Why are games so powerful? What is the theory behind games? And what do games do with children and adults? Here you will find a library with all kinds of articles about this. To make it easy for you, I’ve already made a subdivision:
- young childeren
- elementary school
- secundairy and higher education
- speech therapy
- psychology
- at work
- familytime!
- about games
- spelauthors
Finally, you will find a number of strong recommendations among the book titles. Some texts appear under several headings. If you want to view all collected literature of one part, click read more.
Articles
Young childeren
- An overview of games for this age – https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/board-games-for-kids/#our-favorite-games-for-preschoolers
- Checklist to choose a game for this age – https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/board-games-for-kids/#how-we-picked-and-tested
- The benefits of playing/games for young children (off and online) – http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/benefits-of-toddler-games-early-childhood-education
- Children learn by the fun in a board game – http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/2142024/power-play-kids-are-learning-through-having-fun
- Young children learn by play – https://nivoz.nl/nl/nro/het-jonge-kind-niet-leren-zonder-spelen
- 100 (!) things children learn from board games – https://kidsloveboardgames.com/family-board-game-tips/100-things-kids-learn-from-board-games/
- List of games that teach kids basic skills – http://homeschoolgameschool.com/games-teach-basic-skills/?fbclid=IwAR0s5hVIlLRROK4xvgpgsibTWQ3EO7e7awQjhFFReODJsic_Q7qW8P9jpyE
- Simple games that improve the self regulation of toddlers – https://www.vakbladvroeg.nl/eenvoudige-spelletjes-verbeteren-zelfregulatie-van-kleuters/
Primary school
- FiloSprook: can the big bad wolf mean well too? Practice philosophising. In: JSW 2024 #3 – download pdf
- How to improve your students’ performance, skills and behavior by playing more – http://www.7lifeskills.org/blog/hoe-je-de-prestaties-vaardigheden-en-gedrag-van-je-leerlingen-kunt-verbeteren-door-meer-te-spelen7414021
- Research shows that board games are a good method to practice science – https://boardgamesforlearning.com/research-games-learn-science/
- The other side of executive skills: games also stimulate quiet children – http://www.vernieuwenderwijs.nl/het-stille-meisje-respons-inhibitie-anders-bekeken/
- What are suitable math games and tips to let children make math games themselves – https://vangorcumtijdschriften.nl/volgens-bartjens/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/01/vb-38-3-Bruin-Muurling-Rekenen-op-kaartjes.pdf
- For children aged 5 – 8 years – https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/board-games-for-kids/#our-favorite-games-for-elementary-school-kids
- Checklist to choose a game for this age – https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/board-games-for-kids/#how-we-picked-and-tested
- Suggestions for games in education – https://www.999games.nl/spelletjes-in-het-onderwijs
- The targeted use of games to practice executive functions – https://www.vernieuwenderwijs.nl/executieve-functies-ontwikkelen-denkspellen/
- Twenty board games that help students work on programming / language / history / economics / deduction / teamwork. – http://thebestschools.org/magazine/play-learn-20-best-board-games-challenge-skills/?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=cthru&utm_campaign=201607
- Eight reasons to play board games with children – http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/8-reasons-to-play-board-games-with-your-kids-geekdad
- The usefulness of games in the lesson – https://www.vernieuwenderwijs.nl/game-didactiek-hoe-en-waarom-spellen-les/
- Games to learn to code. – https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/gadget/best-coding-games-toys-for-kids-2018-3635899/?amp&__twitter_impression=true
- Learning with a board game – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leren-met-een-bordspel-lies-vermant/
- How do you teach with board games – http://minds-in-bloom.com/teach-board-games/
- 5 things you can learn from games – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-dingen-die-je-kunt-leren-van-spellen-inez-groen/
- Kids should play more games at school – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/children-should-playing-more-games-classroom-heres-why-portnoy-phd/
- 7 games that teach children how to think big – https://bigthink.com/personal-growth/best-board-games-for-children
- the 20 best educational board games – https://freddiesmummyuk.com/games-for-homeschool/
