What are the benefits of video games? Have you seen any?

[LauraEMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

We all worry about how much is too much when it comes to screen time for children and it can be hard to know which video games are appropriate. But there are some benefits to video games - cognitive and educational ones for the players, and peace and quiet for the rest of the house.

We’re writing an article on the effects of video games on children and we’d love to hear your views. Do you think there are any benefits to children playing video games? What skills have your children learnt or developed through screen time? And do you have any advice for parents who are uncertain about how to approach this subject? Please share your thoughts below.

Thank you!

MNHQ

[runpro]

I was looking forward to this utility
run 3

[VirginiaWH]

Video games developed me a lot. Also, it was the only chance to escape during the quarantine. I found a lot of new friends with the help of video games. Now I'm playing rocket league ranks. I'm still getting into this game but I already like it. Actually, I found the tutorial for this game, and to be honest it is very useful. I think that it will be very nice from the part of the game creators to prepare such tutorials about the game's playlist and all this stuff. So don't be afraid, a game always has benefits you just have to look for them.

[Buttonmushroom2020]

I can't wait until our baby can play games. Daddy is a keen gamer and has to keep his violent games until little one is in bed.

[Bunnymumy]

Haha I learned what a lapis lazuli was from the harvest moon series where there is mining :)

[BikeRunSki]

my kids knew what Lapis lazuli was from Minecraft

Lol! I’m a Geologist! I was giving a talk/presentation thing at a Y6 “women in Science” day at a local junior school. Hand the things I said were contradicted by a Minecraft expert who knew “all about rocks and minerals from Minecraft”. Except, not in real life....

[CovidicusRex]

We find that all screens Male our children moody little arseholes but games in particular make them horrid (I have a few puzzle type ones on my phone that I occasionally cave and allow them to play). It’s just not worth it. There’s nothing that they can’t learn without video games (and the inevitable foul mood they create). It’s just not worth it.

[vdbfamily]

my kids knew what Lapis lazuli was from Minecraft when a tour guide somewhere was telling us about it. He was well impressed and trotted off to check it out. I have a very quiet 15 year old DD but he keeps up with his friends online gaming and gets very animated. My family comment that it is the only time they hear him talk!!

[ChipotleBlessing]

My DS taught himself to read so he could play Minecraft properly and talk about it with older kids.

[follygirl]

Playing on the Xbox has been brilliant for my son (13) at the moment as he's able to chat to his mates.

Interestingly a while ago he had a flying lesson with my husband. He was much better at flying the plane than my dh. The pilot said it was because he was used to small movements on his controller. He made the flying look so easy and my dh is normally good at things like that. So it's not all bad.

[fonxey]

My other half did a lot of gaming when he was younger and through this he learnt programming languages and now has a good job cos of it. Had he not had an interest in gaming he might not have invested time in learning code and got so good a job.

The only time I see the negative effects of gaming getting spoken about is with popular violent grants which are all 18 certified so why the hell are younger children doing playing those games? Pff.

Not all games are violent.
Games inspire imagination, teamwork, appreciation of art forms, empathy, logic, strategy.

Games like Journey, The Unfinished Swan, Thomas Was Alone... Are all beautiful games. Journey inspires cooperation between two people who can only communicate by making a single sound.

Some games to me are as good as a good book. I can't wait you share them with my daughter.

[Faultymain5]

He is addicted to gaming. He wakes up at midday if we let him. Goes to the bathroom and starts playing
Comes down for breakfast lunch and dinner. Goes back to playing. Will cook if asked.
His online socials is about the game. He doesnt even know how to have a conversation. An example is a friend from primary reconnecting, them gaming for 3 days straight and he knows nothing about, which uni, which course, or anything about friend, but he does.comment that it's great reconnecting (Result💪). Wakes up in the middle of the night to play.
That said for his course he has an idea for a game I'd play. Really good. Talks about developing. But once again no get up and go to.do it. It's safer in his bedroom.

Roll on uni (providing he has done enough to get in), cause therapy, shouting, personal responsibility and bribing has not worked. He's now a man it really is up to him.

[Teabaseddiet]

Great for keeping in touch with friends at the moment (and/or other times) if played online under supervision.

[Tanfastic]

They've been a godsend for my son, he has a bad stammer but doesn't hardly stammer when he's chatting to friends over Xbox so in some ways I encourage it....anything to keep him talking, especially at the minute.

[stayathomer]

It’s been proven that they don’t affect behaviour and can enhance a lot of skills

Well that's a pretty lofty statement!!! Our house changed with the introduction of the X box. ALL of our kids change when they're playing, waiting to play etc. All tense up WHILE playing, ignore everyone else, scream at the screen etc. We have tried everything over the years, had scheduled, not had scheduled, cut down on screen time, played with them but in general we end up with at least one having to be told off, taken off. There are definitely educational positives though, problem solving and logic, also the enjoyment they get when not getting stressed or cranky

[MashedPotatoBrainz]

My son is 7 and autistic. He loves playing computer games and they have unlocked actual play with other children for him.

