order them.

The basics of multiplication are not needed only for scoring well in school exams but also has real-life applications. Suppose your child goes to a nearby store to buy three pencils, he will need to multiply two numbers to know the actual amount he needs to pay. Second grade math requires your child to gain the foundations for multiplication. Games will allow them to practice multiplication while having fun, which will lead to higher engagement and higher retention for them.

Addition and subtraction

Addition and subtraction are the most basic operations of arithmetic. For a child, these operations may be daunting and often make math a villain for them. However, games will turn the problems of addition and subtraction into fun and entertaining challenges for them. Games will help them practically apply their learnings, unlike the bookish method. In games, children receive the results of their actions almost instantaneously. This instant feedback will help them improve their accuracy and you in tracking their performance over time.

Jan 22
2

New Year – New Look – Introducing the New SKIDOS

By | Gamification, Skidos | No Comments

The arrival of a new year offers us the opportunity to start afresh. Who doesn’t love a new beginning? SKIDOS is no different. We always welcome positive changes and decided to spread some newness with the advent of 2020. We believe in constantly improving the experience of our beloved users and the efficiency of our games. Let’s run you through the new look of the New SKIDOS we offer you as our new year’s present.

A BRAND NEW LOOK

A sleek and better look is always appreciated. To make our games easily visible to your children, we have completely revamped the home screen. The new home screen displays all the new games in an exciting and prominent way. What can be better than finding your child excited about diving into the world of learning games which will teach them math, coding, and English in a fun manner? All the SKIDOS games can be accessed with a single click on the home screen.

MORE POWER TO PARENTS

A child’s learning and his educational journey are some of the top concerns of parents. We understand that the parents would love to track their children’s progress. Hence, we have made the parents’ section clearly visible in the app. The information in the Parents’ section, where your child can pick the topic and grade of his choice, has also been made readily accessible for you. The statistics screen has been improved for displaying the information more prominently to you. The parents’ section will also help you manage the subscription to our games more effectively. It will directly take you to the Apple native section for subscription management.

ACCESS TO MULTIPLE USERS

In the new SKIDOS, more users can gain access to the game. With one subscription, up to six different users can be created and they can access the game in six different devices simultaneously. Their progressions will be tracked and synchronized across all other SKIDOS games making it easier to know how much they have learned without worrying about the devices they have used to do it.

MORE EFFICIENCY

To make the learning more effective, we have introduced a totally new way of getting the questions in a sequential manner. We have also improved the Mathlab screen and the subscription screen with some UI fixes. The auto-login feature from one game to another on the same device has also been improved.

A NEW LANGUAGE

Our games are available in five languages now, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Spanish. Spanish, the second biggest language in the world by the number of native speakers, is our latest addition to the lineup.

We hope that you will enjoy the experience of our new look. If you are new to the world of digital learning and SKIDOS, we build a wide range of fun learning games for kids to help them learn Coding, Math, and English. With our subscription, your child will get unlimited access to all the fun games meant to improve their understanding of various concepts which they may find tough in understanding in a conventional manner. Take 7 days FREE Trial at https://subscribe.skidos.com 

Jan 17
0

Top Educational games for Kids in 2020

By | Skidos | No Comments

Educational and learning games for kids is a wonderful way of making learning engaging, entertaining and efficient for kids. Learning games help your kids grasp educational concepts in a fun and stress-free manner. They help build skills, improve problem-solving skills and improve memory. With SKIDOS games, you can track the learning progress of your children. Let’s introduce you to the top educational games for kids in 2020.

Kids Bath

Good habits will help children for a lifetime. Habit-building is easier when the children are young. They have a mind which is eager to observe and learn. Kids Bath will help your young child inculcate healthy and good habits in a fun manner. While playing the games and helping the in-game characters they will learn to wash and take care of clothes, dressing up and bathing. While having fun, kids will learn to take care of themselves.


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Snow Race

Kids love racing and competing. Becoming the top racer involves fun challenges and lots of learning. While playing with snow to win the race, they will be trained in a host of math and coding concepts. Winning a racing game will keep the kids motivated, and they will simultaneous learn to solve problems accurately and quickly.

