Most parents blame video games for adversely affecting their child’s ability to study. However, what many don’t know is that a properly designed game can help improve attention and their ability to read and offer numerous other benefits. In fact, Nature Human Behaviour published a study that backs this up as well. And, they can also be effective tools for teaching educational skills such as coding, algebra and biology by helping to deepen understanding and learning.
When played in moderation, it can help young children develop in their social, educational and physical life. Here’s how.
The Benefits of Playing Video Games for Young Children
Take a look at some reasons why video games can be beneficial for the growth and education of young children.
- Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Playing video games in moderation can help with your child’s brain development. When they play, they have to plan, search, negotiate and try various approaches to keep advancing to the next level. Plus, many games being launched in recent times involve problem-solving and planning. Additionally, “modding”, which is the process of customizing their gaming personalities gives them the freedom of creative self-expression. Parents should know that any video game doesn’t have to be labelled “educational” for them to help their children learn how to see different strategies, make decisions, express their personalities and also anticipate consequences.
- Improve Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking Skills
Video games can help make important material a lot more engaging and relevant for students and get them more interested in them. Through video games, children can put themselves in the shoes of another character and also immerse themselves in a culture or place. This can go a long way in their classrooms too. Video games these days are designed to offer various types of interactive experiences to get students more excited about the material. And, the audio/visual aid supports long-term retention of the information they receive.
- Teaches Them to Learn from Failure
Video games are a great place to allow students to make mistakes and fail in a safe manner. And, it can teach them to learn from their failures and to keep trying until they succeed at whatever it is they are doing. And, there are numerous games available that make even failing fun. For instance, there are car games where the more spectacular the crash, the higher the points that players will get. This can go a long way in teaching the young ones to learn from their mistakes and to keep trying until they have corrected them. And, while failing at the game might make them feel inadequate at the moment, there’s a chance for them to improve their skills and immediately redeem themselves.
- Helps Relieve Stress
No matter the age of the player, playing video games can have a positive impact and offer therapeutic effects on them, especially for those that may be struggling with emotional and mental problems. This is possible as video games present an escape and give them a chance to tune out the stresses they have to deal with in everyday life and essentially decompress. This gives their mind some time to rest which is critical for both their mental and emotional well-being. Plus, relaxation can reduce the risks associated with heart-related issues, acts as a buffer against depression and also boosts memory. And, it can even provide various physical health benefits such as reducing urges to stress-eat, which can later lead to more complicated health-related concerns.
As you can see, playing video games can help create an educational future for your children where they can feel deeply engaged and excited about the things they learn. And, in the long run, it can help them develop vital skills and yield great gains in the classroom at the best CBSE schools in Kolkata and in life too.
