Quite a few parents have asked me, at talks I've given, about the advisability of their limiting their kids' computer play. Others have told me that they do limit their kids' computer play, or their total daily "screen time," in a tone that seemed to suggest that any reasonable parent would do that.
So much of the discussion of school comes down to video games. Especially for boys. And here's why: in most cases, if you tell boys they can spend their time doing whatever they want, and they can learn whatever is interesting to them, they will learn a lot about video games.
Conventional wisdom suggests that time spent kids playing video games is time wasted. The common perception is that few video games exercise the brain and, if there is any physical activity involved, it's usually the occasional wave of a controller rather than anything that will work up a sweat. And shouldn't kids be outside playing, rather than sitting in front of yet another
1. Video games teach problem solving
Video games get kids to think. There are dozens of video games that are specifically geared towards learning, but even the most basic shooter game teaches kids to think logically and quickly process large amounts of data. Rather than passively absorbing content from, say, a TV show, a video game requires the player's constant input to tell the story.
2. Video games are social
The stereotype of the pasty-faced adolescent sitting in his mom's basement playing video games on his own is as outdated as "Space Invaders." Many games have thriving online and offline fan-bases, and a community component that strongly encourages social interaction.
3 Video games build teamwork
The vast majority of video games are now designed with cooperative play options. Whether it's fighting off alien invaders, solving puzzles, Kids Safe Online or being on the same bobsleigh team, video games offer kids a wealth of opportunities to constructively work together.
4. Video games bring families together
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Video games aren't just for kids anymore. Ask your kids to teach you a few moves and you might find that "Family Fun Night" is every bit as enjoyable as those games of Clue and Monopoly used to be when you were a kid!
5 Video games improve hand-eye coordination
Video games have been found to improve the balance and coordination of numerous patients from stroke victims to those suffering from Parkinson's Disease. There have even been studies that suggest that surgeons who regularly play video games make less mistakes in the operating theater than non-gamers.
Positive Effects of Video Games
When your child plays video games, it gives his brain a real workout. In many video games, the skills required to win involve abstract and high level thinking. These skills are not even taught at school. Some of the mental skills enhanced by video games include:
Negative Effects of Video Games
Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). The effect of video game violence in kids is worsened by the games’ interactive nature.In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly.
So much of the discussion of school comes down to video games. Especially for boys. And here's why: in most cases, if you tell boys they can spend their time doing whatever they want, and they can learn whatever is interesting to them, they will learn a lot about video games.
Conventional wisdom suggests that time spent kids playing video games is time wasted. The common perception is that few video games exercise the brain and, if there is any physical activity involved, it's usually the occasional wave of a controller rather than anything that will work up a sweat. And shouldn't kids be outside playing, rather than sitting in front of yet another
1. Video games teach problem solving
Video games get kids to think. There are dozens of video games that are specifically geared towards learning, but even the most basic shooter game teaches kids to think logically and quickly process large amounts of data. Rather than passively absorbing content from, say, a TV show, a video game requires the player's constant input to tell the story.
2. Video games are social
The stereotype of the pasty-faced adolescent sitting in his mom's basement playing video games on his own is as outdated as "Space Invaders." Many games have thriving online and offline fan-bases, and a community component that strongly encourages social interaction.
3 Video games build teamwork
The vast majority of video games are now designed with cooperative play options. Whether it's fighting off alien invaders, solving puzzles, Kids Safe Online or being on the same bobsleigh team, video games offer kids a wealth of opportunities to constructively work together.
4. Video games bring families together
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Video games aren't just for kids anymore. Ask your kids to teach you a few moves and you might find that "Family Fun Night" is every bit as enjoyable as those games of Clue and Monopoly used to be when you were a kid!
5 Video games improve hand-eye coordination
Video games have been found to improve the balance and coordination of numerous patients from stroke victims to those suffering from Parkinson's Disease. There have even been studies that suggest that surgeons who regularly play video games make less mistakes in the operating theater than non-gamers.
Positive Effects of Video Games
When your child plays video games, it gives his brain a real workout. In many video games, the skills required to win involve abstract and high level thinking. These skills are not even taught at school. Some of the mental skills enhanced by video games include:
Negative Effects of Video Games
Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain. Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study (Anderson & Bushman, 2001). The effect of video game violence in kids is worsened by the games’ interactive nature.In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. The act of violence is done repeatedly.
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