#[this article is just an excuse to connect all my interests together through their shady companies lol]

[squip-news]

The True Creator Behind SQUiPs

The speculation of SQUiP origins has long been debated. Of course names like SQUiPSoft or MicroSQUiP frequently pop up, as well as others like HRTech. Some even go to theorize it may be a well-known company that covertly funds a small group, or possibly a government organization seeking to gain control. But who really created these powerful little pills that impact our daily lives? And is it safe to trust them?

That’s what we’re here to find out.

Some base information we know is that of the history of SQUiPSoft and MicroSQUiP. Both companies may still linger around, although we only get the rare updates occasionally heard from them like SQUiPSoft’s recall from earlier this year. They supposedly even merged back in 2005, although it is unknown what company formed from it or if it’s still functioning. But based on their names, the famous computer company Microsoft may possibly be behind SQUiPs. Or maybe they chose a more reasonable and SQUiP-related name. Or kept one of the original two. We can’t say for certain. Even still, the creation of SQUiPs isn’t set in stone, so while these two companies are likely candidates, other companies may have taken to developing SQUiPs too.

Besides that, we know SQUiPs originate from Japan, but what does that really mean? Is the company itself based in Japan or is one of its founders? This is the explanation HRTech gives, as R. Hashimoto himself developed them in Japan. If you’re curious about finding out more information about HRTech, who claim to be the inventors of SQUiPs, feel free to check out Hashimoto’s blog here, Ayano Ryuunosuke’s blog here, or Unit 2282’s blog here. Although, take note that HRTech is a private company, and it seems like they’re picky with new applicants.

SQUiP creation would also likely need huge funding. SQUiPs can go for anywhere from $400 at your local mall backroom to $600 from resellers. These prices are an absolute steal for a piece of one of the most advanced technologies on the market. Meaning, whoever is creating SQUiPs must be well funded. Billionaires like Elon Musk have already proposed similar concepts of neural implants with his investment, Neuralink. SQUiPs might be an early test run of this technology.

Speaking of other things Musk has taken credit for, Detroit, Michigan is known for their car industry. Despite this, maybe Detroit’s future is one of tech.

The up and coming Detroit-based company, Cyberlife, who’s main focus is on the construction of life-like androids could be our answer. Who’s to say our modern day SQUiP couldn’t be one of Kamski’s– the mind behind Cyberlife– original prototypes before he moved on to a less digital format?

Although, Hashimoto seems to not be a fan, calling Kamski “a ‘huge bitch’” so it’s clear Cyberlife and HRTech are at least not working together.

Known for their Severance procedure, Lumon is also in the wheelhouse for pushing the limits of the human mind. This procedure essentially separates the work and life memories through a small, pill-shaped device implanted in your brain! Sound familiar? Lumon fits the criteria perfectly to design the technology capable to function alongside humans just like SQUiPs.

Another tech industry company, Gamefuna could also be behind it with their life-like games and advanced AI endeavors. Rumors tell of their game’s characters acknowledging the player and displaying sentient traits. This behavior resembles the intelligence of SQUiPs.

Hatchetfield, also in Michigan, may be a particular spot of interest. Well known for their mysterious disappearances and rumors of cryptids like the Hatchetfield Ape-man and the Axe Man, an often neglected part of the town lore is that of its budding tech company, CCRP. 

Rumors circulate around the company– fully known as Coven Communications, Research, and Power– with their main office right in the middle of the tiny town’s downtown. Some speculate they may be experimenting with cloning, android creation, or even time travel!

While most of these rumors seem false at a first glance, there may be some truth. Back before 2017, some people documented donating a detailed copy of their DNA to the company as a way to make a quick buck. Is this their start to experiment with making clones? Or will it be used as a base for android copies? Or maybe is it just as their name entails– genetic research.

Either way, no one can say for sure. And, the company has a well-known tech branch. With all of these rumors, who’s to say this company didn’t invent SQUiPs too? It’s all in the realm of possibility.

