There has always been a common notion where parents have disliked their kids playing online video games. The impact of games is negative on a child is what they believe. But if you know how to manage the games your child plays & that they play the games in their age restrictions, online games can be extremely beneficial in forming your child’s life-skills.
Online games can be helpful for children in a lot of ways, some of these are listed below:
- Enhances Problem-Solving Skills
Games are theme-based & the story of the game requires a child to think out of the box to advance in the game. This planning & problem-solving is a crucial part of a child’s day-to-day growth. Online games also help develop creative self-expression & understanding of social norms in the Modding process, i.e the process where a player creates their gaming avatar.
Now online video games do not necessarily have to fall in the category of “educational” unless they’re skill-building games, but all games help you make decisions, use strategies & give them a chance to express their personalities.
- Builds better hand-eye coordination & motor skills
There is no doubt on the fact that online video games are one of the best sources for developing smooth hand-eye coordination & motor skills. Interactive games like Call of Duty, FIFA 20, Fortnite or even card games online. work wonders in evolving a child’s hand-eye coordination as they’re fast-paced & need instant commands.
- They help kids make friends
While their parents might not think of it as being rational, kids look at online games as a social activity. Online games provide a common ground for kids to make friends. A study has revealed that kids, especially boys prefer to play online games with their friends. The kids who are shy & not good at physically socializing also get an opportunity to make new friends through online games which reflect greatly on their moods & temperament.
- Gaming promotes the joy of competition
Competition, when taken in the right spirits, is healthy for children. The will to win & excel is derived greatly from online games when you are competing with players from all over the world. Online games provide children who are not well in activities like sports, a platform to prove their mantle. Being competitive is a major reason children, in particular boys, like to play online games for.
- Online games spark creativity
The freedom of expression that online games provide you is unmatchable. Games like Minecraft have built a creative spree in children. The ability to express yourselves freely & complete a task with utmost creativity are some of the impacts of online games on children. In a survey conducted on over 350 students, where some were asked to play Minecraft & other given other activities, the kids who were given playing Minecraft performed more creatively in the tasks given.
Experts in the field of health & behavioural studies have found online games to build character & help give directions to children’s lives. Limiting gaming hours & knowing when to give your children a break are both very necessary. Just like knowing the poker sequence, there should be a pattern of gaming that makes it healthy for the kids. Parents also need to get out of their bubble & accept the multiple benefits of gaming & not keep their kids deprived of it. Because they would be kept deprived of so much more than just games if it were to happen.