- 7 games to to strengthen your spatial awareness – https://www.smartease.nl/blog/7-spellen-om-je-ruimtelijk-inzicht-te-versterken/
- How to implement games in the classroom (video) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPMkwC2umLQ
- teaching with board games – https://www.rhodadesignstudio.com/teaching-with-board-games-in-the-classroom/
- Reachers: teaching underachieving gifted children metacognitive strategies – https://docplayer.nl/6238266-Teaching-underachieving-gifted-children-metacognitive-strategies.html
Secondary and higher education
- Gaming to improve geotechnical engineering education—and broaden diversity – https://today.rowan.edu/news/2021/09/rowan-developing-video-games-to-teach-civil-engineering.html?fbclid=IwAR1c3u1RkSZS5bLv1HCjGx8LzxKY8XDG0M4QXqiQp5V0j5N37S8YqEpTFlI
- Becoming aware of the colonial past – https://indiginews.com/vancouver-island/not-just-a-game-world-of-board-games-faces-reckoning-for-colonial-themes?fbclid=IwAR3Th-Mqo5tHOy-iaBqn87G1MvM7vjsz552UURIUsTZ0bDI1oS2YGeBhDK8
- Gamen in the classroom with Bloom’s taxonomy – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daan-van-leeuwen-3216b034_vcn-zwerven-door-griekenland-activity-6726860405018370048-DTRo
- Why we should do more games at school – https://theconversation.com/5-reasons-video-games-should-be-more-widely-used-in-school-164264?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton
- Research shows that board games are a good method to practice science – https://boardgamesforlearning.com/research-games-learn-science/
- What young people can learn from board games – https://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies-what-students-might-learn-playing-board-games
- Gamification in history education – https://www.academia.edu/36313766/Gamification_in_het_geschiedenis_onderwijs_-_de_basis
- Twenty board games that help students work on programming / language / history / economics / deduction / teamwork. – http://thebestschools.org/magazine/play-learn-20-best-board-games-challenge-skills/?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=cthru&utm_campaign=201607
- The usefulness of games in the lesson – https://www.vernieuwenderwijs.nl/game-didactiek-hoe-en-waarom-spellen-les/
- Lesson series in which students make their own game – https://www.vernieuwenderwijs.nl/laat-leerlingen-tabletop-spel-maken/
- A digital magazine full of articles about games / gamification in education – http://kunstzone.nl/images/downloads/edities/2015-KZ_02_web-2.pdf
- Archaeologist helps develop Epoch, a board game about European late prehistory – https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2019/02/archaeologist-helps-develop-board-game-on-european-prehistory
- Why board games can be more effective than e-learning – https://www.gamificationnation.com/why-boardgames-can-be-more-effective-than-e-learning/?utm_campaign=why-boardgames-can-be-more-effective-than-e-learning&utm_medium=social_link&utm_source=missinglettr
- Board games are a good (the best) way to learn science – https://boardgamesforlearning.com/research-games-learn-science/
- How to implement games in the classroom (video) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPMkwC2umLQ
- An overview of projects related to serious games and game-based learning in education – https://guides.lib.umich.edu/c.php?g=282989&p=5955086
- Gamification in language teaching. An investigation into the correlation between education level and the appreciation of pointification in language exercises in language teaching (Dutch as a Second Language) – http://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/367250
- How to measure the yield of Gamification – https://www.gamification.co/2013/07/17/how-to-measure-the-roi-of-gamification/
- Gamification in higher education – https://start.noordhoff.nl/kennisbank/hoe-gamification-kan-helpen/
- Games are good for your development, says this teacher from the Dutch university college Hanze Hogeschool – https://hanzemag.nl/wie-slim-wil-worden-moet-bordspelletjes-spelen/
Speech therapy
- The use of the game Dixit in speech therapy – https://obfuscatedobjective.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/board-games-and-speech-therapy-dixit/
- About the use of board games at speech therapy – https://obfuscatedobjective.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/board-games-and-speech-therapy-narrative-paradigm/
- The use of the game Who Would Win at speech therapy – https://obfuscatedobjective.wordpress.com/category/board-game/
Psychology
- Research into coping with losing a game – https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/2016/07/28/het-is-niet-maar-een-spelletje/
