Gaming gets a hard rap from parents. With all the horror stories of children spending hours in their room as their eyes turn square, it’s easy to get lost in the hysteria. After all, the concerns are legitimate. Childhood obesity is on the rise, and kids are spending less time outdoors than ever, which is why it’s essential for them to remain active.
However, gaming isn’t all bad. Studies suggest that sixty minutes is enough for children to benefit from side-effects, such as increased happiness and improved mood. If there is another topic parents are worried about, it’s their kids’ mental health because there’s a bigger emphasis on the subject today than ever before.
The reality is, gaming isn’t all bad in moderation. Plus, when you consider the post-Covid world, you start to see the advantages that weren’t as great previously. What are they and how can they help your children through a difficult period such as a global pandemic?
Continue reading to learn more. The following might change your opinion of gaming, especially for kids.
Improved Learning
Education is vital for young minds as their brains are hardwired to soak up information like a sponge. Therefore, if you and the kids’ teachers can show them the quest for knowledge, your children will have more opportunities in life. Sadly, education isn’t as accessible currently due to the virus.
Schools might be committed to staying open until the pandemic is over, yet that doesn’t mean you feel comfortable sending them into the classroom. Also, the level of teaching is bound to drop since educators have fewer resources to utilise as everything needs to be “safeguarded” before use.
What you need is a tool that can top-up their education levels, and gaming has it in spades. For example, 35% of kids who game are better readers and writers compared to their classmates. The stats for maths and science are pretty impressive, too. However, it isn’t only the core subjects gaming impacts.
The environment in which the story takes place could be an impromptu history lesson, while advances in technology mean video games are more active than ever. The Nintendo Wii averages around twenty-five calories burned per ten minutes, which isn’t the same as a P.E. lesson, yet it’s better than nothing! Games have the potential to teach children lessons when used in the right context.
Socialising Opportunities
The worst part of a lockdown is that it can take away the liberties everyone took for granted. For instance, it’s tough to go months without seeing family and friends because it’s illegal. Adults understand it’s a challenge, so imagine how the kids are feeling at the moment. All they want to do is hug their relatives or go swimming and have fun, but they can’t.
Their freedom to interact and socialise with others no longer exists, and it could stay like that until next year. Therefore, it’s vital for parents to find ways to bridge the gap so that the long-term effects aren’t as great. Gaming is the ideal way to do it, particularly in a digital world.
Not only are video games, consoles, and accessories very common nowadays, yet they provide the chance to interact with friends and family and have done so since the rise of online gaming. This is because although it might be remote, the community is strong and creates long-lasting relationships.
Also, it’s an avenue for kids to remain connected with the people in their life. All you need to do is invest in a console or P.C. and link it to your WiFi router.
Rest & Relaxation
When there is nothing to do, it’s tempting to assume that our family is relaxed. It’s not as if anyone is rushed off their feet as everybody’s schedule is bare, the kids included. But, the problem is that Covid is the only topic people focus on, and it’s not as if it’s a happy subject. Therefore, it’s not rare to suffer from mental fatigue.
Children, even though they act as if nothing bothers them, are affected as much as adults. If anything, it’s essential to try and gauge a kid’s mood as they are less likely to open, or don’t know how to. Gaming is a vehicle parents lean on because it works.
With the right setup, such as gaming beds and a comfy computer chair, you can create an environment where the kids can get away from the constant negative news. Whether it’s ten minutes or two hours, it’s vital that they switch off from life during a pandemic. Remember – they are children and shouldn’t have to deal with the sort of stuff that comes with living in a crisis.
That for grown-ups. Children, meanwhile, can play computer games and be blissfully ignorant as they have fewer responsibilities.
Enjoyment
The figures are in, and they show that people love gaming. And, if this was true pre-Covid, it’s correct since the virus became an everyday part of our lives. Did you know the hobby was up 75% in the first week of mass self-isolation alone? Or that hardware, software, and accessories’ sales topped £1 billion in March?
Yes, not all of these figures can be attributed to children – adults love to play video games too – yet there’s no doubt that the main demographic for the gaming industry is players under the age of eighteen. When you factor in the benefits, it’s no wonder why children love to play games on consoles and mobile devices.
From connecting with friends to learning about the world (past and present), the hobby is lots of fun. Considering this is a period where enjoyment isn’t easy to come by, it’s important for mums and dads to indulge their kids wherever possible. Again, the mental wellbeing effects alone are worth the extra screen time.
Gaming does have pros and cons, and the latter is often more eye-catching than the former. However, in an unpredictable era, gaming offers kids the opportunities to socialise, learn, and take a breather. Best of all, it’s fun, and children deserve to have fun!
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