For some children who may have disabilities, it can be a way to socialize and make friends when they are limited. It’s not that there’s nothing interesting or fun about video games. And yes, it is preferable if the games are not too realistic in their depictions of violence or sexually suggestive. Perhaps this new study will make parents feel better about the hours Alice of their lives their children spend in these activities. Yes, I realized that the International Olympic Committee is considering adding esports to its list of events, but no, I don’t think playing video games has the same mental and physical health benefits as kickball or tennis. A race around the corner will not take too much time away from the Fortnight.
Playing video games has been linked to improved mood and mental health benefits. It may seem logical to think that violent video games like first-person shooters aren’t good for your mental health. René Proyer, a professor of psychology at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, says playful adults are able to frame everyday situations in such a way that they become entertaining and intellectually stimulating.
Many video games teach children to delegate, work as a team, and prioritize. Internet games that allow children to play with their real friends often require cooperation and division of labor to get past the level. When you play video games, almost every part of your brain works to help you reach a higher level of thinking. Depending on the complexity of the game, you may need to think, strategize, and analyze quickly. Playing video games works with deeper parts of your brain that improve development and critical thinking. Simply put, high school kids played video games for at least two hours a day, while medical residents rarely had time to play.
It is normal and healthy for children, especially children, to compete with their peers as they compete for status and recognition. In my surveys and focus group studies with young teens, “I like to compete with other people and win” was one of the most popular reasons to play video games, again, especially for children. Video games are a safe place to express those competitive impulses, and they can give kids who aren’t good at sports a chance to excel. In my own research, players talked about learning new moves from sports video games and then practiced them on the basketball court or on skateboards. Some adopted new sports after being introduced to video games. The real question with video games, as with much of screen time, is that of opportunity costs.
Having a 4-year-old sit in front of a TV with a game controller may not seem like the most productive use of his time. But researchers at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, would disagree. Their study examined the development of 53 preschoolers and found that those who played “interactive games” had better “object control motor skills” than those who did not.
Video games such as Age of Mythology, Civilization, and Age of Empires can spark a child’s interest in world history, geography, ancient cultures, and international relations, especially if parents are aware of opportunities. There are many misconceptions about video games and the impact they have on mental health. The truth is that video games have many benefits, including developing complex problem-solving skills and fostering social interaction through online gaming. Video games can be a great way to stimulate your mind and improve your mental health. Video games present children with problems that need to be solved quickly to progress within a game: we’re talking about decision-making in a split second. Interestingly, children with attention and learning disabilities often benefit from games.