Speaking of which, the government organization, PEIP, often associated with Hatchetfield may also play a part in it. While mostly kept secret, and little is known about them, PEIP could be the shady specializers in SQUiP technology. Their full name standing for Paranormal, Extraterrestrial, Interdimensional Phenomena may not fit perfectly, but SQUiPs are known for their interdimensional nature, as they’re able to analyze all potential outcomes, and thus universes and dimensions with their quantum processors.

Although, this is more of a stretch, as not much can be found about them. But still, SQUiPs themselves are similarly undocumented.

But beware. There are plenty of other organizations who may be involved in illegal SQUiP creation. A few companies come to mind. AceTech, the mysterious company responsible for 00111111, and a couple others. Modders, human and SQUiP, may also be responsible for bootlegged SQUiPs.

There’s also companies not to be confused with SQUiP creation, but their introduction of SQUiP-compatible sister technology. Think SQTechnolgies’s Squissistant and InterSQUiP‘s virus prevention efforts. Not to mention SQUiPWorks and SQUiPusa as well.

In reality, it’s equally as possible SQUiPs were created from all of these places. Thanks to their quantum nature, many SQUiPs are able to interact or potentially come from all timelines.

Got any other suggestions as to where SQUiPs could possibly come from? Share with us in the tags, with a reblog, or through a SQUiPTip!

#SQUiPnews #business #be more chill #bmc #unreality #[this article is just an excuse to connect all my interests together through their shady companies lol]

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

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http://ift.tt/2mSI3EQ

http://ift.tt/2nmxfS0

http://ift.tt/2npsVS4 http://ift.tt/2nLv7AA

[fitnetpro]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids published first on http://ift.tt/2kRppy7

[ruthellisneda]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[albertcaldwellne]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[johnclapperne]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[neilmillerne]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[joshuabradleyn]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[almajonesnjna]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

#A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

[sportsandfitnessinfo]

New Post has been published on http://fitnessandhealthpros.com/fitness/a-nerds-guide-to-gaming-with-kids/

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

Originally at :Blog – Nerd Fitness Written By : Dan

#Gaming #Guide #Kids #Nerd’s

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

http://ift.tt/2mSI3EQ

http://ift.tt/2nmxfS0

http://ift.tt/2npsVS4

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

http://ift.tt/2mSI3EQ

http://ift.tt/2nmxfS0 http://ift.tt/2npF89k

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

http://ift.tt/2mSI3EQ http://ift.tt/2nRcj21 http://ift.tt/2npEYih

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

http://ift.tt/2m4LVW7

http://ift.tt/2mSI3EQ

http://ift.tt/2nmxfS0

[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

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[dorothyd89]

A Nerd’s Guide to Gaming with Kids

This is an article from Rebel Correspondent and Parenting and Mental Health Wizard, Dan.

Back in the early 90’s my older brother and I were playing Dragster on the Atari 2600 when our father walked in and looked over our shoulders for a minute. We expected the typical, “Alrighty boys, time to do something else,” but to our surprise, for the first time we got, “It’s my turn next.”

I remember him fumbling with the controller, blowing the Dragster’s engine several times, and explaining to us the best timing for gear changes.

The reason this sticks in my memory so clearly is because we were spending time together, learning and enjoying something different that we all loved.

Because home video games were so foreign to my father’s generation, gaming with your children was never seen as an acceptable pastime and way to spend with your kids.

However, those of us who grew up playing the Atari, NES and Genesis have come to see videogames, if facilitated properly, as another way to bring together generations and create some quality bonding time.

Like a lot of Rebels, I have always loved video games, and now that I’m a father to three, I’m beginning to see the wonderful benefits, along with the dangerous pitfalls, that gaming with my children has to offer.

Gaming and kids can be a controversial topic for parents – some are all for it, while others are dead against it. So today we’re going to weigh up benefits and problems on this issue, to help you make your own educated decisions with when it comes to your own kids, nephews and nieces, or any other children, be it now or in the future.

GOOD GAMING

If we believe what we’ve heard from the media since the release of Mortal Kombat (wow, was it really 1992?), video games are literally the worst thing ever for anyone under the age of 21. However, when we dig a little deeper, lots of actual research indicates that it may not all be gloom and DOOM (get it?).

