Looking Beyond The Headlines: Video Games As Well As Children's Behavior

There are then many things to worry nearly every bit a parent--is my kid eating healthily, is he/she developing well, am I letting her lookout adult man every bit good much TV, etc. The listing could proceed for miles.

In recent years, 1 topic that has dominated many media headlines is that of the impact of video games on children in addition to teens' behavior. You listen stories of isolated teens who pass most of their fourth dimension play games in addition to receive got few friends. These images frequently portray gamers every bit socially inept, isolated in addition to sometimes the victim of bullies.

Is at that spot whatsoever truth to these images? Are they simply stereotypes promoted past times the media or are video games actually detrimental to our children's well-being?

As amongst whatsoever complex topic similar this, at that spot are never slowly answers. In this case, however, nosotros exercise receive got quite a chip of enquiry from which to clit to assist reply these questions.

Luckily, I did non receive got to dig upwards all this enquiry myself.  Psychologist, doctor Rachel Kowert, a specialist inwards video game research, has done the operate for me inwards her novel book, A Parent's Guide to Video Games.

I simply finished reading the majority in addition to it was real helpful inwards agreement this topic. The majority is definitely written amongst parents inwards mind. It offers a clear, concise review of the enquiry but inwards a means that is quick to read in addition to slowly to sympathise the "take away" messages for parents.

The majority covers all the primary topics that nosotros every bit parents receive got questions nearly regarding video games:

• Can video games last addictive?
• Is at that spot a link betwixt video game play in addition to aggression?
• What is the affect of video games on cognitive development?
• What is the affect of video games on physical in addition to mental health?
• Is at that spot a link betwixt video game play in addition to sexist attitudes?
• What are the social outcomes for kids who play video games?
• Are at that spot whatsoever positive learning outcomes for kids who play video games?

As amongst all social scientific discipline research, video game enquiry is complex in addition to at that spot are frequently nuanced findings that tin last hard to figure out. Additionally, enquiry on this topic is relatively new, given the constantly changing applied scientific discipline in addition to gaming industry. However, doctor Kowert compiled all the latest research, fifty-fifty those studies that are compilations of others studes (i.e., meta-analyses).

I won't travel into all the topics here, however, what parents should know is that the media portrays of isolated, aggressive teens who play video games in addition to travel social outcasts is largely a misrepresentation. The enquiry outlined inwards the book offers little bear witness of a human relationship betwixt video games in addition to trigger-happy behavior, lack of social skills or declines inwards cognitive skill.

In fact, about video games receive got the potential to heighten skills similar leadership might (through online cooperation) in addition to problem-solving. 

As amongst whatsoever technology, video games receive got their pros in addition to cons. Some video games receive got been shown to promote sexist beliefs, at to the lowest degree inwards the short-term. However, long-term enquiry does non appear to back upwards whatsoever changes inwards mental attitude over time.

I encourage you lot to banking concern tally out A Parent's Guide to Video Games if you lot desire to delve deeper into the effects of video games on kids.

While this number is important, for me it brings to heed the larger issues at hand. What does it hateful for us to last parenting our children inwards an era then consumed past times media in addition to technology.

Dimitri Christakis, a leading researcher inwards the field, makes the distinction "digital natives" in addition to "digital immigrants." Today's generation of children are considered digital natives because they were born later the influx of modern digital applied scientific discipline (e.g., email, internet, iPhones, etc.) then they receive got never known a earth without these inventions. We (and older generations), on the other hand, are digital immigrants because nosotros solely came to experience the mesh in addition to related applied scientific discipline every bit adults. In a sense, it is our role every bit parents to guide our children through a media landscape that nosotros ourselves did non experience every bit children. 

These "digital native" children are frequently to a greater extent than goodness at the novel applied scientific discipline than nosotros are, but 1 matter nosotros every bit adults are to a greater extent than skilled at (hopefully) is self-regulation. We know how to regulate our utilization of applied scientific discipline then that nosotros plow it off if it is distracting us from our chore at manus or causing other problems. Children, on the other hand, are non commonly real skilled inwards self-regulation at an early on age. 

Some would fighting that at that spot is zilch incorrect amongst this type of multi-tasking, media immersion. Isn't this type of immersion going to laid upwards children for the operate earth they volition confront inwards the future? Multi-tasking is the yell of the game inwards the work organization world, right? While I know that this type of applied scientific discipline multi-tasking is commonplace, I intend something is lost inwards the blur of constant dissonance (not to cite that enquiry shows multi-tasking to last ineffective).

Regardless of one's religious/spiritual beliefs, I intend almost everyone recognizes the need for quiet inwards their lives. Time for reflection, thinking nearly decisions, beliefs, etc. It is increasingly hard to notice this type of quiet inwards our media-laden world. It has travel real hard to notice fourth dimension to disconnect from all our technological devices long plenty to focus on our inner thoughts. 

To me, this is the existent concern amongst technology--it acclimates kids at a fast-paced mindset that is simply unnecessary at a immature age. Soon plenty they volition last inundated amongst media images, video games, etc., why non permit immature kids relish the simple, tiresome stride of childhood.

Just every bit important, nosotros desire our children to notice in addition to pursue their interests in addition to passions inwards life--to notice something that they actually dear to do. I experience it's hard to arrive touching amongst this if you lot are ever connected to about type of media or device in addition to exercise non allow fourth dimension for silence.

I tin already say that raising "digital natives" volition receive got its challenges. Finding the residual betwixt using applied scientific discipline for productivity, education, in addition to amusement without having it swallow my children's lives volition last hard at times. Personally, my goal is to assist my sons larn to use applied scientific discipline effectively at each age, but also larn how to plow it off in addition to relish the silence.