“When to Introduce Your Child to Strategy Games”

Intro:
Not all games are created equal — some are built for quick laughs, others to stretch the brain. Strategy games can help children develop planning, logic, and patience, but when is the right time to introduce them?

A 2019 study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that structured gameplay improves executive function in children ages 6 and up (Prins et al., 2019). With the right titles, even young players can learn to think several moves ahead.

Body:

✔️ Start Simple, But Smart
Begin with light strategy games that involve basic decisions: tile placement, pattern building, or resource collection.

✔️ Look for Visual Clarity
Games with clear icons and colorful designs (like Kingdomino or Quacks & Co) reduce cognitive overload and keep kids engaged.

✔️ Make It Cooperative (At First)
Cooperative strategy games ease competitive tension and allow parents to model thinking out loud.

✔️ Celebrate Process Over Victory
Praise good decisions, not just wins. Strategy is a skill — and kids learn faster when they feel confident.

Closing:
When introduced thoughtfully, strategy games aren’t “too hard” — they’re an invitation to grow. Think of it as building a stronger thinker, one turn at a time.