18 Reasons I Let My Kids Play Video Games

My name is Ian, and I let my kids play video games. There, I said it.

I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s playing the first video games on the planet: Pong, Space Invaders and that silly 2-dimensional arial dogfight game on the Atari 2600. In the 1990s I spent spare time playing R-Type and Street Fighter as therapy during law school. I am, in short, a lifetime video games geek.

I didn't just drag my kids in front of a console and leave them alone, though. I thought long and carefully before letting them try video games. Here's some of my thought process:

All of their friends play. When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to watch some TV shows because my parents didn't want me exposed to violence. So I got exposed to violence on the playground, instead, when 30 playmates proceeded to pummel me because I was so lame. My kids will be able to beat all their loser friends at Viva Pinata.
It makes them smarter. Yes, you heard me. Don't blame video games if your kid turns out to be a moron. The right video games provide your kids a new way to improve their reading skills, stimulate creativity and teach your kids basic computer skills, all while they're having fun. Tricky.
I'm not a complete moron. I'm not going to park my kid in front of the computer for 4 hours a day and let them play Conan Online with who-knows-which pedophiles. I manage their time and the games they play.
Video games keep kids out of trouble. "No cigarettes for me. I have to go beat Johnny in Mario Kart." Ok, so no kid would actually say that but you get the idea.
We play together. GASP. I actually do stuff. With my kids. On the computer. While I do sometimes do the 'in yer face' dance after beating my son in Lego Star Wars, it's mostly a positive experience for everyone.
Plus, it means I spend time with them when they'd otherwise be zoned out in front of the TV.
It teaches them patience, learning skills and a bit of philosophy. When my 6-year-old daughter looked at me after getting beaten badly in yet another Viva Pinata race and said, "That's OK, daddy, I was a little faster this time!" I knew I was on to something.
It teaches them to play together. My 8-year-old son learns to help his sister out a bit. My daughter learns that her brother isn't purely devoted to farting in her direction at dinnertime.
Computers aren't a fad. Somewhere, someday, my kids will be working on a job where their ability to move stuff around on a screen is (or should be) taken for granted. They'll be able to handle it.
Games are fun. God forbid our kids should actually have fun. But somewhere between the shortsighted standardized tests and 'no child left behind' I want to make sure they find a few sources of joy in their lives. Games are cool!
Geek is the new cool. Speaking of cool, somewhere in the last 15 years I went from being a geek loser to a cool geek. Wow. My kids deserve a shot at all the hot dates in high school. Well. My daughter doesn't actually, because I'll murder anyone who lays a hand on her. But you get the idea.
Life emulates video games. The interface in a 777 resembles a video game. Not the other way around. If you think that's a coincidence, you ain't paying attention.
It's better than television. Have you seen some of the crud on TV these days? It sucks out your kids' brains. Video games require that kids take action and respond to what they're seeing.
It keeps them busy. Those of you who aren't parents, feel free to frown and pass judgment. Parents, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Sometimes a video game is preferable to locking your kids in a small cage. If you use the cage, the government people will come. Use a video game, and you're good.
Games teach kids to separate media from reality. It's no longer enough to cut kids off from media. They're deluged with it. You have to raise children who can differentiate between Mass Effect and reality. And I'm depressed that I have to explain that.
Games stimulate creativity. Video games get kids thinking: If someone could make a computer do that, what else can they do? They'll carry that with them the rest of their lives.
Games teach them problem-solving. My son figured out a Lego Star Wars puzzle that even I couldn't get my head around. After I was done being annoyed, I was dang impressed.
Games have become a social experience. See number 1. Kids don't sit alone in rooms playing games any more (at least, they don't if their parents don't let them). They play with their friends. And games like Rock Band take it to another level with all sorts of cool cooperative play.
Of course, it's like a lot of other treats: Too much chocolate makes your little darling a lunatic. Too much video games do the same thing. Exercise restraint and intelligence, and watch how your kids respond. Don't let them play online unsupervised, and don't let them play games marked 'M' or games you know will scare them silly.

games + kids + you = OK

Ian Lurie is a writer and marketer in Seattle, WA. He currently represents ItzaBitza, whose drawing and learning video game helps teach kids to read, as well as Dreambox Learning, whose online math learning game teaches kids critical math skills. Ian's favorite games are WoW and StarCraft. He doesn't let his kids play either one. They'll forgive him someday.

