The pros and cons of video games and TV
How do you regulate what your children are exposed to?
IN the new, sophisticated world of technology unfamiliar to parents the topic of video games is treated much like junk food- benign when done in moderation, but unhealthy when abused.
The ever changing technological landscape leaves a veritable minefield that parents have to maneuver as children demand more access to video games.
But what are the effects of video games, and TV by extension, on children?
Negatives:
Research shows children who consistently spend more than four hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight, and the effects get worse as children spend too much time playing games rather than physically playing outside.
Further, by spending so much time on their game console or on the computer, children are missing out on their social life.
Video game characters often depict risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, which might reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes as video game players engage on a deeper level, physically and emotionally, than people do when watching a movie or TV.
Positives:
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.
Research has shown that playing video games can be beneficial for a number of cognitive functions and may also contain social benefits. Players can learn strategy and anticipation, management of resources from simulation games, mapping, pattern recognition.
The first and foremost thing one discovers in a game is that following directions is of the utmost importance. In order to progress in games, one must first learn to follow the guidelines, restrictions and components of them. As the player confronts new challenges, he must use problem-solving to find solutions. This is true for educational games, mind games, and RPGs alike.
So how do parents regulate their children’s video game and TV use?
First, know the rating of the video games your child plays, and monitor all of your child’s media consumption—video games, television, movies, and the Internet.
If you’ve already installed a video gaming sytem, regulatory bodies like the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) and Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ERSB) provide useful guidelines when deciding what kind of games to buy your children,
Finally, avoid installing video game equipment in your child’s bedroom, and set limits on how often and how long your child is allowed to play video games.
