It’s a well-known fact that video games have a lot of benefits when it comes to brain-development, but some people tend to disagree with this, and we can see why. However, we feel like not everybody understands the difference between games that enhance and have a positive impact and games that are just a waste of time. This is one of the main reasons why we decided to talk on this topic, so if you are a parent who wants to learn more or just a regular video-game enthusiast, you’re more than welcome to keep on reading until the end.
If you are even remotely familiar with the world of gaming, you’re probably aware that there are many different genres and titles out there, so finding the right one for your taste shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you want to improve your cognitive abilities, it’s a lot better to choose a title that requires a more strategic approach when it comes to gameplay. Either way, we believe that if you are willing to extract the positive message out of the game, it’s possible with every title.
1. Decision-making skills
A lot of titles these days offer a unique gameplay system that requires the player to bring an important decision that’s going to alter the ending or have a significant impact in the storyline later on. Every alive person will sooner or later come to a point in their life where they need to make an important decision, so it’s a lot better to have some practice before you experience such an emotional crossroad.
Although a lot of people seem to think that virtual reality hurts humanity, we strongly disagree. It’s a lot better to learn through something harmless than to experiment with your own life, later on, believe it or not. If a video game “punishes” the player by making a greedy choice, a child will most likely pick up the message and remember that being greedy is not a good trait, and so on.
2. Improved coordination
Have you ever wondered why professional pilots and drivers use a virtual reality simulation to practice and hone their skills for the upcoming real-life experiences? Well, because staring at a monitor and trying to control the character, or the vehicle in a video game provides a lot of mental stimulation, believe it or not. Gaming is not just something that a person can be addicted to, and it’s certainly not a waste of time, especially if you’re choosing your titles carefully.
Imagine what would happen if every pilot had to practice with real planes and on real flights with hundreds of passengers sitting behind them. Games are not so “pointless” when you think of it from this point of view.
A lot of titles have educational content, so some teach about loving animals, others have a special approach that educates children about the importance of the economy, and so on. If your child is not very familiar with sports, but they want to start playing soon, a great way to learn some more about a certain discipline is by playing a game that’s based on the real sport.
3. Longer and more efficient memory
It’s not a secret that a person can only get good at something that they enjoy doing. You cannot force someone who doesn’t like staring at a book to become the best writer, and you certainly cannot expect someone afraid of swimming to become a lifeguard. However, video games help us get rid of these invisible mental barriers that we face daily. Maybe a child doesn’t like studying so much, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any other efficient ways of exercising the mind and developing the memory as they grow up.
Trivia, puzzle-solving experiences, adventure titles, or purely educational games are more than available these days, and a lot of developers are trying to keep things as child-friendly as possible. If you are a parent who enjoys gaming, you probably already have the knowledge and experience to introduce your child to the right titles.
4. It teaches competition
In some popular competitive titles such as The Division, a lot of competition is involved, but that’s also a good thing because a child can learn what it takes to become a better version of themselves. We do understand that these titles might be a bit more difficult to play by younglings, so if you or your child seem to be struggling with the progression system in this game, and you’re up for a boost, feel free to read more about it here.
Some say that being competitive is a toxic trait, but we also disagree with that. There are some moments in life where being better than you already are is important. This applies to both school and work, and your child should learn about it from an early age.
Not to mention the fact that eSports nowadays is a legitimate profession and it’s being taught in a lot of schools worldwide, so if you notice that your child has the potential to become a professional player, encouraging them is something that you should do.
5. Better concentration
Some kids are very impatient, and this is something that can harm them in the long-run. Being impatient can lead to making a lot of mistakes later on in life, and this applies to many different areas as well. Playing video games, especially ones that require a lot of thinking and focus, is something that can improve concentration levels by quite a lot.
Some more competitive titles which are also very fun to play will teach the importance of concentration as well. As we mentioned earlier, when someone’s having fun, learning becomes a lot easier for them. If “being patient” means sitting in front of the book without moving for a very long time, for some kids this becomes an immediate “no” in their head, and after some time they’ll grow up with the idea that studying is a boring and an awful thing.
However, if you reward their effort with some fun time playing games, which also helps them learn some more about patience, you’re already on the right track to raise a responsible and patient individual.