- Dr*g authority approves iOS-spel goed voor ADHD-treatment – https://tweakers.net/nieuws/168528/amerikaanse-medicijnenautoriteit-keurt-ios-spel-goed-voor-adhd-behandeling.html
- What millennials really love – https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1735029325/waar-millennials-echt-van-houden-bordspelletjes
- Nostalgic of the board game – https://www.parool.nl/ps/de-plotse-renaissance-van-het-bordspel-vroeg-of-laat-ben-je-klaar-met-netflix~b596e6b4/
- Play is the foundation for academic learning –https://www.vincegowmon.com/the-right-brain-develops-first/
- Why games are good for your mental health – https://www.cardsordie.com/single-post/2019/07/22/Mental-Health-Board-Games-and-Me
- Teen develops game about prejudice – https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/blog/eureka-lab/ISEF-2019-game-may-help-rid-people-biases
- If you play games, you become a nicer person. At least, there it could be – https://qz.com/1063566/playing-board-games-like-magic-the-gathering-can-make-you-a-nicer-person-with-better-relationships/
- Let children lose a game, they learn from it – https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/behavior/let-kids-lose-scientists-say-it-helps-children-learn-better-judgment.htm
- The research that belongs to the link above – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307182538_Success_inhibits_preschoolers%27_ability_to_establish_selective_trust
- Games provide higher IQ teens – https://www.hln.be/nina/-iq-van-tiener-kan-nog-20-punten-stijgen-door-plagen-en-spelen~a038a42d/
- Eight reasons to play board games with children – http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/8-reasons-to-play-board-games-with-your-kids-geekdad
- The positive influence of board games on IQ and EQ – http://www.red-oxygen.com/2018/04/29/7-reasons-playing-boardgames/?platform=hootsuite
- The benefits of board games – http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/creativity-play/benefits-board-games
- Do board games teach children to think critically? – https://www.parentingscience.com/board-games-for-kids.html
- Board games reduce the risk of dementia and depression in the elderly – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758967/
- Man will return to his deepest being – the game – https://decorrespondent.nl/8432/podcast-de-mens-zal-terugkeren-naar-zijn-diepste-wezen-het-spel/240554445296-d288b077?pk_campaign=sharer&pk_kwd=linkedin
- Man wants to play (with or without rules 🙂 ) – https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/07/05/nee-je-bent-nog-niet-te-oud-ook-volwassenen-willen-spelen-a1608994
- Why board games are important for children – https://thriveglobal.com/stories/why-board-games-are-very-important-for-kids/
- How to get better at board games and how those techniques can help you in other areas of your life – https://lifehacker.com/how-to-use-board-games-to-improve-your-real-life-1679783074
- All kinds of love hormones are released when couples play a board game together. Especially in women. Men are better off going to painting lessons with their partner – https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-02-couples-art-board-games-hormone.amp?__twitter_impression=true
- 5 Reasons Why Board Games Give You The Best Midlife Crisis- https://www.tabletoptribe.com/5-reasons-why-tabletop-gaming-is-the-best-mid-life-crisis-you-can-have/
- Playing for a better old age- https://www.swr.de/swr2/leben-und-gesellschaft/spiele-fuer-besseres-leben-thomas-voit-erforscht-den-nutzen-von-spielen-fuer-den-alltag-100.html
At work
- About serious gaming – https://phys.org/news/2019-06-games.html
- The benefits of games in the workplace – http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/the-benefits-of-games-in-the-workplace
- Let employees play as team building – https://www.ad.nl/ad-werkt/geef-geen-geld-uit-aan-uitjes-laat-werknemers-gamen~a744e105/
- The CIA uses board games to train employees – https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/03/the-cia-uses-board-games-to-train-officers-and-i-got-to-play-them/
- Want to get better at strategy at work? Go play board games – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-want-more-strategic-start-playing-games-john-hall/
- Research: Playing action games leads to faster decisions- https://tweakers.net/nieuws/69666/onderzoek-spelen-actiegames-leidt-tot-snellere-beslissingen.html
- Games can make you a better strategist – https://hbr.org/2015/09/games-can-make-you-a-better-strategist
- How to measure the ROI of Gamification – https://www.gamification.co/2013/07/17/how-to-measure-the-roi-of-gamification/
Familytime!
