Video games during summer vacation: yay or nay?

Are your kids avid gamers? Obviously, encouraging them to spend the summer months in front of a television or computer screen isn’t a wise idea. After all, exercise and fresh air are essential to little ones’ well-being. However, a couple of hours of video gaming per week, especially on those rainy days, can actually do your kids some good! Not convinced? Read on.

Studies have shown that video games based on strategy (collecting resources, building an empire, establishing battle tactics, etc.) are beneficial to short-term memory development. And that’s not all! These games stimulate several cognitive functions at once and solicit players’ decision-making and multi-tasking skills. Consequently, people who play them often demonstrate a better ability to critically analyze situations and use sound reasoning in all aspects of life. Not too shabby, right?

Furthermore, the majority of video games require a great deal of concentration, coordination, speed and strategy in order to progress — not to mention patience! Gamers often have to start a certain level over and over again before they succeed in moving on to the next, which is quite effective at developing perseverance.

Video games often get a bad reputation for being violent and encouraging a sedentary lifestyle; but with all of the benefits that they can provide, perhaps they aren’t so terrible after all. It’s simply a matter of choosing age-appropriate games for your children and letting them play in moderation.