Can Playing Video Games Be Good for Kids?
My son loves video games. He spends hours every day in his room playing them. Is there any redeeming educational value to video games? Some seem like they could help him learn strategy. But I worry that others may be too violent or numb his mind. – Cecilia Some games have been shown to improve kids’ hand–eye coordination and problem-solving skills. Games that require kids to actually move or manipulate the game through their own physical movement can even get them moving and not be as sedentary. Others, though, don’t have such benefits, and research has shown that violent video games increase kids’ aggressive behavior. Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids spend no more than 2 hours each day on screen time — watching TV or movies, or playing computer or video games. So consider setting limits at least that stringent to keep game playing from interfering wi
