Computer games are all the rage these days. There are systems, developers and handheld gaming devices to keep kids and adults alike saturated for non-stop entertainment. Games are not only fun, but some of them develop certain skills such as dexterity and mental acuity. Some of the games on Facebook run on the principle of comprar curtidas automaticas that seems to be the rage in the online world today.
When my kids wanted to get Facebook accounts, they were typical teenagers. They wanted to connect with friends and socialize just like everyone else.
My wife and I decided that Facebook could also be used to teach lessons in life. Enter FarmVille and its family of games on the social networking website. As parents, we wanted to see what the games were like as our children would likely be exposed to it.
Games are also great learning tools. So my wife and I started using Facebook games to teach lessons about finance and small businesses. From simple lessons to more complex ones, both of my children learned some real-world financial lessons thanks to Facebook’s social games.
Starting Out
Getting started in any of Facebook’s games are just like getting started on any financial project in life. Whether you are budgeting for a $100 coat or a $100,000 house, you need to get the basics down first. Whether you play CityVille, CastleVille or any of Zynga’s games, you start at a simple level and work up in the system. Like anything financial, you have to start small. Often you can’t earn a $100 coat in an hour’s worth of work. My daughter realized this with her retail job she got at 16 so she could pay for some of her own stuff.
Relying on Others
The “ville” games rely on other people to plug into your Facebook game page. The more Facebook friends you can get, the more money you can make and points you can earn. In much the same way, other people will help determine your financial future. Convincing others to be on your financial side can mean many things. My kids often have to have the support of their parents (which they have without measure) to be encouraged. At my daughter’s job, she had to treat customers properly or they may not buy as much stuff. If her store doesn’t do as well, customers leave and she could be fired.
Earnings
Earning money is only one side of Facebook games. As in real life, how you use this money determines your level of advancement and experience. The more adept you become at earning money in the game, the more levels you advance. Real life is the same way. My daughter could save up for a $100 coat in a week. If she’s smart, she could shop around to see if a similar coat is on sale at another store. My daughter can then determine that going to another store may be worth it or not to save some money. I often ask her, “Will you spend that money in gas just to save that money on a sale?”
Investing
Some parts of the Facebook games allow you to use money to make our life easier. Adding features will allow your virtual crops to grow faster or your fiefs in the castle to work harder. My family tries not to buy cheap items that wear out quickly. One jacket may be $60 but last only one winter. Another coat may be $100 and look similar but may last for five years if you stay the same size. While my kids are somewhat excited by cheap knock-offs, my wife and I have tried to impart the phrase “you get what you pay for.” A $5 set of sweatpants usually don’t last or feel as good as a $20 pair. That’s just the way modern merchandising works.
There are tons of other lessons in FarmVille and the like that can be used to teach financial lessons. Making learning fun is the key to lessons that last a lifetime.
