Are you someone who is skeptical about video games? Do you believe that they are bad for our youth? You’re not alone.
This debate over whether or not games negatively affect us has been going on for years, however the focus should be on what games you are playing. There is great evidence that there are many games that are actually GOOD and can impact us in a positive way!
For instance, some people believe disorders like ADHD are linked to playing video games. However, some studies have shown that this belief is false, among many other perpetuated stereotypes about games. In fact, in moderation, video games can have the opposite effect—helping kids retain more information and focus their attention better. Read on to see what other benefits video games can have on children.
Benefits You Might Not Know:
- Increases cognitive functions: video games are found to improve cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, spatial recognition, just to name a few. A study featured in the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology journal found that children who play video games frequently had “1.75 times the odds of high intellectual functioning and 1.88 times the odds of high overall school competence” than those who did not play.
- Goal-setting: using quests, badges, and other concepts are a great way to introduce milestones and work on goal setting. Games that use these are a great way to to introduce task-based learning as well as work and skill development. When these tasks are introduced in video games they bring fun into what might otherwise be conceived as boring work.
- Strategy & Logical Thinking: Many video games, as well as computer and board games, revolve around strategic thinking. How will I defeat my enemy? How can I create the best empire? How will I solve this quest? Children must develop plans and strategies to determine how they will advance to the next level and win the game. Oftentimes, games feature unexpected obstacles to deter from the long-term goal of winning. Players need to think on their feet and logically reason how they will overcome the problem.
- Reading Skills: A 2013 study from the University of Padua found that dyslexic children who played action video games had an increased ability to read faster and more clearly. In the study, children with dyslexia were split into two groups: one group played action video games while the other played non-action video games. The group that played action video games had a significant increase in reading time, accuracy and focused attention, compared to the group that played non-action video games. While a single study should not be used to make deductions, this research is incredibly promising for children with learning disabilities. Additionally, video games can be a fun way to get kids interested in reading and understanding character dialogue.
Video games are oftentimes a child’s first foray into the digital world. Introducing children to safe video games for small increments of time can help acclimate them to electronics. As digital natives, your children will be exposed to technology constantly. Knowing how to use that technology in a responsible way will help your children develop a positive relationship with it.
How to Regulate Gaming
While these benefits are all valid and can aid in your child’s development, like most things, video games need to be played in moderation. And while more and more educational and kid-friendly games are being produced, you—as a parent—still need to regulate and monitor what your child is playing.
“In terms of regulating what games kids play, it should be treated the same way that movies are,” Dr. John Paul Garrison says. “Much of what kids should or shouldn’t play is about the family’s values and morals.”
Parents should also pay attention to ratings on video games. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) created categories of ratings to help parents determine what is appropriate for their children. The ratings include early childhood (EC), everyone (E), teen (T), mature (M) and adults only (AO). Many stores will not sell M-rated games to gamers under the age of 17, but other enforcement is left up to parents. Use your best judgment, even if it means testing out the games yourself first to see what is most appropriate.
From Consuming to Creating…with Kidzwhiz!
Sometimes it may feel like there’s no escaping the electronic world we live in now. But why not embrace it? Teaching your children how to use and work with technology can greatly benefit them as they grow.
If children can gain these benefits from playing video games, imagine what they’d acquire through creating video games!
In a controlled and educational environment, Kidzwhiz Game Development courses allows children’s creativity and gaming interests to flourish, while guiding them into establishing a positive relationship with technology and gaming.
Sources:
https://tfetimes.com/video-games-changing-world/
https://www.betterworldinternational.org/blog/games-changing-lives-good/
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/benefits-of-gaming-for-kids/
http://www.gamesforchange.org/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/freedom-learn/201502/cognitive-benefits-playing-video-games
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