Could video games be good for your brain? This is a subject coming up more often in news reports. For example, take a look at the article posted at scientificamerican.com. Another study done more recently is described at the site of The Dana Foundation. Yet another article at discovermagazine.com explains more about your mental health while playing video games.
If all this seems overwhelming, take a look at this one article, written by a young person: "10 Skills You Practice by Playing Video Games".
It's a compelling argument, don't you agree? Do you notice any benefits from playing video games? And, to be fair, do you notice anything negative about them?
Ah, video games. I don't know that I'll ever be free from them. I suppose these articles present some decent arguments FOR video games (and I like the article written by the young person...probably trying to convince his/her parents that video games aren't a waste of time). My experience with video games is constant contention among siblings and duties left undone for "just one more game..." But I do like watching my better half and his son playing together, for example, because it is something they both enjoy and can "bond" in their own way together. So that is some good that has come from it in my experience.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't care for video games, but with two boys it was inevitable that we'd have something. Ours have a limited time each week to play. Like Sarah, we've found it can cause problems with siblings (contention, yes!). That said, my husband felt the benefit of monitored video exposure outweighed no experience at all because, as he put it, his job is dependent on him having pretty good "video" skills ~ he's a pilot and has to have so many hours each year in the simulator (pretty sophisticated video). :-)
ReplyDeleteI'll be back to go through all the links you have here; my oldest son, too. Sparked an interest with him as well. This is a great site! A real treasure trove you have here. Glad you found my blog! I can't believe you're an INFJ!!!! That is so cool!
So glad to have you write in! Welcome, welcome, welcome!
ReplyDeleteI think they help you learn a lot of things.
ReplyDeleteYuck. Video games. I'm so sick of them. Maybe they're good for somebody, but not me. I've never seen a game I like. MAYBE -- IF -- I ever found a game I liked, then I could tell you if it felt like it gave my brain a workout. But right now I say they all STINK!
ReplyDeleteWhy do boys like games more than girls? That's what I'd like to know. Do they like the mental challenge more? Are more games made for boys than girls because boys like them better or do girls not like the games because not many are made for them?
ReplyDeleteI haven’t had the opportunity to read the articles presented here, but I can say that video games are good for my eyes. Specifically, they force my eyes to work together. They are ophthalmologist recommended! Saving Hyrule from the evil grasp of Ganondorf isn’t a bad to pass the time, either.
ReplyDeleteI love to play video games. They are a lot of fun, and I sometimes find it is a good way to unwind after a long day. Sarah, we never fought over video games. There was nothing but love expressed as we enjoyed some friendly competition. Plus, why would I need to fight? I always won. I must say, I wish I would have known these arguments when I was a kid. I could have explained them to Grandma Gayla and maybe she would have stopped hiding our controllers.
ReplyDeleteVideo games? Video games??!! VIDEO GAMES??!!!
ReplyDeleteV-I-D-E-0 GAMES&!@*!!&%$*
AAARGGHHH!!! I HATE video games. I have never watched two people play video games for longer than 30 seconds without it provoking an argument or totally driving out of the home any spirit of harmony. Now harmony may not have always been present beforehand, but it was never present after or during a video game.
Why not move the septic tank into the living room and open it up? Couldn't be worse than video games.
Other than that, I have no opinion about video games.