Research has established that under the right circumstances, video games can be very beneficial to your child’s developmental, educational, social and emotional needs.

Now, whether it’s beneficial will depend on certain factors:

how much time your child spends gaming

what type of games your child plays

why your child is playing games

if they are playing alone or with someone

Developmentally, video games can improve your child’s:

hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills

problem-solving, strategy and planning, decision-making and logic skills

ability to set and achieve goals and time management skills

Emotionally, video games may help them feel:

less stressed – video games can be a way to manage mood or ‘let off steam’

capable of doing something well – their self-esteem can grow as their skills as a gamer does

connected to other people – particularly with online play (more about that later)

Socially, games may help a child:

strengthen existing friendships and make new ones – both online and IRL

learn to play fairly and take turns – (a concept my kids have yet to learn, unfortunately)

feel closer to family and friends – especially when you all play games together.

Video games can have some educational benefits too. These include helping your child get better at:

remembering things and critical thinking – I know the power of memory and video games personally; the Konami Code has been etched in my brain for decades

recognizing and understanding visual information

understanding concepts like mathematics, learning new words, navigation, and more.

All these things aside, the reason I, and many other parents, play video games with their children is because it’s an awesome bonding experience.

Researchers from Arizona State University explain,“Parents miss a huge opportunity when they walk away from playing video games with their kids….often parents don’t understand that many video games are meant to be shared and can teach young people about science, literacy and problem solving.

Gaming with their children also offers parents countless ways to insert their own ‘teaching moment’.”

Gaming with kids certainly has its benefits in terms of development and creating some special time between you and the kids. There’s nothing like multiplayer Mario Kart family nights, coaching your child through a level you learnt at their age, seeing their face light up as they conquer a difficult challenge, or just absolutely schooling them in NBA 2K, but there are certainly some downsides when it comes to mixing kids and gaming, so be sure to do so wisely.

BAD GAMING

Like anything, particularly with developing little minds and bodies, gaming should be done in moderation. Issues can certainly arise when kids are spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time playing outside, getting some exercise, hanging with friends in real life, and just doing regular kid stuff.

We want our children to live their life, not a second life!

Along with the issues that come with inactivity playing video games too much can lead to:

stress

poor performance at school

poor sleep or not enough sleep

mental health problems

and square eyes (according to my mum, an expert in this field who still calls a PS4 ‘The Sega’)

Excessive gaming can be detrimental to developing minds, and we all know how easy it is to get lost in a great game. Who else has ever said ‘I’ll just play for an hour’ and then suddenly it’s next Tuesday? So be sure to supervise younger children and keep tabs of how long older children are gaming.

To avoid this trap, it’s important is being able to provide your child with alternatives to gaming that they find stimulating and engaging that you can do together.

For starters, try:

Board Games

Live Action Role Play

Sports – Take 2K to the driveway

Explore the outdoors

Catch up with families with similar aged children together

Get active – Play, Swim, Jump, Chase, Hide, Seek. Just spend some time being a kid with your kid, you don’t need to overthink it.

Moderation and supervision are the ultimate tools needed here. I’m not going to try and answer the classic ‘how much should my X year old be playing games a week?’ question, because each child is totally different.

There are a range of (widely varying) guidelines available by ‘experts’ on the topic, but I’ve worked with children who play Minecraft for hours on end each day with zero impact on their development or wellbeing whatsoever, and also seen some children’s mental health and school grades deteriorate due to some very casual tablet gaming.

As a rule of thumb, if any aspect of your child’s wellbeing or regular routine is becoming disrupted as a result of gaming, start implementing strategies with them to address these behaviors.

This could be simply setting a gaming schedule or working on a contract together, disabling the wifi after a certain hour, or seeking professional help.

UGLY GAMING

Even as video game lovers and supporters, we can’t deny that there is a really dark side to gaming, and this force can be especially strong on our younger rebels. 

As we gamers know, the media loves to talk about violence in video games. Although there are a lot of misconceptions about the role of violent video games and violence in general, I agree that violent video games are not appropriate for younger children. This is because at a young age, many kids find it hard to tell the difference between fantasy and real-life, and witnessing violent content can not only upset younger children, but impact on their perceptions towards violence in reality.

