Every actual and inner child loves playing games right? Be those active, board or gaming on a console – they are fun to play! Playing games really does get the brain’s fun chemicals flowing, helping you feel great and connected to the people who’ve played with.
It’s not lost on us that when a game is created that’s engaging, exciting, appealing and attractive, people want to keep playing them. This is where, in my view, the computer game developers have the edge.
Popular computer games purposefully include design and gameplay features aimed at motivating players to keep coming back. The feeling of having been successful with the freedom and excitement of being someone else, with the chance to connect with friends, exists to help players get lots of enjoyment from playing the game. This is a positive!
However, there is a downside to spending hours upon hours playing games, especially for children. Most notably sitting still for hours. And, what with…“Failure to meet current physical activity recommendations is responsible for more than 5 million deaths globally each year across all age groups.’1…it’s a problem.
But…computer games are so much fun to play and are a simple way for children to gain greater skills whilst remaining connected to friends – after school, at weekends, in the holidays and in lock down 3.0 (sorry). So what do we do?
I was always told that life is about balance. I’ve also been told that enjoying screen time shouldn’t get in the way of other necessary activities like sleeping, eating and doing work. So don’t let it!
I have two kids. One (10) isn’t bothered about gaming (although she loves Youtube – that’s another story) and the other (12) would stay awake all night playing Fortnite, even though he’s technically not old enough to play yet. Don’t judge. My wife and I had a sit down, grown up conversation with them about screen time and came to a compromise. Yes, we got a bit of huffing and puffing from them both, but we eventually settled on a new relationship with screens and it made a huge difference – to mood, to obsession and to our understanding of what spending time online should be about.
Could you try the same?
If you want more details about what was agreed around the dinner table with my two children, then please get in touch.
1https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2019-to-grow-up-healthy-children-need-to-sit-less-and-play-more