Making Video Games Good

    As a parent, it is essential to understand that gaming is not always negative. There are many games that develop a child’s cognitive skills and motor co-ordination making him more competitive. Hence cutting down on video games is not essential, but helping the child chooses an appropriate game to play.

The crucial rule of Parenting is that before saying a ‘no’ to the child, the parent need to educate them. Similarly with video games, to understand the child’s excitement with it, you need to play it yourself (making sure, you don’t get addicted to it ;)).

1. Setting limitations and rules: There are rules and boundaries set to almost every social activity we come across. Rules are the reason for one to set limit or not overdo something. Hence setting rules here is essential too
2. Setting time limits for each one: And if you have more than one child at home playing game then also making an agreement on what time and till what time each one plays.
3. Be Firm: like any other situation, this parenting rule works for video gaming as well. And as a parent you make sure you stick to your rules may what come. If they do not adhere to the time limit, exceed the time limit or fight for the game, make sure you take the game off for the whole day and that way no1 gets to play it. Don’t be their prey and give away the video game if they promise they won’t do it next time. In such a case, they will only think of it as a way to get away of things by promising of being nice.
4. Be Consistent: whenever you have a new rule set in for the child, it generally takes about 10 days to follow it blindly. Hence in those crucial 10 days of implementing, train the child to do exactly what has been discussed.
5. Understanding the kinds of games to play: It is essential for the parent to understand that each type of game has some ways of positively enhancing the child’s ability. Hence it should be knows and the games shall be chosen accordingly. Games like puzzles and mazes help very young children also in their logical thinking. Simulation games teach the child about how things like aircraft or submarines which you can only imagine, actually look like and how they work which is useful for the child and enhances their creative and general thinking. Arcade games like pacman, super Mario, ping pong, etc helps the child develop his eye hand coordination and motor co-ordination at all stages of life. Action games may be something to watch out for as generally they are rated as ‘M’ (for mature) which may be inappropriate for children. Eg of such games are grand theft, battlefield, etc.
6. Parental check for video games: Parental rating and content descriptions hall be checked before your child is allowed to play any game. Few important things shall be kept in mind while choosing a game:

Rating categories: EC- early Childhood, E- Everyone, E 10+- Everyone 10 +, T- Teens aged 13 +, M- Mature aged 17+, A- Adults only 18+, RP- Rating pending.

Interactive elements: A parent shall be well aware that the game that his child is playing doesn’t share personal information or Location with unknown others. It should also be assured that the games being played online aren’t paid editions.

7. Role modeling: Parents often use internet and social media more than they should. The purpose of using internet is often lost. It should always be remembered that whatever is preached shall be practiced.

Parents often make a crying child sit in front of a Television or make use of I-pads and mobile phones to shut them up instead of interacting. This is merely a way to drive the child’s attention to something colorful and noisy instead of actually understanding the basic need behind the crying child and to satisfy the child’s want. This is a way parents adopt to get away from their responsibilities and in turn giving less time and personal attention to their infant.

With the above points there surely can be a clean gaming happening with your child, leaving you less worried.

Questions to ask yourself while buying or allowing to play an online game:

1. What is the rating of the game?
2. What is the type of the game?
3. What purpose does the game serve?
4. Does it have any adult determinants in it?
5. Can you pause the game and save it for next time?
6. Does it play uncensored articles at the side of the page while playing the game?
7. Do other friends also play the game?
8. Is there a particular reason by they want to play during day/ night hours only?
9. Do you have to buy things in the game to proceed to next level?
10. What is the fun content in the game that makes you play it? Is it helpful in any way?

As a parent it may be time for you to find your kind of the video game because ‘Video games foster the mindset that allows creativity to grow’.