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What simple games help brain growth?

Parenting Perspective

Simple games are some of the most powerful tools for developing a child’s brain. Activities such as matching cards, memory games, hide-and-seek, storytelling, and rhythm-based songs engage multiple areas of the brain. They build memory, language skills, motor coordination, and emotional intelligence. When children play freely, they are not just having fun. Their brains are actively forming connections that support long-term cognitive and emotional development. These moments of joy and challenge are when the brain is most open to learning. Structured games are useful, but unstructured and imaginative play are equally, if not more, beneficial in early childhood. T Parents can support this by joining in without taking over, offering gentle encouragement and space to lead. In this way, games become a shared language of growth and connection.

Spiritual Insight

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Kahf (18), Verse 46: ‘All wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope.’
‘All wealth and offspring are luxuries of the worldly life, but (the outcomes of) virtuosity shall remain forever, and it is deemed the best (action) to be rewarded by your Sustainer, and the best source of hope (for the Hereafter).’
This Ayah reminds us that while children bring joy and colour to our lives, what truly lasts are the values and intentions we plant within them.
It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 3271, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ‘Do not stop your children from going to the mosque.’ This Hadith reflects an environment where even the youngest were included in community and spirituality, reinforcing the importance of engagement and presence. Play, when guided by kindness and shared purpose, becomes a space for bonding and learning, not just entertainment. It is not separate from faith; it can reflect it.
When parents view games as moments of mindful connection rather than distractions, they shift the tone of early development. Play becomes a bridge between body, mind, and soul. And in that space, a child’s brain grows with resilience, hope, and balance.

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