Impact of Video Games on Children – The Good and the Bad

Numerous studies have delved into the impact of video games on children’s developmental trajectories. The gaming landscape is diverse, ranging from recreational and soothing experiences to intellectually stimulating challenges that foster learning and cognitive growth. However, the suitability of games varies, with some potentially exerting negative influences on young minds. Caregivers must discern which games align with their child’s developmental needs and values, as indiscriminate exposure may yield unfavorable outcomes in terms of behavior, socialization, and academic performance. In this article, we’ll take a look at the effects of video games on children, and violent video games and child development.

Are Video Games Bad for Kids?

Numerous studies have delved into the impact of video games on children’s developmental trajectories (1). The gaming landscape is diverse, ranging from recreational and soothing experiences to intellectually stimulating challenges that foster learning and cognitive growth. However, the suitability of games varies, with some potentially exerting negative influences on young minds. It’s crucial for caregivers to discern which games align with their child’s developmental needs and values, as indiscriminate exposure may yield unfavorable outcomes in terms of behavior, socialization, and academic performance.

Positive Effects of Video Games on Children

Why are video games good for kids? Here are some of the advantages children can have from playing video games:

1. Working Together As a Team

Most games today are played online and often involve several players from across the country or world, which encourages the child to play with others. This will help your child build the skills required to work together as a team and solve problems together.

2. Better Decision-making Skills

Games function in real-time, and most games are fast-paced and require the player to make quick decisions in a short period of time (2). This helps in sculpting decision-making skills that are valuable in real-life fields such as sports or medicine, where split-second decisions under pressure are often required to be taken.

3. Maintaining Accuracy in Quick Decisions

Video games can help your kid maintain a good level of accuracy by learning to calculate all the dependent parameters fast. This is an extremely useful skill, which is why even soldiers and doctors are advised to play video games to sharpen their decision-making skills.

4. Coordination Between Hands and Eyes

By playing video games, kids understand hand-eye coordination – they begin to learn how the movement of their limbs affects the space and visual references around them (3). Good hand-eye coordination is essential for daily life activities; it is also required in nearly all sports activities and can even be beneficial in puzzle-solving.

5. Better Cognitive Functioning

When a certain skill is repeated multiple times, the brain starts developing a structure and creates new neural pathways and transmitters to optimise its functioning. In times when intense concentration is applied, the brain moulds itself to be able to solve problems faster, which can ultimately also help in solving issues in real life (4).

6. Increased Resilience and Persistence

Video games often present challenges and obstacles that require repeated attempts to overcome. Through gameplay, children learn the value of perseverance and resilience in the face of failure. They develop the mindset to try again, learn from mistakes, and persist until they achieve success, fostering a growth-oriented attitude towards challenges.

7. Cultural and Historical Awareness

Many video games are set in historical periods or fantastical worlds inspired by different cultures and civilizations. Playing these games can spark curiosity and interest in history, geography, and cultural diversity. Children may develop a deeper appreciation for different societies, traditions, and historical events as they explore virtual worlds and interact with diverse characters.

8. Stress Relief and Relaxation

While some video games can be intense and challenging, others provide a relaxing and immersive experience that offers a temporary escape from real-life stressors. Engaging in gameplay can serve as a form of relaxation and stress relief for children, allowing them to unwind, recharge, and enjoy moments of leisure in a safe and controlled environment.

Negative Effects of Video Games on Children

The disadvantages of playing video games are also pronounced. Some of them include:

1. Health Issues

Are video games bad for children’s health? The answer is yes. Spending a lot of time playing video games instead of indulging in physical activities can be detrimental to a child’s health in several ways. A child’s cognitive development may get affected if he doesn’t get out and socialise in the real world. Constantly sitting in one place and playing video games at length can increase the chances of obesity, weaken the muscles and joints, make hands and fingers numb due to over-exertion, and multiple studies suggest that it can even weaken the eyesight.