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Street Soccer

Soccer is the world’s most popular game. Your kids will get to play soccer on the streets on their device where they will have to tackle some interesting learning tasks created by teachers. While aiming at the goal and kicking the ball to score, they will build an understanding of concepts required to solve math and coding problems. It’s a perfect combination of education and enjoyment.

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Hungry Cat

The aim of the game is feeding a hungry cat. The cat can only be fed by solving puzzles which can train your kids in a wide range of topics in math and coding. Multiple fun puzzles designed to teach addition, multiplication, subtraction, number sense, fractions and geometry are available. You can easily track your child’s progress in the game which will serve as a reflection of their learning progress. Children keep practicing and honing their skills while enjoying the game.

Wake The Elephant

As children grow, they often find grasping mathematical and coding concepts difficult. Well, what if we introduce some fun puzzles involving animals to teach them mathematics and coding. That’s what ‘Wake The Elephant’ does. Waking up the elephant is the ultimate goal in the game. In order to achieve that, kids will need to apply their brains and solve the challenges that stand in the way. Kids will remain motivated and engaged and learn along the way.

If you are interested in accessing these top educational games for kids along with a wide variety of other learning games, become a member of SKIDOS at https://subscribe.skidos.com

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Nov 07
0

Benefits of games in the development of your child.

By | Gamification, Parenthood | No Comments

Playing games, whether outdoors or indoors, is the preferred leisure activity for many children. These days, children spend a lot of their time playing online games on a mobile or computer and one of the best ways you can have your child utilize his screen time is by letting them immerse in the world of educational games and learning games. These games add the fun aspects of playing games to the learning and educational experiences of children without them even realizing it. Not only that, playing games with your kids is one of the best ways for you, the parents, to collaborate and spend time with your kids. Choosing appropriate children-friendly games such as the Skidos games will let them enjoy and educate themselves simultaneously. Here are some of the benefits of games in the development of your child. 

1. Learning games are engaging

One of the best things learning games do is combining entertainment with education. Entertainment will lead to a higher engagement rate which means your child is participating actively in the process of learning. A sense of accomplishment is felt by the child when he achieves the goals that exist in the game and hence is constantly motivated to play. Your child will keep coming back to play and learn more and more through learning games.

2. Educational games increase memory and improve problem-solving skills

Playing a game often involves keeping a track of the rules and memorizing the various elements present in a game. Since your child will be performing cognitive actions while playing educational games, they will have higher retention and improved memory. Games also often involve decision-making and strategizing. Players must plan the steps to take to move
ahead in a game and make quick decisions regarding the action path to be chosen. While playing games, your kids will learn these important skills which will serve them throughout their lives.

3. Learning games help build skills

Various learning games contain certain aspects which help children in building different skills. For example, Skidos games can help build arithmetic and coding skills in children. Playing video games can improve hand-eye coordination. Games which involve managing things and working in a team can improve the team building and management skills of your kids. Learning these skills through games will lead to higher retention than the conventional learning techniques. 

4. Immediate feedback is provided

While your kid may have to wait for several weeks before receiving the grade or score for a test he gave in his school, a learning game will provide the results in an instant. The instant outcome in a game will help them judge their decision. It will also help them in quickly realizing the correct problem-solving approach towards certain problems. Making mistakes on games have no major consequences and making mistakes and learning from them will make your child smart. Educators can use the instant feedback received from your child playing games to personalize their learning to optimize the outcomes.

5. Games promote healthy competition

Conventional competition may lead to stress in children. Learning games are not only relaxing but also promote a healthy sense of competition. Many games involve bettering one’s own score. Hence, a child will learn to compete against himself and keep improving. They can engage in competition with friends and build lasting, quality relationships with friends.

