Video games are awesome! There are approximately 300 million gamers in India. People of all ages, from hardcore enthusiasts to casual players. Some of us like to let off steam after a hard day’s work by diving into a gory FPS or beat-em-up, while others like to use games to immerse themselves in their favourite locations like Gotham City or the Star Wars galaxy. But when it comes to the gaming habits of the younger generation, the conversation swiftly turns to online gaming.
Online games are understandably appealing to kids. They offer great replay value. They’re a challenge, and they represent a certain sense of community. That said, like all games they can become addictive. As a concerned parent, you may be worried when your kids log into online games. Even if you’re something of a gamer yourself.
But are online games all that bad? They may have some potential benefits for young players, even though they may also have some caveats. Let’s take a closer look…
They can help kids to affirm their identity
Many online games allow kids the ability to create and customize their own characters. They can control everything from the character’s appearance to their special skills and abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Obviously, they will project themselves onto this avatar. And that can be a good thing. It can help them to establish and affirm their identity and what kind of adult they want to be.
They can improve concentration and problem solving skills
Like any video game, online games can actually help kids with a number of cognitive skills. They can improve focus and concentration. They inevitably involve some form of puzzle solving and creative problem solving skills. Some studies suggest that gamers are up to 20% smarter and do better in school than their non-gaming peers.
They can build social and teamwork skills
Like sports, online gaming requires players to work with others to accomplish shared goals. That means that they engage teamwork, communication and social skills. It’s just a case of making sure that they steer clear of other players who’ve forgotten their manners.
They can be a fun experience to enjoy as a family
The great thing about many online games is that they’re easy to pick up- yet hard to master. As such, parents can enjoy online games with their kids. They can be a fun experience to enjoy as a family rather than something prohibitive that divides generations. Plus, gaming savvy generates extra cool points for parents!
The potential dangers of online games
Of course, the benefits of online gaming should also be weighed against the potential risks. As a responsible parent, you need to be able to identify games that may be inappropriate for your child’s age group. Online games can also expose kids to cyberbullies and, worse still, online predators. Kids should be taught to recognise the behaviours that give online predators away and be wary of anyone who tries to engage them using the chat features of online games.
With proper care, attention, and parental diligence, however, online gaming can be great fun and highly rewarding for kids and families!
