Technology has improved a lot over the years. We now have the iPad, iPod, better laptops, 3D gaming consoles - and everybody's taking advantage of it, including kids. Times have changed; it's very different from when I was growing up. When I was young, me and my friends enjoyed playing out in the backyard where my dad made us a clubhouse. Today, it's very rare for children to take time off from playing on their PS3 or Xbox and play tag or hide-and-seek instead.
All sorts of reports have come out warning parents that having their kids play too much video games have negative effect. Are the reports true? Yes. There are different reasons why this is so.
First, kids who play too much video game miss out on opportunities to do activities that are important for their social, intellectual, and physical development. When a child spends time in front of the screen, he doesn't get to play with other kids (important for social skills) or from working out through running and playing (important for physical development).
There's one thing similar among most video games today - violence. Even games that seem innocent enough such as World of Warcraft are actually based on conquering and killing other characters. Furthermore, studies have shown that kids who play at least 9.5 hours of video games weekly are prone to show aggressive behavior later in life.
What should parents do? Remember that not all games are based on violence. There are some that are educational and age-appropriate for your child. Choose these kinds of games and make it a point to spend time playing them with your child.
This gives you the opportunity to bond and spend time together. There's nothing wrong with playing video games as long as it's not too much so make sure that you put a limit on your child's game time.
All sorts of reports have come out warning parents that having their kids play too much video games have negative effect. Are the reports true? Yes. There are different reasons why this is so.
First, kids who play too much video game miss out on opportunities to do activities that are important for their social, intellectual, and physical development. When a child spends time in front of the screen, he doesn't get to play with other kids (important for social skills) or from working out through running and playing (important for physical development).
There's one thing similar among most video games today - violence. Even games that seem innocent enough such as World of Warcraft are actually based on conquering and killing other characters. Furthermore, studies have shown that kids who play at least 9.5 hours of video games weekly are prone to show aggressive behavior later in life.
What should parents do? Remember that not all games are based on violence. There are some that are educational and age-appropriate for your child. Choose these kinds of games and make it a point to spend time playing them with your child.
This gives you the opportunity to bond and spend time together. There's nothing wrong with playing video games as long as it's not too much so make sure that you put a limit on your child's game time.
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