You’ve heard people say “If you keep playing that video game, your brain is going to turn to mush,” right? A new study from the Waiariki Institute of Technology shows that video games (when played for reasonable intervals) actually stimulate the brain. It improves visual skills, hand-eye coordination, and deep psychological needs of achievement. Some online video games encourage teamwork and social skills.
Video Games healthy for you?
As young as two or three years old, American children are playing electronic games. Companies like Vtech and LeapFrog are introducing educational globes, interactive books, and games to learn counting, shapes, and spelling. More and more toddlers and children are playing with their parents’ iPads and smartphones. The Android and iOS markets have tons of applications that teach kids how to read, write, and spell in a fun manor.
As kids age, they won’t want to play Clifford and Dora games anymore. Kids in elementary school tend to play Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other strategy games. Strategy games teach kids how to think differently and how to conquer in different situations.
Teens and adults enjoy online games like World of Warcraft and RuneScape, which encourage teamwork, business, and devotion. A former RuneScape player myself, I know what all I’ve learned from that game. It’s based in the medieval era, and you must complete quests, train to become more skillful, find a job to earn gold, work together with other players to defeat monsters, and trade with other players to get the items you need. Not only did I learn those life skills, but also I learned about the medieval times and what all went on during that era.
Another popular genre of online gaming is console-based. Many people (teenagers and adults) have subscriptions to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network to play games like Call of Duty online. Call of Duty appears to be pure shooting, blood, and gore, but it’s not. Military games teach teens how to work with other online players, how to complete military operations, and help relieve stress.
Video games can be more stimulating than school, but this doesn’t mean that children should substitute homework with gaming. Video games should be limited to two hours (at most) per day. They are a great way for kids to transition from school to homework. Video games should be treated as a privilege, not a right. If school grades start slipping, game time should be reduced to one hour per day.
My son is so happy to hear this.
I encourage you to watch these, I truly do.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html
http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/11/24/got-16-minutes-to-spare-watch-this-ted-talk/