How video games can be beneficial to kids

A lot has been said about video games' negative impacts on kids. The fact is, while some games are inappropriate for children and teenagers, there are video games out there that have real benefits for children. They teach valuable skills that can help young people develop socially and academically. Games can help kids learn how to concentrate, solve problems creatively and work with others to reach a common goal. They also improve hand-eye coordination and teach speed, agility and quick-thinking skills. Kids can explore new worlds while taking risks in virtual worlds that they would not dare take in real life.

I will focus on the major benefits of video games for kids:

• "Personal Characteristics" where I discuss how games can help kids improve personality development skills, build confidence as well as improve creativity and problem-solving skills.
  
  
• "Parenting" where I talk about the possible effects that video games may have on children and families in a general way.

I. Personal Characteristics

A lot of research has been devoted to the benefits of video games for kids, and there really are many. This is because a significant number of video games encourage players to develop their personal characteristics and improve performance.

Problem Solving Skills

Like any other task, playing video games requires problem solving skills. There are always difficult levels in a game that require strategy planning as well as quick reflexes and problem solving to get past them successfully. This is very similar to what we ask our precious children to do when we give them math and reading problems to solve. Playing video games helps develop problem solving skills. At Bingo Blitz, you'll find variants of Bingo that teach kids numbers.

Creativity

Do not be surprised when your kids take a break from playing the latest shoot 'em up game and start drawing something. Games are a source of inspiration that help kids see things in new ways and express themselves creatively.

Hand-Eye Coordination

Playing video games helps develop hand-eye coordination; another skill that is essential for school success. Kids instinctively move the controller or mouse just like they have done on a computer or digital gaming device for years, as they aim, jump, shoot and explore new worlds in virtual space.

Hand-eye coordination is required to move the hand and the eye in a coordinated fashion, something that is also essential in other daily activities such as typing. It has been shown through studies that kids who play video games have better hand-eye coordination than those who don't, because this is what they spend their time doing in real life.

Improved Concentration

One of the biggest benefits of video games for kids is improved concentration, a skill that will help them throughout their education and on into their adult lives. As children play video games, they are required to constantly shift focus between different tasks and situations. This is not unlike what we demand of them in school when they have to shift from one math problem to another, from writing to reading the next paragraph in a story. The ability to juggle these demands on their attention will help them concentrate on important tasks for longer and perform better in class as well as their personal lives.

To make things easier for children, developers have created games that require multiple skills such as concentration, hand-eye-coordination and hand-eye-foot coordination. These multi-tasking games help improve concentration skills even more.

Teamwork & Cooperation Skills

Playing shooter games like Halo or Call of Duty encourage children to work together as a team and cooperate while playing together online. This is a skill that they will need in high school and later in the real world.

Teamwork is also important for many games where children have to work together to complete a common goal. There are games that even encourage team leaders to use these skills by making them responsible for the performance of their respective teams. These kids learn from a young age that being responsible for their actions can make a difference, both in and out of class.

II. Parenting

As parents, we are concerned about what our kids do when they spend time in the virtual world of video games. We are worried that these games will expose them to inappropriate content or encourage bad behavior. However, this is not the case. As long as you know how to find the right kind of game and be a good role model yourself, then there isn't any need to worry.

Choose games carefully for your kids from an early age. You should watch them play games not only for content but also to understand their level of skill and mastery over it. If they are good at it, then you can encourage them to continue playing by finding similar ones with more challenging levels. You can also have them play games that will help them develop skills they are having difficulty with. For example, if your child is a slow reader, then you can give them games that encourage reading and help build confidence and concentration. There are online reviews, previews as well as game shop assistants who can help with this process.

Be a good role model as well. If you are a gamer yourself, then make sure that your kids see you play the games with moderation. Make sure that they see your interest in video games without being extremist about it.

You should also remain involved with them as they explore the virtual world of video games. Ask them about the content they have watched, and discuss it with them honestly and openly. As long as you are open to hearing their thoughts and paying attention to their feelings, then there is no reason for you to worry.

Video games can be a great way to bond with your child. It can be a great way to spend some quality time together, and it won't cost you anything. Just make sure that when you do play games with your kids that you don't end up spending too much time on them and neglect the rest of your responsibilities around the house.

It is also important for parents to not only consider the content of video games, but also the time they get exposed to it. In moderation, video games are actually quite beneficial for children's development because they teach them important skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. However there may be instances where children spend a little too much time playing these games which may result in an unhealthy addiction issue.