Picking the Right Videos Games for Your KidsFriday, 04 December 2009 14:14
The holiday season is here and many parents find themselves in the video game aisle shopping for their children. With so many different types of games available it can be hard to know which one is the right choice. If you are going to allow your children to spend hours playing video games it is vital to consider the impact of the games you choose. Research has proven that children can learn from the content presented in video games they play - regardless of whether the material is positive or negative.
Repeated exposure to violence in video games has been shown to create a positive association to negative or aggressive solutions. This happens over time as your child plays the lead role in violent games where they must make aggressive decisions to win. Before allowing your kids to convince you that these games are “no big deal” - get the details. In one popular game your child plays a young man who associates with gangs whose mission includes theft, murder and copious amounts of destruction. If injured, the player (your child) recovers his health by visiting prostitutes; he then beats them to death and takes their money to restore his funds. In another popular game the character played by your child learns that he can enhance his violent abilities by taking drugs like marijuana, ecstasy, and LSD. Is this the type of video environment that you want your young children immersed in for hours at a time?
Consider moving down the video game aisle to a completely different genre of games. Music video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are fun, non-violent games that allow multiple players to get involved. All different types of music can be played to accommodate everyone in the family and many different instruments are available. Another reason these video games are a great choice for your kids this holiday season is that these games may encourage your child to become interested in playing a musical instrument long after the video game is turned off. Music training has been shown to help under-achievers in school and high school students involved in music score higher than their peers in both verbal and math on their SATs.
Parents have the daunting job of balancing what kids ask for with what is appropriate for them. Find out more about the video games on the market to ensure that the games that you allow into your home will be safe, fun and promote healthy attitudes.
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