Trading Card Games as a Learning Tool

Mar 10

Trading card games offer more than entertainment. Trading card games also help promote social emotional learning and concrete educational outcomes for students.

Trading Card Games (or TCGs) like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh can be a fun way to pass the time at home or with friends.

“TCGs also offer a unique opportunity to improve educational and social skills”

Finding a budget-friendly, accessible game can be scary, but Pop Culture Classroom is here to help! Below are a few reasons for parents and educators to be excited about TCGs — and some tips for getting started.

TRADING CARD GAMES AND CRITICAL THINKING

TCG’s improve critical thinking skills while players play the game. Players must consider cards in hand, the life total of their opponents, and available resources for offensive and defensive moves. At the same time, players must think about their opponents’ plans.

You might want to play that awesome dragon card in your hand, but what if your opponent can counter your move? What if they have an even bigger dragon? Navigating these questions becomes natural as players develop their abilities to analyze any given situation through gameplay.

MATH IN TCGS

TCGs and mathematics go hand in hand. In TCGs your goal is to reduce your opponent’s life total to zero. Players must calculate the optimal moment to strike and if they have the numbers to do so safely. Each player must also keep track of how much damage other players have taken. Failing to do so can result in a quick loss.

Probability also plays a crucial role in any TCG. Players must think ahead but can never know what lies on top of their deck. They must use the knowledge of what cards they have already drawn to guess the probability of what might be drawn next.

THE TCG COMMUNITY

Getting into a TCG means becoming a part of the community surrounding the game. TCGs are multiplayer games that are usually played in person, and the community can motivate players to learn social skills and improve the game.

Finding like-minded people to play with can be as simple as heading to the nearest card or game shop and finding an open table. Even if players would rather play at home or school, TCGs (including digital editions) can be a fun way to connect with friends and family. Building a trading card collection together is exciting for everyone involved.

GETTING STARTED

The first step to starting any TCG is finding someone to play with. Finding someone who is also new means you both start on an even footing. You may be able to find a game night at a local store. And almost every TCG has a digital counterpart where you can play the game online for free. Digital editions also have interactive tutorials for learning the basics.

New players will also need some cards! Many TCGs have various cards and packs for sale making it difficult to know where to begin. Thankfully, most TCGs sell starter decks that can get your foot in the door. These match well against other starter decks and contain cards that are simple in design. Starter packs also include a pamphlet with all the rules you will need to know to play the deck.

LEARN, TRADE, PLAY

Now that you’re armed with the knowledge to succeed, the best thing to do is get started! Start your collection by finding a friend to crack open a few packs of cards with. The sky is the limit!

TRADING CARD GAMES AS A LEARNING TOOL

Robby Bucarey