Now that you are aware of the multiple benefits of games in your child’s development and growth, don’t miss out on the chance of including educational games in his routine. You can go that route by subscribing to SKIDOS games at https://skidos.com/subscription

Oct 23
0

How to make Learning Fractions Fun for Kids

By | Education | No Comments

The topic of fractions often proves
to be tricky for young children. Even some who love mathematics, find it
difficult to grasp the concept of fractions. If you are a parent of a young
child, you must be witnessing the hard time your kid is having with the
overwhelming idea of fractions.

Fractions, as an abstract idea, may
be a difficult one for your child to understand, but we witness fractions
nearly every day. The one-fourth of a pizza you gave to your child and the
chocolate bar you divided into two parts for siblings were your child’s
encounters with fractions. It’s just that the young one didn’t need to pay keen
attention to the concept of fractions until now and since most educational
modules are created for mass broadcast, your child may find it boring and
thereby unable to kindle any interest in them.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to
make your child have fun with fractions. Since we have to deal with fractions
nearly every day, it becomes easy to have them enjoyably explore the concept.

  1. Fractions with Food

One of the easiest ways of
introducing your child to fractions is letting them think of it while they are
enjoying their favorite food. The next time your child is feasting on a pizza,
pie or a cake, spend some time with them dividing it into slices, and
acknowledging the slices as fractions. For example, you can divide a pizza into
four slices and tell them that a slice is 1/4th of a pizza. If you cut a yummy
cake into six pieces and your child eats two of them, they have eaten 2 sixths
of a cake. You can explain and show them how the 2 sixths your child ate can be
expressed as 2/6. There are numerous such examples you can find in your daily
life while having food. Let your child toy with these ideas and remove the
fears revolving around fractions.

      2.
Fractions with Family

As a parent, you must know how
important it is for your child to have quality family time. To add a pinch of
fun and learning at that time, here’s a game that your child can play. They
have to prepare a questionnaire which has to be answered by the family members
around them. The questions could be observational and based on their
appearance, e.g., the colour of the hair or the eyes, or the handedness (tendency
to be left-handed or right-handed). It can also be purely based on preferences,
e.g., how many people prefer tea over coffee, and ice cream over milkshakes
etc. Once they are done with the questionnaire, you can sit down with them to
help them create fractions out of it. The number of family members who answered
becomes the denominator. For example, if 3 members out of your family of 4 are
right-handed, then ¾ people in your family are right-handed. Similarly, if two
of them like tea, which means half the family likes tea, 2/4 members like tea.
You can further explain how 2/4 is the same as 1/2. This fun game will allow
them to not only see fractions, but also to create and engage with the concept.

     
3. Fractions with visuals and games

Every child loves playing fun games
and what could be better than instilling some learning while your child is
playing. To help you with that, SKIDOS has a plethora of math games which will
help your child grasp mathematical concepts easily and simplify learning for
them. Don’t worry, the games are short and engaging so that the screen time is
optimally utilized. You can find SKIDOS games at https://skidos.com/subscription/. If you’re stringent about a
no-screen policy, there are various activity books you can gift to your child.

Apply the ideas you found here and
find your child having no difficulty in learning about fractions. Remember,
there are three Ps you need to keep in mind when teaching anything to your
child, patience, positive outlook, and positive reinforcement. Applying these
Ps can help your child learn anything. For fractions, you just learned about a
bunch of games. Have fun with fractions!

Sep 11
1

Home-schooling 101: useful tips for parents

By | Education | No Comments

Have you ever wondered how education was imparted during the colonial period before the first public school was founded? Well, the first public school and oldest existing school, Boston Latin School, was opened in the 1600s in the USA, so it is safe to assume that most kids were taught at home. They definitely didn’t have a set of books they would go through the way we do now at school. And since studying at home was the norm, they probably never called it home-schooling.

Over the years, the trends have changed, with parents opting for public school or private school for their kids. Some parents elect home-schooling, so here are a few home-schooling tips for them.

