Computer and video games are one of the favorite “targets” of teachers and parents when it comes to finding who is to blame for all the child’s troubles. A lot of nervousness, little sleep, poor learning – where to look for the cause? Surely in the computer games! Is it really so? Should children be forbidden to play? Or can we leave access only to games of specific genres? How to control a schoolboy, so as not to spoil relations with him? On the benefits of video games, we will talk about today.
Should Children Be Banned from Playing Video Games?
It used to be that children were forbidden to read novels; now video games have become part of popular culture. It is useless to ban, because sooner or later he will start playing. Sitting and staring at a screen for hours on end is dangerous to your health – that’s a fact. But there is no scientific evidence that some games are more harmful or useful than others. A junior high school student can play games that are popular with his peers, if he wants to, of course. In online team battles, kids socialize and defeat enemies together. For virtual merit, the child gets the respect of peers in the real world.
If the game is important, you should not forbid it, but the time should be dosed. Establish rules, while respecting the child’s needs. Let’s say a battle lasts for 2 hours and 40 minutes, and you only allow an hour a day to play. If you forbid participation, the child will let the team down, get mad at you and be upset for a long time. In this situation, it is better to agree that he gets these three hours in advance for the next two days.
Advantages of Video Games
What if, for example, the story the player plays the role of commander, who commands the artillery crew, must stop the advance of tanks and protect the homeland? There are also such “shooters. And then there are games “strategy”, where you need not shoot at anyone, but to develop a city or a state or colony of settlers, pave roads, build granaries, libraries, to determine the income and expenditure of the state budget, to establish diplomatic relations with neighbors, etc. Games-“quests” also do not require “killing innocent monsters,” they usually involve solving a lot of twists in the plot riddles and questions. Another type of game where the player learns to drive a virtual car, bypass obstacles, etc. In addition, there are hundreds of logical and reaction games. After all, there is such a computer game as chess.
Personality
In addition, video games contribute to mental development. When a child reaches adolescence, he begins to develop his own self. The virtual world helps him decide what he wants to be in the future. RPGs make the young gamer feel like a different person. Programs like The Sims allow you to experiment with appearance, career, and even behavior without any long-term consequences. Success at this stage leads to the formation of the child’s character and morals, and if he fails, he will seek his vocation until he grows up.
Discretion
The virtual world is a fascinating place to be. Given the availability of smartphones and computers, you should start thinking about introducing your child to them now. There are many factors to consider, from motor development to age and maturity. After all, parents know best what suits their children.
Age Restrictions
Today’s store shelves are bursting with an abundance of entertainment software. The ESRB rating can be used to determine which of this variety is suitable for children. Each video game is given a rating depending on what age group it is suitable for. Sometimes there are even reasons why a project was given a certain label (among them are scenes of “cartoonish” violence, alcohol consumption, and so on). A more reliable way is to play it yourself. If a child asks for Grand Theft Auto, there is nothing to talk about. However, with indie projects is not so simple. As a rule, they are working on developers whose works have not yet been assigned official ratings.
On sites like Steam, parents can buy the game that interests their child and return it if it does not seem suitable. Most stores give customers two days and accept returns, even if the game was unpacked (although it is better to consult with the seller before buying). This is enough time to see if the game is suitable for a young gamer.
What Are the Conclusions?
Of course, it is better to delay the acquaintance of the child with the world of computer games. The more conscious age he gets acquainted with them, the more secure he will be. After all, sit them for them, as a rule, his parents: not in the garbage he would find a computer and do not install their first game.
It’s all about a sense of proportion. The task of parents is to control the time that the child sits at the computer. To computer does not damage the health of preschoolers, kids under six years should not be allowed to spend more than twenty minutes on the computer. Children aged 8-9 years can play educational games for thirty or forty minutes. And at ten years old can be allowed to sit at the screen for not more than an hour and a half. Of course, parents sometimes want a break from a restless child, so they let him sit at the computer longer that he does not interfere with household chores. But this is not the best option.
Try to divert your child’s attention to something else, sign him up for a sports club, find him a hobby. Talk to your child, explaining simply and simply why it is harmful to sit in front of the computer for a long time. But no need to tell horror stories, forcing, shouting, and pressuring him – he will much more appreciate your sincerity and honesty.