In today’s society, you cannot escape video games. With social media and online gaming becoming increasingly popular, more children than ever are playing video games.
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At the back of every parent’s mind is always the question of how video games affect kids. It can be difficult as a parent to know where to draw the line with what games your child should or should not play.
In addition to this, it can be tough knowing how long you should let your child play video games.
In this article, we will be discussing some of the effects of video games on kids.
We will be looking at both sides of this discussion, the positive and the negative. We hope this article will help you to make an informed decision about whether or not you think video games have a positive or negative effect on your child.
Positive Effects Of Video Games On Kids
Video games tend to have a bad rep when it comes to the effects they have on kids. Many people, media outlets, in particular, will provide long articles listing all of the negative ways they will impact your children.
But video games are not all bad. You may or may not be surprised to realize that they can have some positive effects on your child’s overall development.
Problem Solving Skills And Initiative
Depending on the video game, they can provide your child with better problem-solving skills. Games that have a story mode where you have to figure out how to complete the level can be great for children.
It encourages them to show initiative and think outside of the box to complete the levels by themselves. In addition to this, it will encourage the creative side of their brain to focus on getting their character from A to B in many different ways.
Improves Hand And Eye Coordination
While games such as catch and soccer will help to improve your child’s overall hand and eye coordination, video gaming is often forgotten about in this aspect.
Many games require your child to be using two different controllers at the same time to do two different actions. For example, one controller may be needed to jump and the other to move backward and forward.
Without realizing it, this will become second nature to your child and improves their overall coordination. This is especially true for interactive video games that involve moving around the room or dancing, for example.
Improves Team Building Skills
Games that are multiplayer and involve working together will greatly improve your child’s overall team working skills. Multiplayer games often involve children having to complete separate tasks to complete one overall objective.
This will involve talking to teammates, solving problems together, and talking through the situation at hand. Not only will this improve their ability to work in a team, but it will also help their leadership skills and their ability to listen.
Multiplayer games will improve friendships as children can share an enjoyment for games. It is also a great way for you to interact with your child if you play video games together.
Improves Memory
Video games will help to improve your child’s memory as they will have to recall how to do certain tasks. They may need to remember past levels of a game to help them complete their current level.
These improved memory skills can be transferred into everyday situations, such as revising for exams or pop quizzes.
Negative Effects
Naturally, video games are not all positive and they can have a negative effect on your children for several different reasons.
The most important things to remember are to monitor the games your child is playing and the amount of time they are playing them for.
Online Safety
Online safety can be an issue if your child is playing games with people from all over the world.
It is essential to only allow your child to play games with people online that they know. This will help to protect them from inappropriate language and potential predators.
Age-Appropriate Games
If your child is playing a game that is not age-appropriate, this can have a negative effect on them.
Games are age-restricted for good reason, and if your child is playing an overly aggressive or gory game this can affect them negatively.
It could potentially give them nightmares and it could also encourage aggressive behavior.
Lack Of Social Interaction
If your child is too focused on video games and does not interact with people in person enough, this can affect them significantly. They can become too introverted and can lack the social skills they need to interact with others.
They may not get the same joy from playing with other children in person and may not interact with their families enough if they are too invested in video games. This can cause antisocial behavior and social isolation.
Effects On Health And Schoolwork
If your child is playing too many video games for extended periods, this can have a great impact on their physical and mental health.
They may be straining their eyes because they are staring at a screen for too long. This could lead to headaches and the white light from the screens can have a big effect on your child’s sleep. Over time, excess video gaming can potentially weaken eyesight.
In addition to this, if video gaming becomes an obsession this can affect your child’s mental health. They may not be able to concentrate on other things such as schoolwork. This is why it is important to set boundaries for your child and to limit the amount of time they spend playing video games.
Summary
Video games can have both a positive and negative effect on kids. The most important thing to remember is to allow your child to play games that are suitable for their age.
Always monitor the games they play, especially if they are online to ensure that your child is safe and is not interacting with anyone they do not know.
You should always allow your child time away from video gaming to give their eyes and mind a break.
Video gaming can have a lot of positive effects on your child, however, such as increased cognitive functions and memory, and team-building skills. The correct games in smaller doses can be fantastic for your child overall.
As long as you keep the balance, gaming can be fun for your child and an overall positive experience. It can improve their friendships and is a fun way for you to spend time with your child too.
As a parent of a five-year-old inquisitive boy, I have gained a lot of experience finding fun activities and toys to help him understand science and understanding our world in general. On this blog, you’ll find an extensive amount of tutorials, guides, and toys about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math based on my personal experience to help your child develop critical STEM skills.
