When we feel pressure, we often turn to entertainment, and children are no exception. In schools, light forms of entertainment can also serve as mental training.

Activities such as puzzles, digital games, and other simple intellectual exercises enhance memory, develop concentration and improve mood. However, it is important to approach these practices with balance and awareness, as they are not without behavioral risks.

In an interview with An-Nahar, Raquel Gebran, a former lecturer at Saint Joseph University, emphasizes that parents should choose games that are appropriate for their child's age and interests.

Ages 3–4: Children are attracted to large, clear, colorful images, and instructions should be simple and short with limited playtime.

 Ages 5–7: Children become bored with simple games and tend to prefer more challenging activities.

Ages 7–10: Children become interested in more complex games, such as crossword puzzles and card games. At this age, they can express their preferences and choose games for themselves.

Gibran presents another perspective on the issue related to the interests of the child:
● Children who love all things visual tend to enjoy games involving spotting differences and mazes.
● Children who prefer numbers and math prefer activities such as Sudoku and card games.
● Sociable children, on the other hand, enjoy group activities with their family or friends, such as memory challenges or traditional board games.

Details:
Ages 3–5 (easy level).
● Spot the Difference Games: Help develop concentration, observation and visual memory.
● Memory games: Enable children to strengthen their memory and enhance their ability to concentrate.

5-7 years (easy to difficult level):
● Maze games: Teach children to continuously search for appropriate solutions to the challenges they face and train them to think flexibly and find various alternatives.

7 years and above:
● Sudoku: Builds calculation skills and logical thinking, encouraging players to test possibilities and connect different pieces of information.

According to Gebran, the most common mistake parents make when choosing brain games for their children is selecting games that are too challenging for their age group. This can result in feelings of frustration or failure, rather than allowing playtime to be a space for fun and learning.

All these brain games are now available digitally, with difficulty levels suitable for different age groups. Another mistake parents fall into is preferring digital versions of games. “The third mistake is focusing on the educational aspect and neglecting the fun aspect,” Gebran adds. “When children feel that the game they are playing is like homework, they lose their enthusiasm for it, and the game loses its fundamental meaning. Therefore, it must remain a fun space that stimulates curiosity and supports learning indirectly.”

Beware of isolation
Roland Abi Najm, an expert in digital transformation and information security, also highlights the risks associated with mind games. “We must return to the basic principle that any activity a child does on a screen is, at the same time, a form of isolation,” Najm tells An-Nahar.
According to Najm, isolation comprises:
● Social isolation: A child who is preoccupied with phones or digital games will be isolated from their surroundings and unable to interact with their family or environment.
● Poor concentration: The child may appear distracted and refuse to respond to their parents' calls.
● Digital addiction: Long periods of screen time can lead to an excessive attachment to screens and a recurring desire to play, win and achieve imaginary goals.
● Behavioral and emotional problems: Excessive tension when losing a game and loss of control over reactions.

Abi Najm believes that parents have an important responsibility to monitor these behaviors, set clear limits on screen time, and intervene when needed to limit the damage. “Continuing this pattern can lead to real addiction, which poses a great danger to the child's mental health,” he says.

Finally, Gebran emphasizes that the key is not the quantity of games we offer our children, but their quality. “The most important thing is the time we spend with our children, helping them to develop their concentration and memory skills, problem-solving strategies, acceptance of loss and joy of winning, positive communication with others, and commitment to the rules of the game. These skills have a positive impact on both a child's academic performance and their daily life."