1. Academic structure tailor-made for children

Unlike in a school where the curriculum is compartmentalised, with each subject being limited to the material provided. By assessing their kid’s strengths and weaknesses, parents can customize the curriculum and tailor their teaching style to maximise learning and make it more engaging. With the demand for quality education rising, a modern and interactive approach has resulted in an increase in the adoption of game-based learning. Parents can even make use of fun learning games to build their children’s Math and English skills. For those children who have an interest in sports, SKIDOS Bike Racing and Street Soccer are great for learning and playing. These games feature a number of cool math and coding puzzles that help improve math skills like counting and other math operations. Don’t worry, for children who love cakes, SKIDOS Bakery is a learning game where children can enjoy baking with cool characters as well as improve math and coding skills.

2. Better student to teacher ratio

Since home-schooling allows for a one-to-one interaction between the teacher and the student, chances are that learning process is more effective. Also, the amount of dedication by the teacher is higher so they can ensure that the children can grasp one concept before moving on to the other. Parents are intimately involved and can understand their children’s experiences and background, so they can use this to structure the curriculum and gather teaching material.  SKIDOS games ensure a balance between engaging game play and measurable learning outcomes. They have been creating educational games for kids that replace advertisements in between games with customised learning content.

 3. More emotional and mental freedom

Home-schooling lifts a lot of stress from the children’s shoulder since there is no need to try to fit in and give into social or peer pressure.  Even the parents can focus on what needs to be taught and how they can help them learn in an engaging way. There are loads of opportunities for unexpected field trips, museum visits, and gathering in the parks. Children, on the other hand, are involved in the learning process and instead of focusing on getting better grades, they study because they want to gain knowledge.

We can agree that learning takes place even outside the four walls of a school, which is why home-schooling is one great method to impart education. Over the past few years, home-schooling has proven to work wonders for parents and children, provided they spend considerable time and effort into it. What’s more, to switch it up at times, subscribe to the online educational games at https://subscribe.skidos.com/Account/ChooseSubscription

Sep 03
1

Mindful parenting

By | Education | No Comments

Mindful parenting – tips and benefits

Mindfulness is the natural capacity that aims to take this mental stress of multi-tasking by allowing you to be aware of living in the moment. But with kids running around, your routine is pretty much the same – get ready for work, drop your kids off at school, head to the office, get back home, make dinner, sit with your kids and make sure they have completed all their homework before they sleep, and then finally doze off yourself.

With the fast pace at which our lives are moving, there is so much that is constantly on our minds – balancing home and work, and everything else in between. Add parenting to the mix and sometimes situations get out of hand. And since we’re humans, we end to stress about everything and anything, no matter how big or small. If only parenting came with a set of instructions that all of us could follow, then we would have one less thing to stress about.

Mindful parenting has been around since the late 90s, and the goal behind this is to take a moment before reacting to your children’s behaviour or actions. Here are a few tips and benefits that will help you get a better insight into mindful parenting.

1. Introducing mindfulness

The first step is to discover how to be mindful ourselves as parents, because believe it or not, kids learn from observing others. And when you get angry or are stressed, your children will notice and more often than not, they will pick up on those things. Example, if you’re in a store and your kid starts throwing a tantrum, things can go either ways – you can scold them or give in to their demands. The thing you need to keep in mind is that children can get out of control and that it is completely okay. You just need to take a deep breath and talk to them about their behaviour.

2. Meditate with your kids

We know how important meditation is for us, but have we thought about how it may be beneficial for kids. Right from an early age, yoga and meditation can benefit children by improving their concentration and giving them a sense of calm. You can invite your kids to practice yoga, giving you plenty of time to catch up with them as well as connect with them. As they get older, it will lay the foundation for a lifelong practice which will benefit them greatly.

3. Unplug from technology

Technology has proven to be a very powerful tool, leading to an increase the amount of time that adults and children spend attached to their smartphone or tablet. And when it’s not that, they are glued to the TV, playing video games. This is why it is crucial for parents to put down their foot with clear rules about how much time they can spend on electronic devices. Parent should try to set out a schedule that allows for a balance between homework, meals, outdoor play, and quality screen time. Instead of letting their children mindlessly stare at the screen of their devices, parents can instill basic English, Math and Coding skills in them through SKIDOS educational games by subscribing to https://subscribe.skidos.com/ SKIDOS online learning cool math games encourage thinking, solving, and above all playing which is why they make learning fun and engaging.

