Parents often focus on the possible risks of electronic video games rather than the potential benefits. However, these games are a common aspect of modern childhood. Video games may be an excellent tool for helping children develop if you know what to look for when choosing a live game. In addition, resources can assist parents in selecting acceptable leisure-time games, educators in finding ways to augment classroom instruction, and game creators in creating educational games.
Many experts and psychologists believe that video games can have a variety of benefits, the most important of which is that they can help children become smarter by teaching their brains different skills. Video games may help children develop fine thinking skills that they will need in the future. Your child’s brain gets good exercise when they play video games. Many video games necessitate abstract and high-level thinking skills to win. It can also help kids develop goal-setting perseverance, resilience and communication skills to understand how to respect other people’s viewpoints.
Friendships — the profound human connection — can be formed and maintained through online gaming, according to research. Several studies have found that video gaming can encourage youngsters to engage in more prosocial actions, particularly when they play cooperative games. One study discovered that gaming could lead to children making more friends and being more willing to communicate with others. At the same time, another study found that gaming can lead to children being more willing to help others.
Let’s now look at the specifics to see for yourself how gaming can be good for children and young adults.
Problem Solving
Video games can aid children’s brain development. To advance in some games, you must search, negotiate, prepare and attempt different tactics. Other games entail problem-solving and planning. Modding, or customizing the appearance of game characters and creating new game levels, allows for creative self-expression, a thorough understanding of game rules and structure, and new methods to emphasize personalities and interests. Youngsters can learn to make decisions, employ strategies, foresee consequences and express their personalities — and these video games do not need to be explicitly instructional either.
Learning About Culture and History
Certain video games have material that encourages kids to read and investigate. Age of Mythology, Civilization and Age of Empires are examples of video games that can pique a child’s interest in world history, geography, ancient cultures and international relations. Furthermore, these games frequently allow children to create and share custom maps or other material, allowing them to develop both creative and technical abilities while having fun.
Social Skills
Unlike their parents, most young children regard video games as a social rather than an isolating pastime. Video games give a common ground for young children to meet friends, hang out and spend scheduled time with their peers. According to findings, boys were more likely to play video games with a group of friends, either in the same room or online. Furthermore, young boys stated that games were a common topic of conversation among their friends. Also, children with modest learning difficulties were more inclined to play video games to establish new acquaintances.
Friendly Competition
It’s natural for children to compete with one another for status and recognition. Video games provide a secure environment for children to express their competitive drives. They can help children who don’t excel at sports to succeed.
Leadership Skills
When youngsters play video games in groups, they frequently take turns leading and following, depending on who has the necessary skills. Online multiplayer games give teenagers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of, and often even lead, a diverse, mixed-age team. And it doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you can lead your team to victory.
Creativity
A study published in the Creativity Research Journal discovered a link between creativity and certain video games. The 353 participants were split into three groups: those who played Minecraft with or without instruction, those who watched TV, and those who played a race car game. According to the researchers, individuals who played Minecraft without instruction completed tasks with the most creativity — possibly because they were allowed the most flexibility to think independently while playing.
Teaching Skills
In one study, approximately one-third of the children interviewed indicated they preferred to teach others about video games. Some kids become known as the go-to youngster who knows how to beat a game’s most difficult levels. Others are being taught how to improve their social and communication skills, as well as their patience.
Communication Skills
Parents and kids can share game time, and that has many benefits. It’s becoming easier to share playing time now that some video game systems are more friendly to newcomers. Furthermore, playing a video game with your child side by side enables easy interaction, which may encourage your child to share her troubles and victories with you.
As you can see, playing video games has many different benefits for people of all ages. Unfortunately, video games take the blame for an awful lot of things in society these days. However, instead of looking for the bad stuff, one should look at the positives.
