Parents want to do the best for their kids. Worrying is in the job description—but there are some things we can relax about. One of those is whether video games are actually good for kids.
University of Bournemouth professor Stephen Heppell talks about why kids love games—and why we want to encourage them.
It all comes down to immersion. You might remember being absorbed in books, comics, or imaginary worlds when you were a kid. Video games can be even more absorbing. Heppell’s advice? Ask questions!
“I think parents should make a point of talking with their children about what’s happening,” he says. “They’re problem-solving a lot in games. It’s important for parents to ask them about the problem-solving, because being in that observe-question-hypothesize-test cycle isn’t enough; you need to be able to articulate as well.”
In summary:
- Ask kids how they solved that problem.
- Ask them what they were expecting.
- Ask them what they did.
Apply “show your work” to gaming, and your kids will reap the benefits, whether they know it or not!
(Source: Kids and Media UK)
