When played in moderation, age-appropriate video games can help young children develop educationally, socially, and physically. Click here to play for free gangster crime.
Why Are Video Games Beneficial?
As parents, we tend to focus on the risks of video games rather than the benefits. However, because these games are now a normal part of modern childhood, it’s important to understand that video games can be a powerful tool for helping children develop certain life skills. Understanding the benefits can assist parents in selecting appropriate leisure-time games, educators in seeking ways to supplement classroom teaching, and game developers in creating educational games.
In 2010, I published a paper in the Review of General Psychology titled “Children’s Motivations for Video Game Play in the Context of Normal Development.” The study included findings from studies I led at Harvard Medical School as well as survey data gathered from interviews with over 1,000 public school students. Based on my research, here are nine reasons why video games can help your child’s development and education.
Problem-Solving Skills Can Be Taught Through Video Games
Video games can aid in the development of children’s brains. I remember watching my son play Legend of Zelda games when he was a young adolescent. To move forward, he had to search, negotiate, plan, and try various approaches. Many other games involving planning and problem-solving, such as Bakugan: Defenders of the Core, were released around the time of my research.
Furthermore, “modding,” the process by which players customise their character’s appearance and create new game levels, allows for creative self-expression, a thorough understanding of game rules and structure, and novel ways of emphasising personalities and interests. Even if video games aren’t labelled “educational,” they can still help children learn to make decisions, use strategies, anticipate consequences, and express themselves.
History And Culture Can Be Sparked By Video Games
Certain video games’ content can encourage children to read and research. Video games like Age of Mythology, Civilization, and Age of Empires, for example, may pique a child’s interest in world history, geography, ancient cultures, and international relations, especially if parents are on the lookout for opportunities.
“When children have parents who help turn Age of Mythology into an island of expertise, tying it to books, Internet sites, museums, and media about mythology, cultures, and geography, the children pick up a wide range of complex language, content, and connections that serve as preparation for future learning of a highly complex and deep sort,” researchers David Shaffer and James Gee write.
Furthermore, these games frequently allow children to create and share maps or other custom content, allowing them to develop creative and technical skills while having fun.
Video Games Can Assist Children In Making New Friends
In contrast to their parents, most young children see video games as a social rather than an isolating activity. Young kids can use video games to make friends, hang out, and spend structured time with their friends.
In our study, focus groups of adolescent boys reported that games were a frequent topic of conversation among their peers. One boy, for example, revealed that his classmates mostly talked about “girls and games—the two Gs.”
Furthermore, our research discovered that children with mild learning disabilities were more likely to play video games for the purpose of “making new friends.”
Exercise Can Be Encouraged By Video Games
Players (particularly boys) talked about learning new moves from sports video games and practicing them on the basketball court or skateboards in my research. Some people took up new sports after seeing them in video games.
As one young man revealed during a research focus group, “They make incredible plays in real-world games, which are mostly sports games. You might get better if you try them outside and keep practicing.”
According to research, playing realistic sports video games (excluding tournament fighting) resulted in more time spent playing sports and exercising in real life.
Video Games Can Help People Enjoy Competition
It is normal and healthy for children to compete with their peers for status and recognition. “I like to compete with other people and win,” according to my surveys and focus group studies with young teens, was one of the most popular reasons for playing video games—again, especially for boys.
Video games provide a safe outlet for competitive urges and can provide opportunities for children who do not prefer sports.
Leadership Possibilities Can Be Found In Video Games
Children who play video games in groups frequently take turns leading and following, depending on who has the necessary skills for the game. Explaining and demonstrating games is beneficial for developing leadership skills such as persuasion, motivation, and conflict resolution.
Furthermore, online multi-player games provide teens with a rare opportunity to participate in, and sometimes lead, a diverse, mixed-age team. And it makes no difference how old you are if you can lead the team to victory.
Creativity Can Be Inspired By Video Games
A study published in the Creativity Research Journal discovered a link between specific video games and creativity. The 352 people who took part in the study either played Minecraft with or without instruction, watched a TV show, or played a race car game.
The researchers discovered that those who played Minecraft without instruction performed the most creatively on subsequent tasks. Researchers hypothesize that this is because they were given the most freedom to think for themselves while playing.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ls.rope.hero.mafia.city.superherogames
Teaching Opportunities Can Be Found In Video Games
Approximately one-third of the children we studied said they liked to teach others how to play video games. During research, one boy’s father revealed, “The majority of my son’s interactions with his friends revolve around solving problems within the context of a game. It’s all about how you get from one place to another, or how you collect the things you need and combine them in ways that will help you succeed.”
Some kids become known as the “go-to” kid who knows how to beat the most difficult parts of a game. Teaching others improves social, communication, and patience skills.
Parents And Children Can Interact Through Video Games
I’ll never forget watching my friend’s 10-year-old daughter teach her how to play Guitar Hero thanks to my research. The game included songs from my friend’s adolescence and college years, which drew her in. The best part was watching the daughter become an expert and share her gaming skills with her mother, reversing the typical parent-child roles.
Sharing game time is becoming more possible now that some video game systems are friendlier to newcomers. Furthermore, playing a video game alongside your child encourages easy conversation, which may encourage your child to share their problems and triumphs with you.
