Do Video Games Belong In the Home?

In home video games have been in existence for the last 30 years. They allow the player to enter into a virtual world and become part of the game’s reality. Today, the quality of these games has greatly evolved. The realistic features in some of the characters and environmental settings mimic real life scenarios, making it sometimes hard for impressionable children to understand the difference. So, are all video games bad?

            Video games aren’t all bad. Playing games for a limited amount of time can improve dexterity, promote computer literacy, and help language development in younger gamers. Companies have now created learning games that promote the mental development of small children. They are able to recognize letters, shapes, numbers, and objects, which all help memory. With advancements in technology, some of the games talk back to the players, improving language and listening skills. Following instructions is also important when playing. The gamer must plan, think quickly, take risks, and concentrate. In order to advance to a higher level, all qualifications must be fulfilled, which includes problem solving and logic.

            Alternatively, some video games encourage violence and danger. The more interactive the game is, posing realistic violent situations, the more problematic they become. Ironically, Grand Theft Auto V, a violent virtual reality game recently hit store shelves and made almost one billion dollars internationally within first weekend sales. While the rating on the game is “Mature”, for consumers 17 years of age and older, many parents bought the game for younger children. What do violent video games impose on impressionable youth? They have the potential to promote violence outside of the game, confuse reality and fantasy, encourage social isolation, and could enable impulsive behavior.

            Choosing which video games to purchase for children can be challenging. While some seem to have positive learning features, those games are purchased in a lesser volume than violent games. Is the influence of peers causing children to ask for these games at home, or are parents and caregivers unaware of the intense negative nature of some of the more violent games? If children ask to play specific video games, do research, discuss, and make suggestions to decide whether those games actually belong in the home.

Wii Need To Get Kids Outside & Involved

A few years back, the Nintendo Wii was being touted as a great form of exercise, especially for kids who would rather play video games than head outside. The games, such as Wii Sports with bowling and boxing, appealed to most everyone from toddlers to adults. Nintendo recognized the success and continued to build upon it. Next was the birth of Dance Dance Revolution and Just Dance. Then came the Wii Fit and Xbox Kinect—these new console add-ons allowed you to take a yoga class or go skiing in your own living room. Indoor exercising had officially become a craze!

Now, the thing about a craze is that it could just taper off into what was once a fad or it could have long lasting effects on culture. This craze is one that we may need to say goodbye to for a variety of reasons. Besides the very obvious lack of fresh air, US researchers are now finding that these games do very little in the way of physical exertion. In fact, the games deemed active (such as Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution) result in no more physical activity than those thought of as passive (Mario Kart or Disney’s Sing It). Another issue that has been addressed by experts is the lack of learning experiences children have by getting outside and being part of a team. Kids Sports NSW owner Steve Gordon commented to Fox News, “With real sports you also need to learn how to work with your teammates and you learn the life skills and social skills of how to play in a team.”

So if your kids aren’t getting the benefits of fresh air, exercise or social skills, should you just delete your Mii and call it quits on your love affair with the Wii?

Well, maybe not yet! While it may be lacking in some areas, the Wii can still be a great way for your family to bond and a perfect rainy day boredom buster. The solution is to define the Wii as a fun game to play on the side and ensure that your kids are getting enough fresh air, exercise and exposure to teamwork with relying on Nintendo’s popular gaming system.