- The power of games for your family and how to entice your children to play a board game – https://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2019/10/29/news/why-playing-board-games-is-so-good-for-kids-and-how-to-get-them-to-join-in-1748563/
- Why some can stand their losses better than others (including in families) – https://www.nemokennislink.nl/publicaties/het-is-maar-een-spelletje/
- Fun games for the whole family – https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/board-games-for-kids/#our-favorite-family-games
- Four reasons to play games – http://graycatgames.com/4-reasons-to-play-more-board-games/
About games
- The board game finds a wider audience – https://www.volkskrant.nl/economie/het-bordspel-vindt-een-breder-publiek-weer-eens-wat-anders-dan-film-kijken~b48b18b0/?utm_source=link&utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=shared%20content&utm_content=free
- Build your own board game – https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/12/15/duizend-oefenpotjes-a1584937?utm_source=nrc.nl&utm
- The rise of Europ (German) board games – https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/01/german-board-games-catan/550826/?ref=quuu&utm_source=quuu
- Some tips from the board game group Dobbelix – https://www.nu.nl/uit/6007401/zo-organiseer-je-in-30-seconds-of-ietsje-meer-een-spelletjesavond.html?fbclid=IwAR1ZGg7nJ1nCSacX5bl-hlSIjTT0FcpBEtH3y0J4bOGQTP9OEJ6NL8pFv0g
- Board games are rising in popularity – https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/25/board-games-back-tabletop-gaming-boom-pandemic-flash-point
- Game cafes spring up like mushrooms! – https://www.wikitribune.com/story/2018/04/25/entertainment/spread-of-board-game-bars-rides-industry-boom-and-digital-backlash/63354/
- The benefits of a game club (for children) – http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/the-benefits-of-a-board-game-club?utm_campaign=%27Did%20You%20Know%27&utm_content=71640001&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
- About the history of (board) games – https://publicdomainreview.org/2019/02/20/progress-in-play-board-games-and-the-meaning-of-history/
- Firs board game cafe in Nigeria opens its doors – https://www.today.ng/sport/group-launches-nigerias-board-game-cafe-203538
- First board game cafe in Chennai, India, opens its doors – https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/first-board-game-cafe-opens-in-chennai-734341.html
- Why more an more cafes offer board games – https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/board-game-bars/382828/
- Children learn playing board games at de Jonge Strateeg – https://www.bd.nl/tilburg-e-o/kinderen-spelen-bordspellen-op-hoog-niveau-bij-de-jonge-strateeg-het-leert-ze-vaardigheden-aan~af5c9805/
- Tourism / history / education: Drenthe (a Dutch province) uses interactive game to bring the history of Dwingelderveld to life – https://www.rtvdrenthe.nl/nieuws/amp/145320/Geschiedenis-Dwingelderveld-komt-met-interactief-spel-tot-leven
- Board games connect young and old – https://www.spielbox.de/spieler-info/aktuelle-meldungen/615-forschung-und-paedagogik-spiele-verbinden-generationen-und-wecken-lust-am-schreiben
Authors
- Desi created an augmented reality game that helps children practice language and fine motor skills – https://www.hva.nl/faculteit/fdmci/gedeelde-content/nieuws/nieuwsberichten/2019/04/spelend-leren-met-mazehunter.html
- An interview with the creator of Kolonisten van Catan – https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-man-who-built-catan
- Let children make their own board game. Teacher Femke did it and shares her tips in this blog – https://juffrouwfemke.com/2019/02/08/zeven-tips-twee-bonustips-om-met-je-klas-educatieve-bordspellen-te-maken/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
- There was no play about her passion: birds. That’s why she made a game herself and it’s insanely popular – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/science/wingspan-board-game-elizabeth-hargrave.html
- Make your own game – https://homeschoolgameschool.com/makeyourowngames/
- 9 mistakes to avoid designing educational games – https://clalliance.org/blog/9-mistakes-avoid-designing-educational-games/?fbclid=IwAR1Vc2fBeBNlzpz6zZj8P8V_CvnulwkuXru9LhI4v2naMJG6NWziqgmEmPs
- Build your own boardgame, instruction in 7 steps – https://www.instructables.com/Build-your-Own-Board-Game/
Books
Primary education
- practical guide for choosing games to practice executive skills (Dutch) – https://www.speeljevaardig.nl
- How to use thinking games in class (Dutch)
- Loose-leaf reference games (Dutch) – https://www.lerenlerennederland.nl/kennisbank-lerenleren/kracht-van-spel.html
Secondary and higher education
- Gamedidactiek – the how and why of games in class (Dutch)
- Gamedidactiek 2 – gamificeren with homemade formative computergames (Dutch)