Video Games for Learning
Video games often get a bad wrap mainly because of their addictive nature. They are designed to be addictive, fun to play, and hard to put down. I think that the developers have done a pretty good job at achieving their goal.
I would like to discuss an aspect of video games that parents rarely consider when bantering at their kids to put down the video game controllers. These games actually teach some pretty important lessons and help with the development of important skills.
Hand eye coordination is one important aspect of development that is often overlooked and that video games do an excellent job at developing. With the increasing interactivity of games and the complexity of controls the coordination required to play these games continues to increase.
Many video games contain numerous opportunities for math, reading, and even science. The game plots often require a fair amount of reading and navigation through the game can often require management of points or money which can develop mathematical skills.
Educational Video games are also becoming more and more interactive. It is now possible for kids to play internet based video games with numerous people from all over the world. These games often require team work and communication which allows these games to not be considered an isolationist activity.
The military recently purchased hundreds of video game consoles for training. In the past the military and other entities have used simulators for training purposes. The days of these high dollar simulators may not be coming to an end but the sophistication of the new breeds of video game consoles allows for many training opportunities.
So, parents next time you banter at your kids to get off of the video game system consider what benefit they may be getting from the play the are engaged in. The video game can be used as an excellent source of home school software or it can be an addictive nuisance. It is up to you the parent to decide which it will be.
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