Tech Thursday
"Should my kids play video games?" I hear this question ALL the time from parents who are concerned about the impact of video games on their child.
So, should you let your child play video games? Here are some pros and cons to help you decide:
PROS:
- Video Games Teach Problem-Solving Skills and Creativity
- Video Games Inspire Interest in History and Culture
- Video Games Help Kids Make Friends
- Video Games Encourage Exercise
- Video Games Let Kids Share the Joy of Competition
- Video Games Give Kids a Chance to Lead
- Video Games Provide an Opportunity to Teach
- Video Games Bring Parents and Kids Together
(you can read more at http://www.parents.com/kids/development/benefits-of-video-games/?slideId=37205)
CONS:
- They’ll grow up ‘weird’
- Video games lead to violence
- Your child will be badly behaved
- They won’t learn anything
- Video games make children stupid
(you can read more at http://wasduk.com/2014/01/30/why-children-totally-shouldnt-play-video-games/)
As a parent or guardian, you may just want to have somebody tell you if your kids should play video games or not. To be truthful, I am not a big video game player. In fact, I rarely want to even play a video game. But, I have watched my children and others play video games and I see a lot of positives as a result. If we all remember that moderation and supervision are the key to positive gaming, we will ensure that our kids are spending their time wisely and safely.
Jim Roberts: Western Dubuque Director of Instructional Technology & Student Reporting
Posted: Thursday, September 29, 2016