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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Are Video Games Good For Children?

If you are a parent, you no doubt have asked this question more than once. Are video games good for children?
With all the exposure on the bad games, the violent games that are nothing but blood and guts, it is hard to get past that to the benefits of video games to children.
Yes .. there are benefits.
There are plenty of games out there that are not filled with violence and are geared to children by age. These games are good for children. Have you ever tried playing one of these games? It was tough enough playing "pac man", right?
If you have never played a video game your child plays, welcome to a new world .... inside the video game world of your child.
Here they are asked to do multiple tasks .... bang, bang, bang ... quick moving, quick thinking, quick acting .... to get them to a goal set ahead. It becomes a speed game of chess where the entire game calls for the ability to think ahead . Nothing can develop the strategic thinking of your child so minutely.
The movements dependent on his fingers develop great eye/hand coordination as this problem solving strategy is going on in the brain.
If this is your first attempt at getting inside the video game world of your child, don't be dismayed if you cannot get past frame one. You are not unique. Now watch your child. You will be amazed .. not only at the speed of his/her finger movements but at the knowledge being displayed as the game goes on. How does he know which way to go? Which door is the correct one... and how does she tell? Which rock is the right one...... Is there a clue telling him?
Don't worry ... they know what they are doing ... and all the while they are doing it .... they are getting smarter.
There is one thing to remember however. Video games are good for children .. but ... so is playing outdoors and reading and romping with their siblings or friends or dogs or Mom or Dad.
Video games can become almost seemingly addicting so it is up to you .. the parent to regulate the time your children spend playing them and ... of course ..... regulate the type of video games they play.