2. Academic Issues

The fun that video games provide is in stark contrast to a typical day in school. This can cause kids to prefer video games over anything else, thus pushing them to not pay attention to school work. Even outside school, they may skip homework or studying for tests and choose video games instead. This can result in poor performance and affect their emotional intelligence (5).

3. Exposure to Wrong Values

Many video games in the market contain excessive violence, over-the-top sexuality, profanity, racism, and many other things that cannot be perceived by kids in the right manner. They may fail to take these depictions with a pinch of salt and may end up trying to emulate the same behaviour as portrayed in the games. Their brain architecture is still developing and they won’t be able to differentiate right from wrong, until being exposed in the real world (6).

4. Makes Them Socially Disconnected

Even though multiplayer games exist, most kids end up playing them by themselves in their own rooms. This severely limits their interpersonal skills in real life, and they may prefer being by themselves and interacting digitally. Such kids fail to strike up conversations and feel bored and out of place at social gatherings. As a result, the chances of adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, and stress get high in their working as well as personal life.

5. Aggressive Behaviour

How do violent video games affect children’s behavior? The violent content in video games and the instant gratification that they provide can cause kids to be impatient and aggressive in their behaviour. When things fail to go as planned or any restrictions are laid on them, they may lash out or start harbouring aggressive thoughts that can manifest in troublesome behaviour.

6. Sleep Disturbances

Excessive gaming, particularly before bedtime, can disrupt a child’s sleep patterns and quality of rest. The stimulating nature of video games, combined with exposure to bright screens and engaging content, can interfere with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, leading to difficulty falling asleep, shortened sleep duration, and poor sleep quality (7).

7. Risk of Addiction

Some children may develop addictive behaviors towards video games, spending excessive amounts of time playing to the detriment of other activities and responsibilities. Gaming addiction can lead to withdrawal symptoms, preoccupation with gaming, loss of interest in other hobbies, and impaired functioning in daily life, negatively impacting academic performance, social relationships, and mental well-being.

8. Desensitization to Violence

Exposure to violent imagery in video games can desensitize children to real-life violence and its consequences. Over time, repeated exposure to graphic content may reduce sensitivity to aggression and harm, leading to a blunted emotional response and a diminished ability to empathize with others’ suffering. This desensitization can contribute to a normalization of violence and an erosion of empathy in children’s attitudes and behaviors.

Signs of Video Game Addiction in Kids

The World Health Organization added “gaming disorders” to its 2018 medical reference book, International Classification of Diseases. Video games are quite easy to get addicted to. Your child may be addicted if he has the following symptoms:

1. Denial

The first sign of addiction is being defensive and denying that the problem exists. Your child may refuse to accept the fact that he is heavily dependent on video games, even if you provide him with proof.

2. Game-related Expenses

Your child may ask for money to be spent on upgrading the game, to buy various items related to the game, or he may even end up stealing from you to fuel the habit.

3. Disinterest in Other Aspects of Life

The world of video games may take over your child’s life to such an extent that friends and family may start to seem boring. Neglecting other activities like studying, connecting with classmates, and disorientation often results in poor academic performance. Some children fail to maintain basic hygiene as well – skipping baths for days on end and spending most of their time playing video games can be some of the habits they may develop.

4. Uncontrolled Gaming Times

Your child may promise you that he will play only for 10 minutes or until he finishes a particular level, but he may not be able to follow through and end up playing for longer hours. He may do so without realising it!

5. Unable to Process Failure

Your child may exhibit aggressive behaviour in situations where he loses the game or fails to complete the level. He may become unreasonably angry and frustrated, unable to understand that it is merely a game.

6. Hiding and Playing

If you end up scolding or prohibiting your child from playing, he will try to find ways to play the game in secret without letting you find out. He might start lying or making up excuses to play the game just for a few minutes.

7. Constantly Preoccupied

Even when away from the video game, your child will appear distracted and lost in thought, usually thinking about something related to the game or constantly talking about it. Any mention of the gaming habit could end up irritating him.

