Video Games And Your Child’s Health: Surprising Results From New Study
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Do you experience that video games are bad for your children, yet they admittedly honey them? Are you a bad parent for letting them play video games? Well, a new report says you aren't. In fact, recent data suggests playing video games could actually have positive effects.
Research Says Positive Correlation May Exist
Researchers at Columbia University and Paris Descartes Academy have been studying the association between the average time spent playing video games and the mental health, cognition, and social skills of young children.
The study adjusted for a multitude of factors, including gender, number of kids, and age. Afterwards reviewing the results, the research squad identified that a high usage of video games typically means a kid has 1.75 times the chances of "optimum intellectual capacity." Additionally, that same child has 1.88 times the odds of "loftier general competence in school."
Even more chiefly, the study wasn't able to place whatsoever significant negative impacts on mental health (as reported by the child, parents, or teachers).
"Video game playing is ofttimes a collaborative leisure time activity for school-aged children. These results betoken that children who oft play video games may be socially cohesive with peers and integrated into the school community," said Katherine Thousand. Keyes, PhD, 1 of the study's master authors. "We caution against over estimation, however, as setting limits on screen usage remains an of import component of parental responsibleness every bit an overall strategy for student success."
Keyes went on to add that information technology'south the children who don't appoint with their friends and peers around gaming that are more at gamble for developing problems. In other words, if children are exposed to the right games and put in social gaming situations, everything is generally fine. Information technology'southward when they go secluded and distanced from their peers that issues seem to ascend.
Encouraging Healthy Gaming Behaviors In Kids
With this new research in mind, it shouldn't exist a parent's goal to completely eliminate all video game usage. Instead, parents should be focused on encouraging healthy social gaming behaviors.
If children are playing games on a dedicated video game console, parents should be referencing a source like Common Sense Media, which helps them set guidelines. If children are playing online games, choosing a safe and friendly platform, such every bit Poptropica, is much preferred over giving them costless reign to surf the spider web.
As previously mentioned, the key is to get children involved with others. Social gameplay gives kids a common tool for conversation and bonding, whereas isolated gameplay encourages children to function in an alternative universe that is neither good for you nor educational.
Despite the report's results, Keyes wants parents to exist careful with the takeaway.
"I desire to exist sure that we're not suggesting in this study that parents should permit kids play unlimited video games considering information technology's good for their mental health. That'due south not what we're saying."
High volume video game playing certainly isn't healthy, if for no other reason than it encourages a sedentary lifestyle. Notwithstanding, if children are playing just 30 or 40 minutes of video games each day, there's no data to suggest it'll accept a negative cerebral touch. In fact, if you get past this study, it may take a positive touch.
Let Children Play
Video game usage among children is all about balance. Are the children also spending time playing outside, communicating with friends, and eating healthy? Are their grades on par with their peers? If children seem to be checking out on all other fronts, don't automatically presume that video games are having a negative effect. Information technology'due south possible that these short gaming sessions with friends are actually keeping them engaged.
Featured photo credit: Seth Werkheiser via flic.kr
Source: https://www.lifehack.org/397449/video-games-and-your-childs-health-surprising-results-from-new-study
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