Benefits of mindful parenting

Mastering mindfulness has many benefits, including better sleep patterns, encourages good behaviour, and allows for better communication between family members. Now that you are aware about the benefits of mindful parenting, you may be wondering whether it should be practised all the time. The answer is that no matter how much you try; it isn’t feasible to be mindful at all times but when we do react in ways that we might regret. However, you can always apologise to them and explain to them, after all we are humans and we are allowed to make mistakes.

Aug 23
2

Parents, back to school time troubling you? Buckle up with these tips.

By | Education, Parenthood | No Comments

Back-to-school season has arrived, and with that, it’s time for your children to start fresh. But it doesn’t mean they should start with their minds blank, having forgotten all they had learnt before summer vacation. This transition from vacation mode to school mode becomes quite a challenge for both parents as well as children. If you want your toddler to get going this school year academically, then it’s time to break out of the summertime schedule and retrain their brain.

To make it easy for children (and easier for parents), here are a few tips that will ensure everyone can get right back into their regular schedule, just the way it was during school mornings.

  1. Reset sleep schedule

Parents should understand that their children’s sleep patterns are essential, so they can reach their peak performance during the entire time they are in school. We know how summer vacations can wreak havoc to children’s sleeping pattern, which is why it can get a little tricky getting them to return to their usual school sleep routine. Begin at least seven to ten days before the first day of school so they can get used to the changes in their sleeping habits.

  1. Be homework-ready

The other important thing for parents is to make sure that their children have completed all their schoolwork and assignments. Take out 2 to 3 hours in the day during which you sit with your children and work on their homework. This will not only help them retain what they have learnt in class but also ensure that they don’t have to rush to complete it at the last moment.

  1. Turn on the “scholar” mode

As parents, you can make sure that your children don’t end up drained of everything their teachers had taught in school. Every child needs to begin to hone their Math, Coding, and English skills, even before school resumes for the rest of the year. Since math learning skills can easily erode over the summer, you can revise the basics with them while you’re busy doing chores. Have them count the number of plates when they set the table or calculate the total bill when you are out grocery shopping with them.

  1. A balance between playtime and study time

When children are in pre-school, teachers ensure that they follow a schedule that balances study time and playtime, from a range of free play and structured play. Whether it is playing football or practicing dance routines, extracurricular activities are just as important as academics. Instead of teaching children to focus on only their studies, encourage them to be a part of activities like dancing, singing, painting, amongst others. Learn how create a balance between study time and playtime.

  1. Study with online learning games

Make learning fun and engaging by going beyond the school curriculum. Since kids nowadays are tech-savvy and spend most of their time on their smartphones and tablets, parents can download math and coding learning games. With SKIDOS online games, children will be able to pick up on math and coding skills as well as build a solid foundation in Maths and English. Make learning fun and engaging with SKIDOS games by subscribing to and downloading them at https://subscribe.skidos.com/ If you want to prepare your children for their first day back in school after summer vacation, follow these tips. Although we are sure that there are plenty of others, we were able to cover up the most important ones.
Aug 20
2

Get your children their first lesson in Mathematics

By | Education | No Comments
Most parents would agree that they hated Math when they were in school, and it’s the same for their children. But should we really let something as simple as 1+1=2 scare them off? Not really, especially since toddlers develop an understanding of basic math skills through everyday interactions. And that’s not all; there are plenty of cool math games for kids that are available online so you can download them from the app store.
SKIDOS coolmath

Whether you are out grocery shopping or teaching them how to tell time, you’re using math. This means that children don’t hate math as long as it’s just addition and subtraction, but once you add in the trigonometry and geometry, it all gets chaotic.

By making math fun to learn during their toddler years, kids will be able to build an early math “foundation” which will develop advanced mathematical skills. Here are a few strategies that parents can implement in their daily routine to help kick-start their children’s first math lesson.