But for older children…it’s not so clear cut. Once again, our mates ‘The Experts’ can’t seem to all agree on whether violent video games lead to aggression in real life, but I think the vast majority of us who have played a violent video game aren’t planning on shooting up the neighborhood any time soon.

If you’re in doubt about whether a game may be appropriate for your child:

Read some reviews – our favorite source is IGN.com

Watch some Twitch or YouTube gameplay

Even play the game yourself (Any excuse will do, right? After 87 hours of gameplay and selfless research, I have now concluded that Grand Theft Auto V is probably not suitable for my 3 and 5 year olds).

You know your child the best, so do your research and before calling the shots. As with every aspect of parenting, you’re not always going to make the right decision, but that’s all part of the fun (and also why I got to play Mortal Kombat at the age of 7).

If you’re having concerns about the types of games your child is playing, have a talk with them about it. Share your own values, and ask for theirs. Speak with them about how to properly deal with anger, respectful relationships with the opposite sex, and what they’re gaining from gaming.

By showing an interest in their gaming, you can keep a line of communication open, which can be vitally important throughout the adolescent years.

Online Gaming

In addition to violence, in recent years online game play has opened up a whole new can of worms with younger gamers.

As with any social situation bullying can happen online. (Feel free to join any Call of Duty match if you don’t believe me. According to my competitors, my mother has become quite fond of many 14-year old American boys).

Jokes aside, bullying is a real issue with many children and adolescents and if left unnoticed and not dealt with, in extreme circumstances, the consequences can be devastating. Our children can also be taken advantage of in online games via the world of microtransactions and shady game developers deliberately exploiting our children for cash.

I know parents who have installed “Free to Download and Play” children’s’ apps on their tablets, only to receive huge credit card bills the next month because they left their password saved on the device and their child had unknowingly been paying for DLC every few minutes of gameplay. So also be sure to protect yourself in these instances.

As with any online activities, when your child is gaming online, they are interacting with strangers. So ensure your child knows how to stay safe online, and knows they can speak to you about anything they see or hear without getting in trouble.

Finally, we get to the really ugly beast of Gaming Addiction. Games have always been enjoyable and rewarding, they provide us with clear goals, measures of success and achievement.

We as humans love this kind of stuff, but since the instant feedback nature of games works at such a faster time scale than our choices in real life, gaming can also contribute to players (particularly young players) developing addictions if they become the only ways in which a person experiences these rewards and achievements in their life.

Recognizing when the gaming has changed from a form of enjoyment way to meet some or all of these psychological needs is difficult, but if you feel that gaming may be impacting aspects of your child’s (or your) life, start by questioning why this is so and exploring what is missing from their life that is contributing to this.

Yes, there are pitfalls and a big dark side when it comes to mixing games and children, but if we educate ourselves and our children and communicate well, most of this can be counteracted with supervision and moderation.

For starters, try keeping all consoles or devices in a common area of the house. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on the game content and time spent gaming, but it will give you an opportunity to game and interact with each other.

START, PAUSE OR EXIT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

So there we have it: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Now it’s time for you to make your own decisions. Nobody knows your child better than you, and what works for one child may not always work for another.

Educate yourselves, try a few different approaches, know the risks and how to avoid these.  Like a lot of aspects of raising kids, when it comes to video games, the healthiest approach is moderation.

Playing video games in moderation and balancing video games with other activities are the keys to avoiding most problems that can come with gaming.

Any parent quickly realises how little time their kids stay kids, so it’s vital to spend some special time with them doing things you both love. Whether that be gaming or something else, make sure your child is safe and enjoying themselves.

And as a parent to three younger rebels just starting to game, I want to hear from you:

Gaming with kids, yay or nay?

What games do you love playing with your children?

What alternatives to gaming work well for you?

What challenges have you found with kids gaming, and how did you work through it?

Did anyone actually get square eyes in the 90’s?

Let us know in the comments!

-Dan

photo credit: clement127: Sweet family, kid with controller, ps4 controller, greyscale xbox controller, Dan Schmidt.

###

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