Nintendo DS Games for Reinforcement

By Cheryl Henderson -

Sometimes in our quest to give our children the highest educational standards possible, we overlook really simple ways for the kids to drill that they will enjoy. My daughters of Nintendo DS systems and I've looked through the catalog of games and found a few that will end some of my frustration, while giving them the practice they need to reach proficiency in spelling and math.

One of the game was an instant hit with the adult population, but also has great games for the kids. It's called Brain Age. Here's the blurb from the box: "Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day for Nintendo DS is a fun, rewarding form of entertainment everyone can enjoy, as it helps players flex their mental muscles. Brain Age is inspired by the research of Professor Ryuta Kawashima, a prominent Japanese neuroscientist. His studies evaluated the impact of performing certain reading and mathematics exercises to help stimulate the brain."

Another great game is Big Brain Academy which tests area such as logic, memory, math and analysis (puzzle solving). Today, while shopping with my family I found a game that teaches Spanish (sorry, I didn't write down the name), Brain Quest Grades 3 & 4 and 5 & 6. There are crossword puzzles, logic games, Smart Kids Game Club, etc.

So, if you've already broken down (like I did) and gotten the kids a DS use it to your advantage by adding games that actually stimulate their brains. And the best part is that most of the educational games only cost $20. If you haven't been sucked into the world of gaming, let me tell you – that's cheap. Regular games usually start at $29 and just keep floating up like a hot air balloon.

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