Benefits of playing video games: Why you should get your child a console

• Things have really changed in recent years and if you’re still stopping your child from playing video games then you might want to change you mind
• Many psychologists and researchers believe that playing video games offers some benefits, especially to young people
• One of the benefits of playing video games is they improve cognitive abilities

What are the benefits of playing video games? Things have really changed in recent years and if you’re still stopping your child from playing their favourite game then you might want to change you mind after reading this article.

It’s true video games are addictive and could have negative effects if one spends most of their time playing. However, there are plenty of benefits which come with playing them. In this article we bring you five benefits of playing video games which could be helpful to your child.

Playing video games has positive and negative effects. Photo/ Harvard Health.

1. Improved Cognitive Abilities

For starters, cognitive abilities are those skills that your brain use to complete essential day-to-day tasks such as thinking, speaking and remembering. These skills are important in everyday tasks such as driving and simply making sense of objects that are around you. By playing video games, these abilities which can lead to your son growing up sharp, greatly improve.

Also, they make decision more faster, as per a study by researchers from the University of Rochester.

2. Increased Hand-to-Eye Coordination

Next on the benefits of playing video games is increased hand-to-eye coordination. According to a study from the University of Toronto, individuals who spent time playing video games usually have better sensorimotor skills. These skills are very crucial when it comes to learning and putting into practice skills that require hand-to-eye coordination such as typing, riding a bike or driving.

Playing video games increases hand-to-eye coordination. Photo/ Perception Psychology Mackay.

3. Improved Problem Solving 

Most video games have one thing in common; they require strategic thinking to come up with a solution to the challenge in the game. According to a research done by fMRI scans, professional gamers have more grey matter and heightened connectivity between certain subregions in the insular cortex. This greatly improves their problem solving skills, which is why they’re among the best in their respective games.

4. Improve Multi-Tasking Ability

A lot of things happen when one is playing a video game. For one to be good at gaming, they have to be aware of everything happening in the game and perform all the tasks at the same time. For example, a gamer is expected to move the character, keep an eye on their health, ammo and other stats, and also speak on the microphone if it’s a multiplayer game.

A person who plays video games frequently tends to be good at doing different things at the same time. Photo/ RBK.

5. Cooperation And Teamwork With Multiplayer Games

One of the well known benefits of playing video games is they promote cooperation and teamwork. There are games which require players to compete as a team, which improve an individual’s ability to cooperate with others. Working with other people is very crucial not only in school but also in modern day job marketplace.

The most popular multiplayer games include Dota 2, Rocket League, League of Legends, Team Fortress 2 and Counter Strike.

Conclusion

Even though there are plenty of benefits of playing video games, you should always ensure your child does not spend too much time gaming. Some of the negative effects which come with gaming include obesity, insomnia, addiction, aggression, and irritability and anxiety when not playing.

Below are some tips to manage video game use at your home:

1. Set limits on how long your child should play
2. Do not install video game equipments in your child’s bedroom
3. Always be aware of the rating of the video game your child is playing. Games rated Mature (M) have content that are only suitable for persons 17 and above hence should not be played by children.
4. Supervise internet use at home because most of the video games are played online. This could help you know if your child is playing past the agreed time.
5. Discuss with your child the video game he is playing and do research about it.