Are There Benefits to Video Games?
Children will play video games both at home and school. What can they gain from this now mainstream experience?
Articles within this series
- Overview
- Types of Video Games
- How Computer and Video Games Are Rated
- Are There Benefits to Video Games?
- Detriments of Video Games
- 5 Mistakes That Can Turn Your
Child Into a Video Game Junkie - How to Choose Video Games Wisely
- Hooked! The Addictive Power of Video Games
- 8 Signs Your Child is a Video Game Addict
- Safeguards for Video Gameplay
- Next Steps / Related Information
Those who extol the benefits of video games often make their living creating, marketing or selling them. Commonly cited "virtues" include the opportunity for parents to spend time playing with children, improving hand-eye coordination or cognitive thinking skills by maneuvering characters on screen, and stimulating a child’s imagination. But such positive comments must be evaluated in light of the growing problem of video game addiction.
A growing body of research indicates that chemical reactions which occur in the brain while playing video games make children susceptible to addiction. In fact, some studies suggest 20 percent of children are already hooked, leading to disinterest in other recreational options, stress related agitation and irritability, and childhood obesity.
Unlike selecting television shows, music, movies or other media where parents try to protect children from violent or sexual content – video games require an extra measure of caution due to their highly addictive nature. (For links to further research on video game addiction, visit VideoGameTrouble.org.)
In truth, all of the "benefits" to playing video games can be achieved through other, more productive activities. So it is best to become informed about both game content and risk of addiction when deciding whether and which games your child will play.