Are Games Safe for Children?

Games have always been entertaining for both adults and children. Their variety makes them appealing, while they also appear more personal due to their interactive nature and greater ability to choose. The engagement that games inspire can be both negative and positive. The addictive nature of games can foster bad habits, such as more sedentary lifestyle that also leads to obesity. In the same way, excessive television watching can be just as damaging to our health. In fact, any activity taken to extreme would produce negative consequences. In the same way that violent video games can cause imitation of such behaviour, watching violent films may have a similar impact.
There are a number of health problems associated with excessive gaming, such as greater arousal, tendency to obesity, inferior physical health, and tendon injuries with extensive console usage. Children also tend to be quite preoccupied with games.
Many question the safety of video games for children. Video games to some extent can foster competition and involvement. They don't seem to distract from school or school activities including homework. There are certain skills and abilities that can be learned through playing video games. It exposes to greater spatial abilities while children may gain mathematical skills as well. They may be conducive towards dealing better with difficulties. Some games can be educational. In the same way that games can provoke negative behaviours, they may be able to produce positive outcomes as well. Games that involve physical exercises may be quite beneficial.
When choosing an appropriate game for younger children it is best to consider first if the child is willing to undertake physical activities. It may be better to encourage outdoor fun and entertainment first. It would also be prudent to find out what interests the child has or what activities may help in overcoming various problems, such as lack of mathematical abilities. If the child has serious physical problems or is obese, we may try getting some exercise games. Games that require social participation may be preferable if the child doesn't seem to be socially engaged.
Games can provide various positive effects if used appropriately. They create engagement, dealing with challenges, problem solving abilities, and independence. They can also foster violence, as children tend to emulate behaviors they see. There need to be certain parental control over what children play and the way they react. They need to be supervised in terms of the amount of time they spend playing as well as whether their behavior changes as a result of playing.

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