am always up for a new game! Some games you learn quickly and with others you pretty much have to learn a new language. The other day, for example, I had this card in my hands:
To understand what it says, you need to know what the symbols stand for AND you need to understand how the symbols relate to each other. For example, the second line from above: discard 1 card to take 2 gold.
Reading this map calls on abstracting, abstract thinking, and then actually the opposite: understanding from abstract information what actions to take. Looking for the definition of abstract thinking, I came across a nice test (in Dutch) on abstract reasoning: reminded me enormously of logical reasoning needed to solve puzzle problems.
If I may quote Wikipedia, abstract thinking is
planning purposeful behaviour and being able to respond flexibly to new situations.
Abstract thinking falls under the so-called executive functions needed to carry out school tasks, for example.
In a game where you get to take turns performing one (or more) action(s), planning is important. Especially if you are also limited in the number of actions you can do. If your opponent is then also allowed to perform her actions on the same board, it is nice if you have the flexibility to adjust your plans.
Abstract thinking in children’s games
This not only applies to complex games, but is also the rule in many games for children. In the game Who did it? / Wie heeft het gedaan? for example, you can only take a limited number of steps. Then you decide whether to address an animal, search the room or look in a box.
So you have to think in advance how many steps you will take, where you will go and what action you will perform. You go through the different options in your head first, so to speak. Only when you have counted out which approach will get you the most, do you take action.
Fortunately, in Who did it? you get to deliberate and work together o find the king’s ring. Logical reasoning, abstract thinking and flexibility are needed for this, as time ticks away slowly.
The HABA games also involve a little bit of abstract thinking: first this move, then that action (or do I want it the other way round?).
Yet another game, Dragon City/Drakenstad, suitable for slightly older children. In this game for two, the player plans her steps before actually carrying them out: abstract thinking here, too. In Dragon City, this is actually even more important, because the cards you put down determine which points you may take: one action triggers another action. If you don’t set the steps correctly in your mind, it can cost you a lot of points.
The importance of abstract thinking
But why is abstract reasoning important? In a literature review by C. Dol, I read on p. 3 that abstract reasoning plays a major role in maths performance and explains a large part of general intelligence. If you also want to read her 2014 study, google Underlying Capabilities of Abstract Reasoning and the Trainability of These Underlying Capabilities and you will instantly download the pdf.
In spelling, children learn to apply that abstraction step by step. It starts with reading symbols on dice and playfully they learn to process more and more abstract information. At a certain point, they can make trade-offs in their minds about multiple steps in the game. A skill that also comes in handy at school and eeehhh…. in the rest of your life.
Information on the games
You can further see pictures of the games:
- The Last Bastion
- Celestia
- Coloma
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