As a parent, I’m sure you’ve experienced frustration and worry over how much time your child spends playing video games. Video games have gotten a bad wrap over the years, as most saw them just as pure entertainment, and lacking much substance. You’ll be excited to learn that in moderation, video games actually can help your child in school. Today’s gamers will potentially be tomorrow’s inventors and engineers. So next time you ask you child to put away the games, think about the ways that gaming positively affects learning:
1. For most gamers, gaming is a highly-social activity.
Seventy percent of gamers play with their friends who are in the same room, and only 20 percent play alone. In many of these games, players work together in teams to achieve goals, compete against other players, or both.These pro-social behaviors are critical for healthy social development -children with positive social skills are more likely to have high self-esteem, good peer relationships and achieve in school.
2. Games improve critical thinking skills and reading comprehension.
Video games present a valuable opportunity to make important material more relevant
and engaging for students. “Alternate reality games (ARGs) can be used as an immersive learning system
that combines rich narrative, digital technology, and real-world game play,” author Paul Darvasi wrote in an article for KQED
“Students must exercise critical thinking, resilience, and creative problem solving to succeed in an ARG.” Video games
enable students to put themselves in the shoes of a character, or immerse themselves in a place or culture that they are learning about in the classroom. These types of interactive experiences get students more excited about the material and support long-term retention.
3. Video games are especially well-suited for individualized learning.
Every student is different. For most teachers and their schools, having sufficient resources to provide every student with an individualized learning plan is a faraway dream. But video games can make it a reality. Games allow students to learn at their own pace. Players’ experience can be tailored based on their performance and preferences. If they solve problems
correctly, the game can adjust to present more difficult challenges. If they struggle with a concept, the game can present the same concept in a different context or decrease the difficulty level until the student gets it.
4. Games teach new technical skill sets.
Video games are a powerful way to get kids interested in technology from an early age, and teach them basic technical skills that will reap rewards down the road. For example, the wildly popular game Angry Birds is now teaching children basic coding principles. Video games also hone spatial thinking, reasoning, memory,perception, and problem-solving– all which come in handy for a wide-range of technical careers.
5. Video games make people happy and relieve stress.
Video games can have positive, therapeutic effects on players of all ages, especially those with mental or emotional problems.
Games provide a chance to tune out the stresses of everyday life and decompress. Giving your mind time to rest is critical for
emotional and mental well-being. Relaxation reduces the risk of heart problems and stroke, boosts memory, buffers against depression, and helps decision making. As always, gaming should be done in moderation. I am a firm believer in the benefits of outdoor and unplugged play as well. But before you tell you child to put away the video games, remember their positive benefits and you may want to join in the video games yourself!!! GAME ON!
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