Let Them Play

WHILE DRIVING MY CHILdren to their soccer practice, the upcoming radio show caught my attention: Cognitive researcher Daphne Bavelier, a professor at the University of Geneva, would talk about how video games can help children learn, focus and multitask. 

I found this rather surprising, for it contradicted what I had learned about video games a decade ago when we bought our kids their first game console. It was one of those times when I sat in the van listening to the radio.

But that wasn't enough for me. For the next few days I researched this topic rather intensely via Google, YouTube and magazines. I even discussed it with my pediatrician, thinking that it might be time to update my mindset about video games.

With the exponential growth of technology, it is difficult to keep children away from video games. Almost all of them own home video games (e.g., Wii, Xbox or PlayStation), hand-held games (e.g., Gameboy or Nintendo) or a mobile device (e.g., tablets and/or a smartphone). It is becoming rare to find a child who is either not playing a game or doesn't have regular access to one.

My findings made me realize that parents should be aware of the positives and negatives of video games as they endeavor to find a balance allowing or forbidding their children to play them.

All of the cons I found matched those of my decade-old findings. They are still an addiction because they are designed to be addictive. Quick gratification, immediate rewards and starting over right after losing stimulates a feeling of pleasure and hooks players. 

But the time they spend playing video games means less time for physical activities and being with their friends, which causes obesity and anti-social behavior, respectively. This is also linked to poorer school performance due to the fewer hours invested in studying and/or reading.

But the harm of video games should not be allowed to outweigh their benefits, especially when it comes to cognitive functions. 

The first and foremost benefit is that video games induce quick thinking. According to Bavelier, gamers are more attuned to the environment and can navigate and track objects better, both of which help in everyday things like driving, because playing games "significantly reduce reaction times without sacrificing accuracy." 

For this reason, the U.S. military uses warfare simulation games in training and flight performance. Gamers get used to multitasking as they juggle different objectives while simultaneously keeping track of the changing elements and connecting ideas.