Children and Gaming

If you have a computer in your home or have bought your children an Xbox, PlayStation or Wii, you understand clearly how many hours your children can spend being entertained by their games. Today's children are more computer-savvy and technically astute than in any other time in history. Of course this is understandable since they have more access to computers than ever before.

When it comes to buying games and gaming equipment, the games console is generally sold as a unit with the individual video games sold separately on disk. A huge amount of competition exists between the various games console manufacturers because gaming is big business. Whenever a popular games console is due to be released it creates a buzz and a stir for months before it ever reaches our shelves. In fact, when the Wii was released in 2006 consoles were sold out in most shops the first day they hit shelves.

Online Gaming

Video games today are not what us adults remember video games to be. These days, video games can connect to the Internet so that many players can play a single game all at the same time. Children can play games against a brother or sister in their own home or they can play games and compete against players that they don't know via the Internet. When your children play a video game on a computer or console that can connect to the Internet, they can play games against other online gamers. Not only this, children can communicate with those they compete with online whether through an instant messenger type program that sits to the side of the screen or by talking with them if they own a headset with microphone.

Today's Most Popular Video Games:

Xbox 360 (various versions)
Wii (various versions)
PlayStation (various versions)
PSP (various versions)

Parental Gaming Concerns

Children of all ages play video games online. Like any repetitive activity, children soon learn the ropes of operating a games console and of reaching higher levels in the games that they enjoy. It is important for parents to monitor the games that their children play on a regular basis. Some games are sexually explicit, others are filled with violence and some allow them to interact with strangers online. To prevent young children from being exposed to these problems, most video games have a parental guidance rating on their cover. This means that when parents are buying games for children, they can check the rating to know whether or not the game is appropriate for their children.

Handling Excessive Gaming

It is possible for children to become addicted to gaming. This is a real and serious issue when it does happen. If as a parent you have worries about the amount of time your children are spending gaming, you as a parent can take charge of the console. Perhaps you can bring it out for use for a certain, limited number of hours each day. You could also implement a points system where by doing chores your children can earn gaming time.

Susan Roberts is a writer born, raised and educated in the UK. She has a degree in Psychology, and currently writes for KS Child Locate [http://www.kschildlocate.co.uk/], which is part of the KS Mobile Locate [http://www.ksmobilelocate.co.uk/] group.

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Teaching Children With Video Games

It is often reported that video games can have a negative effect upon children and increase violent tendencies. But I do wonder, do video games really have this impact or is it not just another excuse for the lack of leadership?

Me owning a video game store and being a parent of two now grown boys, both of my sons often had a game controller in their hands at a young age. Both of them could beat Mario by age 2! Both of them also knew what a video card was at a young age. At a young age they both could also type better than many adults.

These two gaming nerds are also now fine young gentlemen with bright careers before them. One has ventured into mechanical engineering and the other is currently pursuing a career in sound engineering. These two interests both stem from their exposure to video games and technology I believe.

Trust me when I say I quite often gave the exposure to all of this high tech gadgetry on my sons some very serious thought. Was gaming going to effect them in a negative way? Would it cause them to react with violent tendencies when frustrated with a game? Would gaming cause them to go out with baseball bats and beat people in the streets?

As this was a major concern I kept a very close eye out for any signs that gaming was having an effect on them. And I did see effects! But not what one would think. What I found was that they were learning to problem solve beyond their age! Their analytical abilities were being exercised along with their desire to exercise these new found abilities. And all of this new interest was coming from playing video games!

Where I had been looking for negative effects on their young minds I never once considered the positive effects that gaming may have! I will admit that there were times when they got frustrated at a game and I had to tell them to put it away. But frustration is a normal emotion when confronting a problem that is not easily solved. I am also guilty of having controllers sprout wings and them magically fly across the room. When it gets to this stage it is time to put the games away and turn their attention to other things, such as exercise.

With moderation, gaming can teach an array of mental and motor skills.

