Every time you come into a computer shop, you will see lots of children and teen agers busily playing various online games. Even at home, video games are what keep children occupied. The violence in these games make them sensational and disturbing for many parents and the adults of this society. Obviously, video games are inappropriate for these young generations.
However, video and computer games actually can offer educational experience for these children . As the world continue to evolve technologically, letting your child experience these technological savvies can even help him become better equipped to stay on top of this fast moving world because of the internet.
Teachers can make these video games into educational and enriching experiences by being interactive with them. They can get involved with the gaming experience. Discussing characters and story in the game, as you would a regular book, can make the student realize the realities of the game and its benefits to the real world. This enables them to ask questions. Asking questions help children to become more observant of the world they live in and their roles in it.
On the most basic level, video and computer games can teach students motor control and hand-eye coordination, especially in young children. For preschoolers, these games can benefit the young learners recognize facial expressions, location, speech and literary skills, proper social and moral decision making, and leadership skills even.
The best thing teachers and parents can do is to research and find games that are educational yet as fun as the regular video games that could be violent for them. There are many options available now and when you play with them, they will enjoy more and eventually choose better games in the future even if they are alone.
The younger the learner, the better it is to start introducing educational video games and helping them understand its benefits. Teachers and parents can do this hand in hand to help these young ones refrain from violent games in the future. Work with your child and come up with video game choices together. The main objective is to introduce learning in a fun way.
References:
Anderson C. and Bushman B. Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Psychological Science 2001 12(5) p353 – 359. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
Flew T. and Humphreys S. Games: technology, industry, culture. Oxford University Press 2005.
Radoff, Jon (8 December 2009). Six wonderful things about video games. Radoff.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
By: MARIA MAY S. FORIO | MT-I | BEPZ Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
