Learning through Angry Birds

Spending time with friends and family over Christmas really got me thinking about the power of computer games. The most successful app of our time, Angry Birds, seemed to be everywhere, even though it has been released for a couple of years. My mother in law was given a Kindle Fire tablet, it was the first thing she downloaded (one of over a billion downloads of the franchise in its various formats), my 3 year old son was given Angry Bird cuddly toys that could be thrown through cardboard targets and we all spent some good honest family time playing the game on our phones and tablets. I started to worry that I was allowing my children to fall into the computer game trap which would result in them becoming desensitised and aggressive, so I started to consider ways of justifying Angry Birds as a constructive and creative past-time, just in case Social Services paid us a visit.

Here's my list - I'm sure there are many other possible uses, but these 14 certainly gave me enough reason to download Angry Birds: Star Wars, safe in the knowledge that my children will be all the better for it and if Rovio need a new marketing consultant then I'm open to offers.

Learning Through Angry Birds
1. Fine-motor skills - it is very important for children to develop their dexterity in terms of using their hands, wrists and fingers. My son, who is left-handed, used to fire the birds to the left when he started playing the game. He has since learnt to head the birds in the right hand direction, a useful precursor to him learning to write. The accuracy of flight requires a steady hand and delicate adjustments, especially when played on a phone.
2. Puzzle-solving - developing logical reasoning is considered a vital aspect in developmental theory and as one progresses through the Angry Birds levels success cannot be achieved through a simple 'fling and hope' approach. Anyone who downloaded Angry Birds Seasons will know what I mean.
3. The Laws of Physics - there's nothing like introducing your child at a young age to the concepts of gravity and ballistics. The science of the sling-shot can get quite involved, especially when replicated in real-life experiments - Beano readers take note.
4. Artistic design - the Angry Birds worlds are a triumph of art and design. The Angry Birds characters have recognisable personalities and attributes and the scenery is, at times, exquisite.
5. Programming - Maybe a little bit beyond my 3 and 6 year old children, but young people are certainly keen to learn about how games and apps are created and there are huge possibilities for them to create their own using simple programmes or devices such as the Raspberry Pi.
6. Concentration - possibly a bit controversial but parents with young children will be able to appreciate those golden moments when a previously frenzied child becomes calmness personified when presented with Angry Birds. The game requires concentration and patience - undeniably useful traits to encourage.
7. Concept of Conflict - 'why are the birds angry?' 'because the piggies have stolen their eggs'. Simple basis of conflict - wars have been fought for less.
8. Demand and supply - 'why do the piggies want the birds' eggs?' 'because they've sold out at the shops'. Simple basis of economics - recessions have been caused by less.
9. Marketing - Toy shops are awash with Angry Birds spin off merchandise - this is clever marketing. Rovio know that the game is played by children on their parents' phones and tablets - the cuddly birds and pigs are not aimed at me
10. Mathematics - see point number 3, but also more basic mathematics - 'how many piggies/birds are left/dead etc?'
11. Cultural awareness - Angry Birds Seasons travels the world and celebrates various cultural events in the calendar, such as Chinese New Year.
12. Business acumen - Rovio Entertainment Limited, the Finnish video game developers behind the Angry Birds games had a net income of $48 million in 2011.
13. Sound and music - Similar to point number 4, the music is almost as recognisable as the Intel jingle and the sound of angry birds and arrogant pigs is another lesson in simple ideas beautifully executed.
14. Sharing - Another tick in the social and emotional development box. If you have more children than Angry Birds enabled devices then they have to learn to share and to take it in turns. More advanced children may also appreciate that Mummy and Daddy might also need to use their phone at some point.

Learning through computer games? I think so...