Why do children enjoy gaming?
Gaming is a fun and sociable way to spend time, encouraging teamwork and developing skills. All good stuff, but there are a few things you need to be aware of:
Some games let children play and chat with anyone in the world. This means they might come across offensive language and bullying
Not everyone online is who they say they are. Children should avoid giving out personal details that could identify them or their location
Some games encourage players to buy extra elements during the game – children have been known to run up large bills without realising.
In extreme cases bullying, also known as ‘griefing’, can be used as a tactic to win games. Children may find themselves either bullying or being bullied
Get involved by finding out what type of games your child enjoys and making sure they’re appropriate for their age
It can be hard to stop some games in the middle of a battle as there are penalties for quitting and children may feel they are letting teammates down.
It's immersive
It’s open ended
It’s ongoing
It's social
It offers rewards
It's competitive.
Genres of games available
Here is a summary of the types of games that are available for you to choose from.
How can online gaming benefit children?
Although online gaming is a form of entertainment, with parents’ support and guidance it can help children develop their creativity, nurture relationships with friends and improve strategic thinking.
It can also help them build perseverance to attain goals, build resilience and improve their communications skills so they know how to respect other people’s points of view.
Enhances memory, brain’s speed, and concentration
Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win, require players to remember and take in a lot of information. Regularly playing these types of games can help improve children’s short and long-term memory and help the brain process information quicker.
Also, games capture players’ imagination helping them to stay focused on certain tasks and builds their perseverance to achieve a goal.
Improved multi-tasking skills
Games that require players to find items while fighting off other opponents call for attention to detail and quick reactions. Studies have shown that playing these types of games can help children develop their multi-tasking skills.
Build skills for future careers
The more complex multiplayer games help teach players how to be strategic, analytical to assess risk and reward and call for them to react quickly to changes in the game. All these skills that they use can be transferable to real-world jobs that rely on problem-solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking.
Offer a new way to understand culture and perspectives
As games allow children to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and at times connect to people from around the world, it can be a great way for them to learn about different perspectives and cultures.
Physical and social benefits
Group play provides social benefits
Whether children are playing multiplayer games with friends or using apps like ‘Heads up’ with the family in the living room, these types of games can help nurture relationships through shared moments and improve their social skills. For some who children who may have disabilities, it can be a way for them to social and make friends if they are restricted.
Very nice content
You must be logged in to post a comment.