The Impact of Video/Online games on Child development...

Since the 1980s, video games have become an increasingly important part of the entertainment industry, and whether they are also a form of art is a matter of dispute.

The electronic systems used to play video games are called platforms. Video games are developed and released for one or several platforms and may not be available on others.

The input device used for games, the game controller, varies across platforms. Common controllers include gamepads,joysticks,mouse devices,keyboards, the touchscreens of mobile devices, or even a person's body, using a Kinect sensor.

Most of the bad effects of video games are blamed on the violence they contain.Children who play more violent video games are more likely to have increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and decreased prosocial helping, according to a scientific study.

Video games may also have negative effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome.

While playing online, your kid can pick up the bad language/behavior from other players across knowingly or unknowingly, and make your kid vulnerable to online dangers. Often posing as children, sexual predators and other bad actors are meeting kids online in multiplayer video games that also contain a chat option.

I guess some of you might have come across such situations of aggressive behaviour, kids using foul language which happens to be the source of online video games especially with chat option.

Do You agree?

In general, Games can confuse between reality and fantasy, which is out of their reach of understanding the difference.Well, it is a well known fact that Kids spending too much time playing video games may exhibit impulsive behavior and have attention problems.

In addition to the damage caused due to the violent games, we also see some kids using gaming equipments.

Trying to comfort your child with gaming equipments as gifts might be a costly decision if they get attracted to violent games.

Other research & studies conclude that most of the children who are addicted to online/video games, routinely skip their homework to play these games, and many students admitted that their video game habits are often responsible for poor school grades.

(https://www.raisesmartkid.com/3-to-6-years-old/4-articles/34-the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video-games#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20bad%20effects,Anderson%20%26%20Bushman%2C%202001)

While interacting with neighbours,friends, a regular complaint from the parents was , In many games, kids are rewarded for being more violent. This act of being violent is done repeatedly, where the child is in control of the violence and experiences the violence in his own eyes (killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting,racing).This also shows major transformation in a kids thought process and behaviour.

The research & studies say that video gaming can affect the brain and, furthermore, cause changes in many regions of the brain.

So why complicate a kids life with such violent games??

We can give them the freedom to play video/online games but also educate them on the effects of playing violent games and how it effects their mind.

Schedule an hour a day time for the video games.Discuss whats best in the game and what can be improved to make the game more interesting.Discussions keep them away from getting addicted to violent games and you can easily read and counsel their on a timely basis.

Childhood days are the best memories for all. They have fun and thats when they become active and smart.But at the same time make sure they are interactive and discuss their thoughts on the same with you.

This also improves and strengthens your bonding with your kids.