Analysis of skills required for playing various games that are designed for 5 - 12 year olds

Operation: Ability to count for points and money, ability to follow directions, spatial skills, to determine how best to extract the item without setting off the buzzer. Non-cognitive - fine motor skill, patience, turn-taking, playing by rules.

Guess Who: Classification based on multiple or changing criteria (we know this would be very difficult for a pre-operational child - think of the video with the boy classifying things by color first and then shape. He couldn't switch to a new classification scheme), deductive reasoning (process of elimination), quantification skills (to determine which criteria will eliminate the most alternatives), turn-taking, playing by rules.

Clue Jr.: Deductive reasoning, quantification skills (to move your piece around the board), strategies (to determine the best direction to move your piece), turn-taking, playing by rules

Trouble and Sorry: Quantification skills (to move your piece around the board), strategic thinking (best piece to move), multidimensional thinking (Progress toward the goal and block your opponent at the same time), turn-taking, playing by rules.

Connect 4: Quantification, multidimensional thinking (looking at multiple possible ways to win, progress to goal and block opponent), spatial abilities, mental operations (being able to mentally play moves to determine possible dangerous and advantageous outcomes), turn-taking, playing by rules