Can Children learn life skills through video games?

The constant conflict between a parent and children about the fair use of technology is tough to get to a conclusion. Video games also express the idea of innovative gadgets. Video gaming is one of the terrific examples where a child spends hours trying to interact while having fun with “online” peers. Thus, Parents are distressed about their child’s development as video games are said to cause a lack of social connections.

The curriculum and instructional support from Central Michigan State University encourages Game-based learning (GBL). Such methodology of teaching includes immense experiences that often incorporate progressive achievements, competitive elements, or developing storylines. To incorporate gamification in the course, Teed 2014 suggested practicing a rewarding system to motivate students exceptionally to succeed by using gaming resources like a game board, Kahoot, character development, etc. GBL furthermore has achieved the development of new literacies according to the study conducted by Marcon, 2013. According to all these studies, video games might not be the reason to slow down a child’s brain development. Therefore, parents should consider video games as a tool of learning too. Rather than colliding with two perspectives, video games can be taken as upskilling for life skills. If thought deeply, video games can teach valuable lessons like:

1. Life is all about the journey, not the destination.

Video games teach us that life is a journey, and destinations are an element of it. A child plays games to enjoy every bit of the process by upgrading points with each checkpoint. This is one of the life skills that can be absorbed from playing video games.

2. We are well-built with our experiences

As the score grows, levels increase in video games. With increasing levels comes higher difficulty. Thus, the player must focus on what is coming next and face every difficulty. The experiences that come by make kids sharper to face challenges at the next level, which eventually reflects in actual life.

3. Think critically and be persistent.

As levels are elevated, it gets harder to go past another level. Thus, kids must think critically get their achievements. Critical skills like time management and score management could enhance a child’s development and growth in the long run. Similarly, video games remind kids not to give up and get going towards the next chapter of life.

4. Learn healthy competition and collaboration.

The core value of playing video games is to teach kids about building their attitudes. Playing games virtually enhances building one point rather than pulling an opponent’s leg. Therefore, this creates healthy competition and collaboration.

That said, anything if consumed in larger does cause harm. Thus, there is a growing challenge to letting children play video games. Video games are known to be addictive which leads to excessive screen time. This is why most parent fear letting their children play with them. 

Video game addiction leads to sleeping disorders and a lack of physical experience. The growing popularity of video games among children is also a reason for the increase in youth obesity rate.

Coincidently, the adolescent, or the teen-age phase also has issues like social isolation, impatient behavior, and so on. Video games further act as a catalyst in increasing these issues.

Parents play a major role in managing these challenges. Parents should sit and talk with their children. Then, understand their point-of-view and make rules accordingly to minimize screen time. Screen time tracking is a suitable option that parents can access with a single button.

Based on the questions mentioned below, you can figure out the spectrum in which your kids fall under while playing video games. 

1: What’s your children’s screen time?

2: How often do your children exercise?

3: Do you as a parent share thoughts and feelings with your children?

If the answers are positive, you and your children have done a great job. If you lie on the other side of the answer, a simple strategy, if implemented regularly will bring you back.