Eyes gazing straight ahead, backs caved, thumbs ceaselessly mashing buttons: It’s a sight to make any parent cringe. Especially when the game involves rapid gunfire, throat-slitting, body-splitting and other gruesome acts.
The drawbacks of gaming are well known. Studies have linked video games to depression, addiction and decreased empathy. Then there are the links to aggression and high-risk behaviour, and the accompanying unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. And that’s not to mention the repugnant aspect of maiming and killing for kicks.
But what’s often lost in the discourse is the fact that playing video games has an upside.
That’s right, video games may not be all bad for kids. In fact, studies show games can be powerful brain-training tools that can improve such cognitive skills as visual attention, concentration, navigation, multitasking and task switching, all while simultaneously increasing speed and accuracy. Some researchers believe the right kind of game can have enormous educational value, and that playing offers a mental workout that can prepare kids for life off-screen.
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