5 things all parents should know about games
As a parent it can be hard to keep up with the many interests your child may have. If you are reading this then I am betting that gaming is one of your child’s top hobbies. So, I’ve put together a bit of gaming know how to give you an insight into the gaming world.
1. “I can’t pause it, I’m online!”
Ever told your young one to get off their game to have dinner only to get this response? Well mums and dads, when playing online with their friends everything is happening live and if they were to quit the game now they will be forfeiting all their hard work! Now you wouldn’t want that, would you?
Give them a 15 minute warning before they need to turn off and tell them to make it their last game to avoid tantrums.
2. Talking to strangers isn’t all that bad
We spend a lot of time teaching children not to talk to strangers, but we also encourage them to go out and make friends at school; so, should you be worried about the people they are talking to online?
If you have allowed your child to play online, they may be playing with and talking to people who they have never actually met in person. You should know that the gaming community is largely a very friendly one and your seemingly reclusive child is in fact socialising and building on friendships every day after school. I myself made many friends online from the age of 13 who I have since met and keep up with now at the age of 22. After all, a shared
interest is the best way of starting a friendship. Of course, you must always be vigilant with who your child is talking to, but if they have nothing to hide, you will soon be hearing a lot about their mate Alex who does the best trick shots and the highest KD ratio.
3. Gaming is good for your mental health
Gaming can provide a real sense of escapism from the sometimes-harsh realities of life and provides a platform in which children can take on challenges they know they can achieve, thus making them feel better about themselves. We approach games with the excitement of the challenge and with one primary objective – to win. Gaming can help counter feelings of self-doubt and low confidence whilst also encouraging community through a shared passion – gaming.
4. Games are educational
Yup, your child can be learning whilst having fun! How you say? Well here are the facts. There are many games which are based on historical facts and many which are designed to improve problem solving skills. It also a well-known fact that gaming can improve hand-eye coordination. How gaming does this is by firstly engaging the player
through immersive gameplay – so if your child has chosen to sit down and give this game their entire attention, they have opened themselves up to the teachings of the game. It is then through repetitive actions to output the desired result that memory and coordination skills are improved. Many studies have proven this – so there you go another reason gaming is awesome.
5. Don’t sell your old games
This is something which I’ve found to be valuable information after wanting to play old games I used to own but have since been sold or given away by mum years ago. When searching for my all-time favourite game released 20 years ago, I found that it had held its value and more, selling for £60 to £80!
For sentimental value or monetary value it is always worth keeping your old games, for your benefit or theirs.
