HOO’s PARENTING Video games are….GOOD?!

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

Most parents try to limit how much ‘screen time’ kids spend each day. Kids have an excellent understanding of technology and parents may sometimes find that regulating time spent on video games can be a difficult chore. It may feel tempting to completely take away the ability for your child to play video games instead of struggling to regulate screen time. However, researchers have found some reasons why it may be worth finding a way to allow your child a moderate amount of time each day to play video games.

Video games can help kids with spatial skills. Three-dimensional video games help kids develop the ability to think in three dimensions and manipulate objects in a 3-D environment.

Playing video games may help kids with planning and strategizing. In many video games, kids must form a plan for their next move and communicate this plan to their fellow players when gaming as a team with others. Taking turns leading the effort and forming a strategy is also a good way for your child to practice leadership skills.

Gaming may help your child with reading skills. Your child may feel inclined to go online and read up on the backstory of a new game or look up information on historical settings in a video game. Take advantage of this type of ‘teaching moment’ and spend time with your child researching the newfound interest.

Playing video games is a cognitive workout, involving memory. Certain codes, paths and key combinations must be memorized and many video games involve learning rules and objectives. Also, there are plenty of educational video games that help kids exercise reading and math skills.

• For some kids, playing a multi-player game is how they prefer to socialize with their friends. Many kids enjoy teaching their friends how to play a new game.

Set boundaries in your home on how much screen time is allowed each day and establish screen time as a privilege, which can be taken away due to noncompliance with house rules.