For the most part these two young heathens were learning to use their brains and to teach themselves. And the best part was is they enjoyed it! Instead if restricting their gaming I chose to use this technology as a tool for teaching them

Their interest in video games caused them to ask how are video games created? How could they possibly take their own ideas and make them into a game? You might ask what is the benefit of this? Just think about it, games are digital, and to work with it you must use math. Programming is nothing but algebra put to use. If they wanted to program they needed to excel in math and learn new concepts. Also in programming you must be precise and cannot rush through development. You must create and coordinate a plan. And then you must put that plan into action! Look at all of the abilities that these two young boys have just taken an interest in!

As a Parent you have to take the responsibility and monitor the game play. I believe 2 hours of game play should be the maximum amount of time before a child should turn their attention towards exercise and other things. I also think gaming has far more positive effects on children than watching television does. There isn't a whole lot of thought processing going on when one veg's to the television. Just like anything video gaming can be abused and needs to be controlled. But with the proper games, parental guidance, and proper scheduling you can turn their love for gaming into a learning experience. New interests can be quickly developed by utilizing various game genres. You as the parent must take control of the situation and not always trust the child to make the correct judgment without leadership. They are not born with good judgment but learn it through experience. As with anything else they do in their young life they need guidance and will look to you for this.

So do not let all of the hype of video games being evil scare you. They can be a wonderful teaching tool if used correctly. Be sure to give your guidance when selecting new games. Read reviews and be sure that the games that you allow them to play are for their age range. You do not want your 5 year old playing Grand Theft Auto for example. This game is meant for an older group and is quite violent.

As long as you are the responsible parent you can take away any fear of video games having a negative effect upon your children and turn gaming to their advantage. Good leadership and and a little common sense will go much further than turning them loose for days on end to have video games baby sit for you. This is where gaming can lead to trouble. But it also is not the game's fault but rather the abuse of the game. I guess there is an off switch on the gaming consoles for a reason. Do not be afraid to use it!

Ken Durham has many years in the Video Game industry and is current owner of HomeComputerGames.com. HomeComputerGames.com carries a large selection of PC Games - Video Games & Video Game Accessories. Also located at HCG is an Online Arcade, Gaming Blog, and Gaming Forums.

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Board Games For Younger Children

Playing board games with younger children presents a fun learning opportunity. These precious years are when kids learn so much. Playing kids board games can reinforce learning letters, numbers, and colors. Playing board games can also help develop memory and cognitive skills. A lot of board game makers have not only taken into account a fun factor with their games but the learning potential.

When choosing games for preschoolers, look for age appropriate board games. This most likely will be listed on the front of the board game box. Choose games that either have a theme or relate to something that is of interest to your child. If your child really likes animals, then an animal-themed game might hold their attention for longer. There are also many classic board games like Memory and Candyland that feature popular characters, too.

Playing pieces should be fairly large and shouldn't present a choking hazard. Avoid games where tokens are used or games that contain small game pieces. All wooden games are sturdy and will be harder for children to break.

Before buying a board game for young children, check to see how long the playing time is for the game. Games that are relatively short are more likely to be finished before interest is lost. Board games that can be finished in under 15 minutes should be considered.

Look for board games that are not only age appropriate but that have simple rules. Games that have only one winning condition are best, too. Some games might have more than one way to win the game. It can be confusing to be able to win a game more than one way. This information may not be clearly noted on the board game box, so use house rules to set only one winning condition.

House rules can always be implemented into any game. Changing the rules for family play can speed up games, which hopefully will keep younger players engaged.

Award-winning games have been put through some test for fun and game play. There are plenty of awards given out to board games during the year, but just because a game receives an award doesn't mean it's necessary a game your kids would enjoy. Some awards are given to those board games submitted for review, so it might not be a complete inclusion to every game put out that year. Still, award-winning games can give some ideas of games to consider for your children.

Playing board games with younger children might have its challenges. Kids might become bored and not want to finish the game. If this happens, consider house rules to tailor the game to your child's interest. Finding games that feature their favorite things can help to expand their attention span while playing. There are many board games for younger children. Read reviews and box labels to gain insight into what the game is all about before purchasing it. While board games can be a fun way to learn, it can also be a great family activity that can create memories to last a lifetime.

Lynn Little is the Board Games and Card Games Editor for BellaOnline.com.

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