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Video Games Improve Children Skills

According to some recent reports, video games improve cognitive and perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination and even social skills. It seems that games are not just a waste of time, but are powerful tools and can have many positive effects we didn't expect they could.

Video Games Improve Hand-Eye Coordination

The process of hand-eye coordination occurs when the eyes receive information and send it to the brain which uses it to coordinate with the hands to perform an activity.

Hand-eye coordination skills can be improved by practicing and exercising. One way to do so is by playing action video games. For some kids this seems to be the best way.

Video games are useful in this because the gamer must use his or her hands and fingers to respond to the information seen on the screen. Children can benefit from this practice even before they can read and write well.

As we get older some skills such as hand-eye coordination, motor skills and reflexes, need some sharpening, so it is wise to be involved in some game or sport.

Video Games Improve Social Skills 
Computer and console gaming improve social interaction skills and social development. I suppose you are asking: "Where did this come from?" I didn't make this up, it's the conclusion of recent research reports.

There where days when gamers were seen as being social outcasts. They were lonely people with machines for friends, but now things have changed. The main factor is the internet and online games.

The researchers claim that three-quarters of gamers play against other people whether it was off-line or on-line. Gamers can work off their anger and feel relaxed, plus they don't have to feel alone. They can work together with their gaming friends becoming more socially responsible.

Video Games Improve Cognitive and Perceptual Skills.

Researchers claim that some video games can have advantageous effects, improving gamers' skillfulness and their ability to solve problems. They came to the conclusion that playing video games can improve cognitive and perceptual skills.

Children who often play video games like: arcade games, action games, horse games, improve their concentration and math skills. When playing on-line, gamers also discuss their strategies and thoughts, developing informal scientific reasoning practices.

Gamers deal with a number of varied tasks at the same time. They notice new enemies, follow existing enemies, and avoid getting damaged, among other tasks. Such efforts may result in improved visual skills.

Video games also improve ones driving skills, because they require focus and manual agility. Smart children might use the results of these reports and say they can't stop playing because they are improving their skills and so improving their future.

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The Impact of Video Games on Children

Video games have been available to consumers for the last 30 years. They are a unique form of entertainment, because they encourage players to become a part of the game's script. Today's sophisticated video games require players to pay constant attention to the game, rather than passively watching a movie. This has both positive and negative impacts on players. Several studies have been published that explore these impacts on today's children. 

What impact does playing video games have on children or adolescents?

The most widely used "positive" impact video games are said to have on children is that they may improve a player's manual dexterity and computer literacy. Ever-improving technology also provides players with better graphics that give a more "realistic" virtual playing experience. 

This quality makes the video game industry a powerful force in many adolescent lives. However, numerous studies show that video games, especially ones with violent content, make teens more aggressive. 

Part of the increase in aggressive behavior is linked to the amount of time children are allowed to play video games. In one study by Walsh (2000), a majority of teens admitted that their parents do not impose a time limit on the number of hours they are allowed to play video games. The study also showed that most parents are unaware of the content or the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating (see below) of the video games their children play. 

In another study conducted by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh (2004, p.6) "adolescent girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week, whereas boys averaged 13 hours a week". The authors also stated that teens who play violent video games for extended periods of time:

• Tend to be more aggressive
  
• Are more prone to confrontation with their teachers
  
• May engage in fights with their peers
  
• See a decline in school achievements. (Gentile et al, 2004).

The interactive quality of video games differs from passively viewing television or movies because it allows players to become active participants in the game's script. Players benefit from engaging in acts of violence and are then able to move to the game's next level. 

Gentile & Anderson (2003) state that playing video games may increase aggressive behavior because violent acts are continually repeated throughout the video game. This method of repetition has long been considered an effective teaching method in reinforcing learning patterns.

Video games also encourage players to identify with and role play their favorite characters. This is referred to as a "first-person" video game (Anderson & Dill, 2000, p. 788) because players are able to make decisions affecting the actions of the character they are imitating. After a limited amount of time playing a violent video game, a player can "automatically prime aggressive thoughts" (Bushman & Anderson, 2002, p. 1680). The researchers concluded that players who had prior experience playing violent video games responded with anincreased level of aggression when they encountered confrontation (Bushman & Anderson, 2002).

