Kids and Video Games
The Good and the Bad
The domestic video game industry brings in a staggering $12 billion a year. Nine out of ten kids today play video games, some spending upwards of 18 hours a day on them . Younger adults, through the age of 30, have grown up with electronic devices and are hooked on games as well.
Parents are confused. Are video games okay? Will their kids turn into zombies or bullies from too many hours in front of the screen, or playing too many violent games? Is it right to prohibit them entirely from such a popular activity? Or are they learning skills from playing the games? And how much is too much?
They are right to be confused. There are pros and cons to video games, and limits that need to be set.
Video games do teach children a variety of skills. Hand/eye coordination, problem solving and logic, concentration, how to follow instructions, and strategy are just a few of them. Games encourage kids to become part of the script, and as a result children learn to deal with frustration and challenges, set and rethink goals, and analyze a situation and make quick decisions.
In games such as SimCity and Railroad Tycoon, players actually learn to manage limited resources, just as they would in real life. In fact, the creator of SimCity says that many kids who were avid players have gone on to become architects and urban planners.
On the other hand, there are the kids who spend 18 hours a day playing video games, who entirely forsake their “real” life: schoolwork, relationships, and health. They literally become addicted to the dopamine rush created by playing video games, and completely lose track of the time they spend playing.
Video games are often quite violent, and several studies indicate that these games are one of the reasons behind the increasing violence in our culture. If your child shows signs of violent behavior or anger issues, be careful to keep such videos out of their hands.
How can you tell if your child is becoming addicted to video games? Some of the signs include spending excessive amounts of time on electronic devices, becoming defensive if confronted about video usage, neglecting schoolwork, spending time on the computer instead of with friends or family, and even neglecting hygiene.
If you are concerned about your child’s video game usage, or just want to get a handle on how involved they are, try not to be confrontational. Talk to your kid about what they enjoy about video games. Give them a chance to share their experiences and interests with you.
You might even sit down and play a game with your child. There are many free online educational games you can play together.
A study in the United Kingdom of 5000 kids revealed an optimal period for video use. An hour or less per day appeared to make kids happier and more content. Children today grow up in an electronic age and it’s simply part of their life. But any more than three hours usage produced children who developed personal and social problems.
So moderate video usage is fine, but be sure to provide a balance of mental and physical activity. Set limits and stick to them. Kids lose track of time when they’re playing video games, so it’s up to parents to tell them the time is up, and to send them outside to play.
One additional point to consider. If your child is doing just fine in the real world of school, sports and social activities, then it may not be necessary to curtail his or her video time quite so much. In this case, two to two and a half hours should be just fine and a nice reward for good behavior.
Parenting is the toughest job anyone will ever face, and parents need their down time. Just as in earlier generations parents sat their kids in front of a TV set for a few hours to take a much needed break, using TV as an electronic pacifier, parents today can take advantage of video games to get their own opportunity to reboot.
Video games are neither all good, nor all bad. As long as parents set limits, and make sure that their kids get plenty of fresh air and exercise, it’s fine to let them spend time with video games. After all they are a different generation!
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