  1. Numbers

The first step towards learning math skills is the ability to count, which can be taught easily. When you’re in the kitchen, have them count the number of spoons in the dish rack or have them set the table and count the number of plates while they are doing so. Repeat the numbers from one to ten; by doing so, kids will be able to memorize numbers and pick up on counting. You can even download fun math games like SKIDOS Fishing, which has five game modes: Classic, Letter Hunt, Number Hunt, Color Splash, and Jumbo Game. In Number Hunt mode, your children will be able to grasp skills like counting (from one to ten and then fifteen, and so on). Also, Bakery is a kindergarten game that will help your children learn addition and subtraction.

  1. Measurement

When you teach your children how to calculate the time it takes them to walk from their house to their friend’s house, you’re teaching them how to measure time and distance. Even when you’re taking your kid’s height and weight measurement at home, have them give you the answer. This way, they can remember the concept of measurement and how they can use measuring units like feet, inches, and pounds with a fun element attached to it. Let them play online math games like SKIDOS Pirates, where your children will learn skills related to number sense and measurement.

  1. Shape and Space

When you’re at home or outdoors, play a game of finding squares, triangles in your surroundings. With this, you will be introducing the idea of shapes, position, direction, and movement. Ask them where they have kept their toys and to bring them to you by telling you where they found them so that they can understand the concept of far and near or over and under. With online games like Runners and Bike Racing, children will learn coding skills and how to distinguish between different shapes.
Now that you’ve made learning math so much fun and engaging go ahead and have them explore numbers. What’s more, encourage your toddlers to build a solid foundation in math by downloading educational games at https://subscribe.skidos.com/
Aug 05
0

Playtime schedule for kids: Structured Play vs Free Play

By | Gamification, Parenthood | No Comments
It is rightly said that play is our brain’s favourite way of learning. Nowadays, indoor games have taken precedence over outdoor sports, with children playing games on their smartphones or watching videos for hours at one go. This has reduced the amount of time they spend outdoors where they can pick up skills from other kids their age. By setting aside time for structured play and free play, you’ll be instilling them with a sense of curiosity and fostering them with traits that encourage purposeful learning.

All parents understand that play is central to their children’s physical, cognitive, sensory, social, and emotional development. The question is, what is the right way to implement a playtime schedule, and how much time should you devote to it? Should you focus on structured play or free play? The key here is balance. Instead of choosing structured play over free play or vice-versa, parents should focus on planning out their children’s playtime schedule in a way that it involves a little bit of both. Here are a few ways that you can ensure a balanced playtime for your children.

SKIDOS play
Image Source: unsplash.com (Kelly Sikkema)

1. Getting creative with arts and crafts

With art being an unstructured activity and crafts, a structured one, it is a good idea for parents to include both of these in their children’s playtime. Let kids learn how to reuse everyday materials and scraps from their home and create crafts. Save cardboard boxes and straws, have your children’s craft cartoon characters out of them or use a peanut butter jar to make a pencil stand for their study table. Hand them some crayons and paints, let their creativity flow on paper.

2. Jigsaws puzzles and Legos

We’ve all played with Legos, building blocks, and jigsaw puzzles, no matter what age. Let your kids make a tower, a robot or an aeroplane with Legos, so they can construct different structures and designs. While building blocks allow children to create anything from imagination, jigsaw puzzles are structured. Have them start with jigsaw puzzles that are easy to solve and then progress to more difficult ones. Doing this will help them hone critical problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.

3. Outdoor activities

It’s just as crucial for children to take part in sports as it is for them to study. There are plenty of things for kids to do outdoors, like ride bicycles, play in the playground or learn swimming. Allow your children to pick a sport they are interested in, which will teach them how to recognise patterns and meet a pre-established goal efficiently. You can even let them invent different games where they can chase the other kids around the park, giving them plenty of opportunities to make friends.

If you are confused about how you should manage your children’s playtime, consider their strengths and weaknesses. If you want to help them build social skills and develop executive function skills, giving them a bit of extra time for unstructured play will help. If you want to ensure your children are goal-oriented, an additional 20-minutes of structured play will do wonders. Make playtime fun and engaging with SKIDOS games by subscribing to and downloading them at https://subscribe.skidos.com/