Can video games be good for children?
Written solely by Gwen Kirk for geekexpress.com
You'd be hard-pressed to find a kid who would say no to playing video games. They’re fun, interactive, and a great way to pass the time. In fact, a study listed in Psychology Today found that kids are spending 50% more time on gadgets than ever before, and a good chunk of that time is spent playing video games. If this is making you worry, then it shouldn’t be. Video games have plenty more to offer kids than just flashy graphics.
The benefits of video games for kids
Just as physical exercise is able to stimulate and improve one’s body, video games do much of the same for the brain. For example, research conducted by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China informs that long-time exposure to games could improve hand-eye coordination, focus, and memory. For children, this can only help them as they grow older.
In fact, separate findings on Romper highlight the ability of video games to improve one’s problem solving and decision-making skills. They’ll also teach them to multitask.
Video games in education
Because of the mentioned benefits above (and more), lots of schools have taken to integrating video games into their lessons, too, especially in these restrictive months. Kevin Péloquin, a history teacher from Montreal, for example, had hoped to take his students on a trip to Greece for a closer look into the local culture and architecture. Fortunately, he found a solution in Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey—a video game that, surprisingly, had accurate Greek elements that he was looking for.
Of course, besides taking existing video games into the curriculum, there are also those that are intentionally made to be used in a classroom setting. One of the best examples of this is Minecraft: Education Edition.
This game offers specialized features for educators to teach students, like a classroom management system, sample lessons, and more. Its biggest selling point, however, is that it’s equipped with the tools needed to teach students how to code, like the basics of JavaScript. Geek Express sets a great model that creates synergy between coding and video games. Apart from teaching coding on Minecraft itself, the Geek Express online academy guides students to a journey that uses several coding softwares so that they can create their own video games!
Other video games that are made to be used in the classroom include but are not limited to Scribblenauts for vocabulary, Math Blaster for numbers, and Civilization for economics as well as politics.
Video games as a career
Aside from playing video games, your children could also end up developing, designing, or marketing games instead. In a previous post entitled ‘What Do You Think When You Hear The Word “Coding”?’, we mentioned how today’s job market is in dire need of coders, and a huge chunk of them end up making games. Then again, even if your kid is interested in other aspects like graphics design and story writing, there’s still a place for them in the industry.
So, are video games good for your kids? The answer is a resounding yes. Whether they’re in it for the mental benefits or see it as a potential career, the industry offers an infinite number of possibilities.
