Is video games good for kids?

Issue of video gaming being good or bad has been a topic of interest since the inception of the first video game in the
early 20th century. Debates would often concentrate on the violence and chaos induced by video gaming, including the
detrimental effects it has on its gamers in all age groups and a few would concentrate on its benefits. Nowadays, it is to
hear about crimes committed by gamers especially from the teenage age groups, in an attempt to recreate the scenes
from the games they play. Experts and parents alike, including responsible gamers agree that there are several risks
involving video games. However they also agreed that there are several major benefits with video gaming that is often
unrealized given the concentration of many with video gaming’s dangerous side. Video gaming is actually very good
for gamers as it promotes physical, mental, social, and emotional development that helps gamers keep up with the ups
and downs of modern life.
People often play video games for a variety of reasons, from entertainment recreation to just to gain some insight on
certain genres. Nowadays, people have second thoughts over video gaming, especially parents and experts, as gamers
tends to exhibit aggressive and questionable behaviour due to the games they play. However, studies have shown that
video gaming `can actually aid gamers in their physical, mental, social, and emotional capacities that sometimes is
hard to learn with other methods; no matter what their genre of reference may be. In a physical aspects, studies have
shown that video gaming can actually promote basic skills such as hand-to-eye-coordination, motor skills, and the
capacity to do things with both hands or ambidextrous. A recent study in Australia revealed that children immersed in
video games, especially the interactive ones, tend to exhibit better object control motor skills- kicking, catching and
throwing – than those who do not play video games. The study showed that enabling children to play interactive
games with their consoles entices the children to move and act out the required action sparking their curiosity over
the motor skill being requested. Video gaming is also known for its development of a gamer’s hand-to-eye
coordination, but also improved vision as some cataract patients who were asked to play Call of Duty, had reported
improved vision since these games would require gamers to assess the situation and act immediately against their
target.

Another physical benefit of video games is that it could aid gamers who have chronic illnesses and physical pain,
providing them with a distraction to remove their illnesses. The University of Utah released their observations
supporting this benefit as their study showed that children who are diagnosed with autism and Parkinson’s disease
could improve their confidence and resilience through video gaming. The research observed that video games can
stimulate the child’s neuronal mechanism to bring forth positive emotions that would enable the child to face their
illnesses without worries. Physical pain can also be remedied by video games as noted by the experts in the University
of Washington since video games can serve as a distraction to improve recovery and one’s outlook. The study showed
that certain games, such as their virtual reality game “Snow World” could help patients forget about their physical
pain by providing distraction, enabling their wounds to recover and at the same time, enable them to enjoy the game.
It is also discovered by the study that those who played the game would no longer require high dosage of medicine to
help them recover since they have mostly forgotten about their ailments as the game progressed.

In a mental aspect, video gaming sharpens the mind of the gamer in terms on how they get information and
knowledge, as well as develop analytic and psychological skills that is necessary in real life. Experts have observed
that children, who have been exposed to video games, tends to show more experience and proficiency with computers
and its application than those who did not play video games. Video gaming enabled these children, according to the
study, to be familiar on how associate computer functions and parts with those of video game functions, easily
developing a method to understand how to works on programs and applications on another system. Experts had
agreed that with these improved literacy with computers, video gamers do not need further instructions on how to
use known computer applications. Advocates of video gaming also argue that video gaming actually enables gamers,
especially children, to think of possible strategies and entice education since video games enable gamers to enter into
several scenarios that would require them to perform real-like functions or to answer questions to pass to the next
rounds or receive a certain amount of points. Efficiency is also tested by these video games since players would often
need to execute skills and answers questions perfectly to gain perfect scores. Video games even sets gamers into
different levels – from easy to hard - to enable them to challenge their strategic skills to complete the game with full
completion rate. Aside from this, video games, even those with violent and mature content, teaches “soft skills” like
critical thinking, logic, deduction, and decision making skills since players would have to be very savvy to save their
progress, money and skill points, In addition, video games and its genres often present different gameplay styles and
format that would allow gamers to become familiar with different formats, enhancing their cognitive and analytical
skills to cater to these environments with accurate efficiency and performance capacity.

Video games also serve as a perfect alternative for gamers to experience or learn certain skills that can be dangerous
to experience in real life. Simulation games, for example, are used by many schools and institutions to guide their
students or employees with their roles such as engineering, surgery, machine construction. And even computer
programming. In most cases, simulation games also helps players to understand simple concepts such as math and
science to explain theories, enabling their imaginations to run while in understanding theories they see on simulated
game. Video gaming also offers players to visualize several aspects of life such as overcoming the nature of their
decisions, improve their relationships with their family and friends since some games can enact scenarios that would
fit the player’s chosen career or skill. Aside from this, video gamers enable players to easily associate skills, concepts
and functions to a real world application that is often missed. MMORPG, for example, video gamers become familiar
with several teachings and concepts – like history and fantasy- thanks to storylines utilized by these games.

The potential of video games to improve a person’s physical, mental, social and emotional aspect continues to grow as
new techniques and improvements are done to improve gameplay for each gamer in every age group. While it is
agreeable that some video games tend to foster negative behaviour such as immorality, violence and aggression, the
video gaming market also provides mediums for gamers to improve their skills and behaviours with different gaming
genres and storylines that challenges the gamer to succeed. Aspects such leadership, analytical skills and decision-
making is strengthened by video gaming; improving’s physical, mental and social capacities. Video gaming also helps
in physical and emotional recovery, especially for those who require an alternative or distraction to their pain. In this
aspect, video gaming enables gamers to understand the ups and down of life, and improve one’s perception of the
world’s many theories and concepts. But we should limit playing video games because, it might cause us to being lazy
and lack of social interaction to people and the harm of radiation of the technology such as computer, smartphones, or
any large screens that is used to play video games. Parents should also discipline their kids to limit their indoor
activities
like playing video games.

Submitted By:

Matt Lennard Galit

G12-Oracle