6 games for kids that will make them smarter

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Some types of play can actually make kids smarter.

• Games are more than an enjoyable pastime - some types of play can actually make kids smarter.
• Unstructured games, art, and even bath time can help kids strategize and explore their creative potential.
• Here are six games, from an expert, that will make your kids smarter.

Becoming smarter is more than just learning your ABCs and shapes. Kids can actually become better thinkers and strategizers and hone their social and verbal skills by simply playing.

You can generally skip "brain games," because they've been largely debunked, according to Popular Science. Games don't have to be tactile either (though they can be). Unstructured play allows your child to explore the world on their own terms.

Laura Markham, Ph.D., author of "Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids," spoke with Business Insider about the best games your children should be playing that will give them the aptitude to succeed later in life.