Is It True Children Playing Video Games Is Better for Them? Different Views for Children Playing a Video Game

Is It True Children Playing Video Games Is Better for Them? Different Views for Children Playing a Video Game

One of the biggest issues when it comes to children and video games is what are the medical health risks associated with playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that all children between the ages of 1–8 have at least an hour a day that is solely for being physically active. This applies to time spent playing video games. There is debate as of yet whether that one hour includes time playing video games.

The video game industry has its guidelines that suggest only parents supervise children and that this only refers to the game itself. Other gaming authorities recommend that kids should spend at least an hour a day outside or in a supervised recreational game. Again, that does not apply to video games.

The video game industry even went so far as to put out a public statement that stated there were no health problems associated with playing video games and that one would need to have a medical issue to seek treatment.

The thing about this is that, in medical terms, there are no health concerns for playing video games, but there are health concerns from sedentary lifestyles. These can include problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. There is also that factor about the child watching television for hours on end and sitting still much of the time. Not to mention that kids who watch television do not go outside to play.

Many of us had played with the Atari and the NES when we were younger. It's amazing how fast technology has come since then. Now, we have our kids with a tablet or a video game player which has now become one of our main forms of entertainment.

But when it comes to playing video games with children, there's just something a bit disturbing about it as it's kind of like a digital babysitter. But, is it worth it because it can take the place of real-life interaction and fun? We're here to ask that question and talk about some of the possible health issues it will have for our little ones. With that, here are a few videos of some of the potential hazards of the video game industry.

The following is the complete text of a recent BBC News web article, entitled “Video games help children play better in the classroom”, that was published on 10th May 2012:

A study for the American Academy of Pediatrics looking at how computer games can be used to improve children’s attention and skills finds that while they often can’t be used to replace lessons they may help make them more absorbing for the students.

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Professor Daniel Willingham says children who play computer games tend to develop better attention skills, while others improve their knowledge.

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"When you’re in a classroom, whether you’re a primary or secondary school child, there’s a tendency for students to focus on what’s happening right in front of them."

“Their attention can tend to wander.”

Prof Willingham says computer games can be used in a classroom where students are sitting in a large group as a substitute for a teacher.

But he says they can be used by teachers to keep the attention of a class when there’s no lesson.

“You can teach students how to play the computer game or more importantly, you can play computer games with students and they will be more engaged with what you’re teaching.”

Prof Willingham is a professor at the University of California, Davis.

He says that research shows children who play computer games have improved scores in reading comprehension.

“This study shows those improvements are also there for reading and those reading levels are higher too,” he adds.

But he says they may have a problem with visual attention – people who have trouble concentrating and it may take them longer to get to the next stage.

“These are skills that also, even when they’re young, persist through adulthood,” he says.

Video games such as Candy Crush may be a substitute for lessons but are no substitute for the real thing.

Parents, teachers, and campaigners have reacted with astonishment after an official investigation found that a new online game in which youngsters were encouraged to commit suicide attracted almost 100,000 players within a week. The app, ‘Dark Sky’, is designed to encourage teenagers to carry out online suicide attacks by manipulating the movements of other players.

My views for children playing a video game are not as strong as yours. I will just let them play any video games, be the ones they want to play. It does not matter to me as they can do as long as they have a lot of attention and they learn something.I like they play video games with me as long as I am willing to teach them. When they have the desire to play by themselves, they are free to. This is where parents will not mind video games a lot. Also, with children, I will not mind if they play with friends if they can not talk to me about their game. I feel parents should let the children play the video game as long as they are playing it within safe limits, as long as they have the desire to do so, then this is great!