If you spend any time with young children, then you probably already know that they love playing computer games. I have three nephews and all of them spend a great deal of their spare time in front of a computer or a portable gaming device. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the intervention of their parents, they would probably spend all of their spare time playing their favorite games.

The key to understanding the appeal of these games is to realize that the computer provides children with a portal into other worlds. These digital worlds are filled with sights and sounds that engage their senses and imagination.

When my nephew David is tapping away at the controls of his Nintendo DS, he is not simply playing a game. From his point of view, he is endeavoring to ‘Win the Grand Prix’ against seven aggressive opponents. He is totally immersed in his electronic world, and the characters that inhabit that world are a very important part of his life.

There are a number of reasons why children find computer games so compelling:

(1) They are in control

One of the things that children love most about computer games is that they are in control. The world of the computer game is based on simple rules and once a child masters these rules, they establish a level of confidence and control that they often find difficult to replicate in the real world.

While the world of adults is complex and unpredictable, the world of ‘Mario Kart’ is predictable and reliable. Children know exactly what to expect and the computer delivers on its promise of fun and entertainment every time they press the on switch.

(2) They obtain a sense of achievement

Another thing kids love about playing computer based games is the genuine sense of achievement they gain from completing a particular challenge or level. The best games are designed to progressively challenge and reward children as they develop their skills over time.

When a child invests hours of time and effort to develop the skills necessary to beat a particular opponent or complete a difficult challenge, they obtain an incredible rush of satisfaction when they finally achieve the objective they have been working towards.

(3) They can share the experience with friends

Computer games also provide children with a shared experience that can form the basis of conversation and friendships. I have often heard students discussing what level they are up to in Piano Is Fun and chatting about the rewards that they accumulate during the game.

As long as it does not become too competitive, a friendly sense of competition is a healthy way to motivate children to progress. For example if Michael, knows that his friend Tim has achieved his Bronze Medallion challenge, he will be extremely motivated to get his own Bronze Medallion before he next meets Tim.

(4) They can progress at their own pace

Another valuable aspect of computer games is that children can progress at their own pace. The computer does not become frustrated if a child needs to repeat a particular level 20 times, and a well designed game will provide guidance without criticism.

Analyzing the reasons why children love computer games provides educators with an effective blueprint for developing more engaging methods of computer based learning.

When I sat down to develop Piano Is Fun, I began by analyzing some of my nephew’s favorite computer games.

I realized that in order to engage children, piano software should ideally:

• Be easy to control
• Provide them with a sense of achievement each time they completed a level
• Promote healthy competition between students
• Allow children of all abilities to progress at their own pace

By continually testing the piano software with my nephew and other students, I was able to create a game that checked all the boxes.

The feedback from thousands of parents, teachers and children around the world has confirmed that Piano Is Fun effectively taps into the inherent love that children have for computer games.

This provides the perfect solution to the age old problem of learning to read musical notation. Instead of agonizing over boring Flash Cards, children can now play an engaging game that allows them to have fun while learning to read music.

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