[planningaheadtoday]

Huge benefits of modern platforms.

They allow the child/young adult to have access to collaborative group activity. If they use specialist headset the group can talk amongst themselves and plan strategic action.

It promotes cohesion and group moral.

It helps with problem solving, planning and leadership.

It let's them access fantasy worlds together.

It can be creative.

Not all games require guns, lots of collaborative platforms are purely creative .

It's been a Godsend in this age of Covid. My sons all log in in the late afternoon and chat loudly, lots of laughter. They plan missions too loudly.

It's also helping them get ready for the next age, which is likely to be based around computer technology.

My eldest son is programming, younger two are playing. My daughter shows no interest at all.

Once I realised the high level of social interaction and group activity my outlook changed. It's the modern way.

[SimplySteveRedux]

It's fascinating too that last year the gaming genre reaped more money than every other facet of the entertainment industry combined. Gaming's not going away.

[SimplySteveRedux]

The 11 year old has played through (with us) the Monkey Island series.

They're brill, aren't they and have stood the test of time. Oceanhorn 1&2 are the closest games I've found to them.

I'm going to tout the Rollercoaster Tycoon games, Two Point Hospital, Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and The Elder Scrolls games too

[Bunnymumy]

@madcatladyforever

Have you considered that he gets inspiration for his art from those games?

Also, if he is a bit of a lazy git then video games or not, there would always be another excuse. It sounds to me like you blame video games rather than him. Because heaven forbid a grown man should be able to fulfil what is expected of him. It must be something else to blame.

Maybe he isnt as good as your rose tinted glasses make him out to be. And he knows it. So he retreats into fantasy land. Or maybe he does so, to escape such high expectations of him and his 'talent'.

Or maybe, they make him happy. Perhaps fame and fortune as an artist is your dream for him, not his. Maybe he'd rather just relax and be happy in the here and now.

Sorry if that sounds harsh but, blaming videogames for a grown man's lack of get up and go, is a cop out. If he had the skill and he wanted it enough, nothing would stop him.

[Bunnymumy]

What about just the fact - that it's an adventure!

I grew up on zelda games fo example, and they are fantastic. Yes, so much puzzle solving! But they are also beautiful and fun.

Why does everything have to improve a skill to be worthwhile? Admiring art and listening to music and all that, isn't done to improve upon skills. But because it makes us feel good. Video games can be like that.

[madcatladyforever]

My son is 40, if I had my time over again there would never have been any video games in the house and he would not have been allowed access to any video games, he only got them because of peer pressure and my guilt at christmas that all his friends had them.
Some years later they have ruined his life. he is a professional artist with the whole world before him, he is so good he could have been famous but all he wants to do is play video games and that trumps art orders from people and everything. I hate myself for being weak and giving in to the pressure to buy him these games.
When I look back at his childhood he was always painting, drawing and making wonderful things, always had his head in a book. All those went right out of the window when the games arrived. Even with controlled playing.
i could weep at the loss of pure talent usurped by this useless crap.

[FlatCheese]

Some games are great. In our house we love Portal and Portal 2 for problem solving, the 6 year old has played all the Pyjama Sam and Freddi Fish games (they're fun, short games and they change slightly each time through). The 11 year old has played through (with us) the Monkey Island series.

Best of all is the Nancy Drew series from www.herinteractive.com/ which is specifically designed with girls in mind. They're all good at getting you thinking and working out puzzles while still being entertaining. Some are aimed at older teens (we bought a bundle on Steam to start with) and Shadow at the Water's Edge is genuinely scary.

[mummykauli7]

Yes I have. My DD has learnt to keep practicing in order to get better at something. She is learning to be patient with herself. She is learning hand eye coordination. She is learning strategy. I think it has actually really benefitted her aswel as well as being an awesome distraction.

[BikeRunSki]

In principle I’m not a huge fan of video games, but I also appreciate that a l arr ET fed part of this is due to them not being part of my childhood. Although the console does cause fallings out, it’s also got my dc (11 and 8) to collaborate more to progress in the games.

[Coldbatteredpuddings]

My boys (10 and 13) interact with their friends through Minecraft and Roblox - they video chat with friends on WhatsApp while they play. They also play together and with my DH - I'm the odd one out in my family, I'm not a gamer!
I had a go on Minecraft one day and was utterly hopeless. It's easy to see it as a waste of time, but they are incredibly skillful at it and their builds are very creative. They are using problem solving, hand eye coordination, communication skills, negotiation. As long as they do other things as well - schoolwork, piano practice,outdoor activities etc - i don't see why it's a problem that they are gaming more than usual. It's a hobby like any other.