Can playing miniature golf be educational for children? You can bet!

It is a well-known fact that for children, playing is learning. This is well demonstrated when children play miniature golf. There are so many educational benefits that for kids it should be called “max golf!”

The most obvious benefit is the physical activity of playing miniature golf. It has been said that a golfer can burn up to 350 calories in an hour playing golf. Children may or may not need to burn calories to lose weight, but they do need to burn energy so they can focus during quiet study times. Playing miniature golf gives kids a chance to get away from the energy, hit a golf club, chase a ball, and chase their friends across the field. The walk is steady enough to provide a good solid cardio for a typical kid. Swinging a stick works the large muscle groups in the arms, while squatting and squatting also works the large muscles in the legs. Obviously, when it comes to a miniature golf course, the bigger the better when it comes to good physical training for kids. The best physical activity is possible if the route also has multiple levels that must be reached by climbing steps and inclines. Look for a great multi-level course if you want to provide maximum physical benefits for your kids. The other great advantage of children’s courses is the fact that most are outdoors. Kids need fresh air and sunshine, and a miniature golf course is a great place for them to receive this necessary health benefit. An added value to physical activity is the good night’s sleep a child will get after an afternoon of golf.

There are also educational benefits when children play golf. First and foremost is the hand-eye coordination required to play. This results in better reading and thinking. Second, the logic necessary for children to adjust their swing while aiming at the target also helps them learn to think. They also unconsciously acquire decision-making tools at the same time. The interaction of adults will exponentially increase the learning benefits of children playing golf. The best miniature golf courses have themes, usually geographic or historical. Even those with a theme set in fantasy or fiction lend themselves to creative thinking. An adult, be it a teacher or a parent, can, with creative questions, make a child imagine, create and dream while observing their surroundings. By asking questions about the surroundings throughout the game, an adult can help the child to become intentional with observation. Later, creative writing assignments can emerge from an afternoon of golf. Even math skills can be taught strategically. Using the ‘par’ for each shot, a child can perform simple math operations; addition and subtraction based on your shots, or more sophisticated mathematical functions like probability and percentages. Mini golf is often therapeutic for children who have trouble concentrating. The very nature of playing golf demands a higher level of concentration.

An overlooked benefit of children who play miniature golf is the social skills that can be developed. Children are competitive by nature. But golf is about competing with yourself, eliminating the fights that can often happen with team competition. Children who play in groups have enough time to socialize and interact with each other while they wait for those in front of them to play. It also teaches patience and tolerance, especially with the guidance feedback from a smart adult. Playing miniature golf with children can bring families together by giving them time for real conversation away from television, computers, and cell phones. Parents should take advantage of this by refraining from using their own cell phones. Teachers who bring their entire class to play may find unlikely friendships that form when children mix, often talking to children who are not their usual best friends.

There is something about a beautiful day, friendly competition, and a fantastic environment that encourages physical, mental, and social activity. Parents take their family. Teachers take your class. The miniature golf offers all this for children.