to think that reading books has more value than playing Xbox/PC games?

[MamaFormerlyKnownAsGlam]

I have been having this discussion with DP and I said I'd post on here to canvas opinions.

Basically I am of the opinion that enjoyment of reading and the benefits of reading, i.e increased vocabulary, nurturing imagination etc is not comaparable to playing video games. DP, however is of the opinion that playing games has more benefits, eg, improve hand eye co-ordination, tactical playing etc.

Whilst I can see his point I am still not convinced that playing computer games is better than reading.

Can you tell I'm the bookworm and he's the computer game nut?

What do you lot think?

Baby DS on lap so apologies if disjointed and full of typos.

you're right, he's wrong, simple!

Both have value, imo.

If I could only do one forevermore, it would be reading though.

Another book worm here. I agree with you, but am happy to acknowledge that computer games have some benefits too.

I agree with you tbh, and I play computer games as well as reading.

definitely books.

the human race seems to have retained a good degree of intellect so far over the ages without the use of computer ganes if any description.

you want hand-eye co-ordination? play tennis.

braintraining? crossword or that sudoko shite

this a point that i also argue with ds very regularly.

*games even

There was a study reported in the paper a few days ago that looked at surgeons and found that key-hole surgery was more successful with surgeons who played Xbox a lot!

Still agree though that books are better.

Message withdrawn

Books definitely. But then I'm not into computer games myself.

My bro (who claims not to really watch tv unless its doctor who ) who is a scientist thinks reading any sort of fiction is as 'bad' as watching tv (other than doctor who presumably). But then, despite having a first and PHD from Oxford, he can't spell.

I agree with you too. Does your older child read much? And your baby's probably not going to get as much out of video games as being read/told stories for a while yet. I'm not going to get baby software for our ds either, I'm sure he'll be interested in playing with the computer v soon as it is, he already loves the mouse, the keyboard, our remote controls, phones.

wow, just wandered over to a row about a men Versus women thread and lok at the number of posts I got in the meantime!

I completely agree that there are benefits to playing PC games but surely if it came to a showdown the books would win?

Possibly not chez Glam!

I would rather have a child with his/her head in a book than one glued to the TV/PC. Maybe I'm being old fashioned but for me the book wins, every time.

This isn't very decisive, but an good equal helping of both maybe what is best. This is coming from someone who started messing with computers from the age of 3 and is a completely bookworm as well. Both things have helped in life in different areas, so all things in moderation.

It's never too late to enjoy reading as well. I was shocked when I first met DH as he had never really read a book since school, but he seemed such a bright person. His lack of vocabulary was obvious though. Once we got together, I found him an interesting book to enjoy (The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts) and he's never looked back. Reads Dostoyevsky and everyfin'!

I think school can sometimes rob people of the chance to enjoy reading, because books chosen by the curriculum can be so boring! You don't get that with games, you choose them because you enjoy them. If gaming was on the curriculum, you might see people treating it the same way as reading.

Sport, Pruners? Isn't walking to school and tidying up after themselves enough exercise then?

Elkiedee, my DD is a complete bookworm. She gets 5 books out of the library eery week. Currently she's reading Little House on the Prarie and she just turned 8 last week. She also likes non-fiction. Much better sometimes to read a historical/anatomical book etc than just to google it, I think.

OMG, I sounded like such a smug mum re the DD and library post. I didn't mean it to sound like that at all .

DD has a DS Lite which she loves so it's not an either or situation, luckily.

Good point about computer games and curriculum, Cryptoprocter.

depends on the games and the books really.
i wouldn't say either is better by virtue of their medium. i think that parents who grew up not playing video games will automatically assume books are better, and by in large i would probably agree even though i have a love of both.
but surely it is dependent on the contnet and age of your child.it's like saying which is better reading or watching tv?
most will automatically answer reading, when in reality if the choice is between the child watching the discovery/history/documentary/anyother informative channell as oppossed to reading a comic book or heat magazine,i know which i'd choose.

I do both, I don't see why it has to be one or the other tbh. DSs both read a lot, but I know that (esp with DS2) playing RPGs has improved their reading just as much. I can be just as obsessional over a good book as some people can be over games, in fact I'm probably worse because the book's far more portable.

Neither's better IMO, just different. We have exactly this debate in our house as well! DH loves Xbox, I love reading, DCs enjoy both.

Books are more flexible IMO, they allow more scope for imagination. Anf they are more portable, cheaper and don't rely on a power supply (except in the case of reading at night )

Both have a value,and neither is good if it is done to the exclusion of other things. A child who spent all day every day reading would miss out on other opportunities just as much as a child who spent all day playing computer games.

I wouldn't argue that one is better than the other really. I'd argue that sport and physical activity are preferable to either

DS splits his leisure time between kicking a football around, reading and computer games. He is 7. He doesn't really "play" which seems a shame. His computer games are limited to half hour twice at weekends and holidays and half hour on Fridays but he gets more if he has a friend around and he goes on the Wii at his CM's. The CM also takes him on the rec where he invariably plays football 3 afternoons a week plus he kicks it around the garden/out the front. Then he spends lots of times reading (3 books of Horrid Henry/Astrosaurs level a week ish plus lots of times studying football annuals etc). He does do some writing/drawing and the odd jigsaw but not much actually playing with toys other than lego sometimes.

books yes

i am nnot of the mind that thrusting stimuli at a person encourages philosophical thinking

am married to a surgeon who has never done 'gaming'

I used to worry about this - with a nearly 9 year old only ds who would much rather play computer games or watch DVDs than read. (My dh is a keen player of computer games so I had no chance of banning the things altogether.) I agree with the points made about problem solving and improved social skills, having seen both in action with my son. However, the point when I relaxed about it was the day last summer when I turfed him out into the garden and he had a wonderful afternoon playing at being Link (from Zelda) - in exactly the same way as the characters in Swallows and Amazons played games based on the books they had been reading (in an era before computer games). Somehow the fact that he was using the game as a building block for his own imaginative play made me a lot happier about the whole thing. Incidentally, when I was 9 I always had my nose in a book; I suspect my parents may have worried about me because I showed so little interest in any other occupation.
I still read to ds every night. Even though he is quite capable of reading to himself, he protests vigorously if I suggest we stop. We are on our second round of the Swallows and Amazons series - which I loved as a child. He has an outstanding vocabulary, and reads well ahead of his age. We won't go into his writing or spelling!

Both definitely.

DH has played games since he was a child and had a friend at school who was the opposite - a complete bookworm. They both did tests after school to enter the RAF and his friend failed the hand eye co-ordination ones and couldnt get in! Dh passed with flying colours (but never joined, wasnt his dream unlike his poor friend).

I'm a total bookworm too. Never seen the attraction of games, but I do see the point of them!