In a Joint Statement (2000) before the Congressional Public Health Summit, a number of American medical associations -- the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry -- caution parents about violence in the media and its negative effect on children. Their report states that exposure to violent media can elevate aggressive feelings and thoughts, especially in children. These effects on aggressive behavior can be long-term. Although fewer studies have been conducted on interactive video games, evidence suggests that playing violent video games may have a more dramatic influence on the behavior of children and adolescents (Joint Statement, 2000). 
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Tips on managing your child's media consumption

Because of the popularity of video games, completely eliminating them from your child's life might be difficult. But you can decrease the negative impact that they have on your child. Here are a few tips:

• Know the rating of the video games your child plays (see below).
  
• Do not install video game equipment in your child's bedroom.
  
• Set limits on how often and how long your child is allowed to play video games.
  
• Monitor all of your child's media consumption -- video games, television, movies and Internet.
  
• Supervise your child's Internet use -- there are now many "video games" available for playing online.
  
• Take the time to discuss with your children the games they are playing or other media they are watching. Ask your children how they feel about what they observe in these video games, television programs or movies. This is an opportunity to share your feelings and grow closer with your child.
  
• Share with other parents information about certain games or ideas for helping each other in parenting.

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The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

The ESRB is a self-regulatory body established in 1994 by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA). The major video game manufacturers created this board after concerned groups applied pressure over the content of video games. Similar to the movie industry's rating system, all major game companies now submit their new products for rating to specially trained raters at the ESRB. The ESRB rates over 1,000 games per year.

The ESRB looks at a number of factors when rating games. In particular, it considers the amount of violence, sex, controversial language and substance abuse found in a game. Based on its developed guidelines, the ESRB then gives an age recommendation and content descriptor to each game submitted. The following are the rating symbols currently in use, according to the ESRB Web site.

• Early Childhood (EC): Content should be suitable for children 3 years and older and contain no objectional material.
  
• Everyone (E): Content suitable for persons ages 6 and older. The game may contain minimal violence and some "comic mischief." 
  
• Teen (T): Content suitable for persons ages 13 and older. Content is more violent than (E) rating and contains mild or strong language, and/or suggestive themes. 
  
• Mature (M): Content suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Content definitely has more mature sexual themes, intense violence and stronger language. 
  
• Adults Only (AO): Content suitable only for adults and may contain graphic sex and/or violence. Adult Only products are not intended for persons under the age of 18. 
  Rating Pending (RP): Game has been submitted to the ESRB and is awaiting a final rating.

The ESRB Web site has more details about this rating system, as well as the "content descriptors" that are used in conjunction with the ratings on game packaging. The site is also useful for parents who want to search for the rating of a particular game. 

By Andrea Norcia, college student writer

Reviewed by the Web Content Committee of PAMF

Videogames seen good for children

By Sarah Luehrs

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Videogames can be good for children, encouraging creativity and cooperation, a European Union report concluded Wednesday which ran counter to the violent reputation of some titles.

In conclusions that may either surprise or reassure parents of game addicts, the study by the European Parliament Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection found a number of benefits and no definitive link to violent behavior.

"Videogames are in most cases not dangerous and can even contribute to the development of important skills," said Toine Manders, the Dutch liberal lawmaker who drafted the report.

"(They stimulate) learning of facts and skills such as strategic reflection, creativity, cooperation and a sense of innovation," a news release on the report said.

The report avoided any call for EU-wide legislation banning certain games, and instead urged the bloc's 27 member states to work together in strengthening an existing voluntary code in Europe known as "PEGI" which rates games according to content.

Total revenues from the video gaming sector amounted to more than seven billion euros ($9 billion) last year, the report said. In Britain, separate research last year showed videogames outselling music and other video products for the first time.

The EU report noted that not all games are appropriate for children, but argued that some books and movies are targeted for an older audience. It acknowledged that violence in some games could "stimulate" violent behavior in specific situations.

The report stressed parental involvement by proposing development of a "red button" that could allow parents to control content and how long games are played. It did not elaborate as to what form this button would take.

It further challenged received wisdom that such games were chiefly for children, quoting statistics that showed the average age of the European gamer was 33.

(Editing by Mark John)

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