Seven Surprising Reasons to Let Your Children Enjoy Video Games
Video games are popular for people of all ages,
although many people are still concerned about their effects on children.
Fortunately, to help put your mind at ease, here are seven surprising reasons
to let your children enjoy video games:
1. Video games help teach your children how to socialize with
others.
When
people think about video games, they often think about grown men living in
their mothers' basements, locked away from the world. However, today's gaming
experience allows people of all ages to communicate with each other and build
friendships that can potentially last for life. Not only can people chat
directly through many games, but they can also connect through various social
networks to keep in touch.
2. Video games help teach children the value of teamwork.
Many
video games are designed with cooperative campaigns that require teamwork to
successfully complete. For example, in online games such as Ragnarok Online,
guild events, such as raids or War of Emperium battles, require open
communication and cooperation. If you do not work well as a team, you will not
be invited to join many community groups, so children learn quickly how to
effectively work with others.
3. Video games build problem solving skills.
Above
anything else, video games force people to think about every move that they
make. While this may be more obvious with puzzle games, even the most basic
shooter game requires people to logically think things through.
4. Video games encourage strategic thinking.
Many
of the best games require strategic thinking to accomplish goals. They require
players to think about how they will upgrade their weapons or what skills they
should learn to best accomplish certain goals. For example, in Left4Dead2,
choosing a chainsaw while running through a horde of zombies in tight places
will allow you and your team to effectively advance much more quickly.
5. Video games allow for positive reinforcement.
Most
games reward players for their accomplishments throughout the game. By taking
advantage of various ways to gain rewards, such as weapon upgrades or stat
boosts, children learn that it is okay to take risks to achieve their goals.
Being rewarded for their in game performance can also make them feel more
confident outside of the game, and especially if they are among other gamers.
6. Video games help improve hand-eye coordination.
Although
this benefit has been apparent ever since games first started appearing, it is
even more true today. In fact, according to the February issue of Archives of
Surgery, it was reported that when surgeons play games on a regular basis, they
are less likely to make mistakes during operations.
7. Video games help bring families together.
There
are plenty of video games that you and your children can play together. By
making a game night of it, you can help create fond memories that will be
remembered for years to come. For example, introducing family members to a new
game is always a great source of entertainment.
Videos
games have lots to offer not just for children, but everyone. By working with
your children, you can help them grow in new and fascinating ways.
Author Bio:
Luke
Harper is a former school teacher who is now a stay-at-home dad of four active
children. When he can free up a few minutes, he loves to blog about child
development on various Internet blog sites. To find lots of entertaining and
educational children's online games, just go to http://www.playberry.com.