How Can Parents Help Children Enjoy Video Games Properly and Avoid Problems?

There are many pros and cons of video games for children, but parents can keep certain aspects in mind to ensure that their kids can enjoy the games without any problems.

• Don’t allow your children to play video games when they are in preschool.
• Before buying a game or letting your child play it, check the rating, the age limit, and any content warnings provided with it.
• Try to play the game yourself and make yourself a part of their world. Your child will open up by discussing the various aspects of the game.
• Keep fixed and restricted times for playing games. This includes playing games at a friend’s place as well.
• Keep track of any online interactions your kid has with strangers and ensure they do not reveal any personal details to anyone.
• Keep any kind of gadgets out of your child’s room, especially at night.
• Make sure the gaming area is in public view and you can easily spot the screen from afar.
• If you are a gamer, enforce the same rules for yourself so that the kid learns from you.
• Allow your kids to play video games only after they complete their homework and other tasks.
• Make other physical activities or outdoor sports a part of the child’s life as well.

FAQs

1. What are the positive effects of video games on children?

Video games can promote teamwork, decision-making skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive functioning in children. Additionally, certain games can provide opportunities for cultural and historical learning, as well as serve as a form of stress relief and relaxation.

2. What negative effects can video games have on children?

Excessive gaming may lead to health issues such as obesity, musculoskeletal problems, and sleep disturbances. Additionally, exposure to inappropriate content in games can contribute to desensitization to violence, social disconnection, academic difficulties, and even addiction in some cases.

3. How can parents mitigate the negative impact of video games on children?

Parents can establish clear rules and boundaries around gaming time, ensuring that it does not interfere with other activities such as homework, physical exercise, and social interactions. They can also monitor the content of the games their children play, encourage breaks from gaming, and promote a balanced lifestyle that includes a variety of interests and activities.

4. Are all video games equally harmful or beneficial for children?

Not all video games have the same impact on children. While some games offer educational value and promote positive skills development, others may contain inappropriate content or foster addictive behaviors. It’s essential for parents to research and select games that align with their child’s age, interests, and values, and to supervise their gaming activities to ensure a safe and healthy gaming experience.

Video games aren’t advisable for young kids as the light from screens can adversely affect their eyes. Such games also expose tender minds to inappropriate values and morals, which is why you should try some other activities to keep your child happily engaged for long. You can buy craft kits to keep your child busy. A fun-filled activity box with worksheets and storybooks is a great way to keep your kid busy! Also, make sure your kids get time for unstructured play with their friends every day, it will help them developing self-regulation skills, which would prove to be very important in all aspects of life and for success.

References/Resources:

1. Wan. A, Yang. F, Liu. S, Feng. W; Research on the Influence of Video Games on Children’s Growth in the Era of New Media; Research Gate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344763547_Research_on_the_Influence_of_Video_Games_on_Children’s_Growth_in_the_Era_of_New_Media; January 2020

2. Video Games Play May Provide Learning, Health, Social Benefits, Review Finds; American Psychological Association; https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/11/video-games

3. O’Banion. N; The effects of controlled video game playing experience on the eye-hand coordination and reaction time of second-grade children; Emporia State University; https://esirc.emporia.edu/handle/123456789/2063

4. Mishra. J, Bavelier. D, Gazzaley. A; How to Assess Gaming-Induced Benefits on Attention and Working Memory (Games for Health Journal); National Library fo Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3833365/; June 2012

5. Adelantado-Renau. M, Moliner-Urdiales. D, Cavero-Redondo. I; Association Between Screen Media Use and Academic Performance Among Children and Adolescents; JAMA Network; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2751330; September 2019

6. APA RESOLUTION on Violent Video Games; American Psychological Association; https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-violent-video-games.pdf

7. Excessive Gaming Associated With Poor Sleep Hygiene And Increased Sleepiness (American Academy of Sleep Medicine); Science Daily; https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090608071802.htm

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