Parents, you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Or just as likely, we’ve got questions and you’ve got answers.

Challenge: Kids and Technology

Healthy video gaming for kids and parents

7
Vote up!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email this article

It is more and more common to see children and teenagers playing video games for hours on their own or even online with their friends. This habit may end up impacting the relationship with their parents, since they are spending less and less time with the family. One way to change this is to try to get closer to the gamer world and take part in your child's favorite hobby, since it is very unlikely that your kid will prefer to stop playing to do something else!

af948cb98f6827d90243b146b9c0b91d018e698e.jpeg

And that is why you should bet on cooperative games! This is the best alternative that guarantees fun and more family interaction.

Benefits of playing Video Games for the family

Considered by many parents as a health villain, video games have evolved during the last years, and have shown that they can also be extremely positive, both for children and adults. There are several recent researches that prove the efficiency of cooperative games, but, of course, every game must be well dosed.

Cooperative games can be useful to unite the family, not only for having the possibility of group games, but also because they allow parents to get involved in their children’s universe. Parents and children win together, lose together, and have fun together. This increases complicity and partnership. For this, it is important that parents always encourage games that use at least two controls rather than those that encourage solitary play.

What are Cooperative Video Games?

Cooperative games are video games that prioritize group dynamics, that is, all players become partners rather than opponents. The objective of these games is, basically, to encourage teamwork and develop the ability for cooperation among players. It is a way to free oneself from the concept of competing and to value the participation of all family members to achieve a goal together.

What are the benefits for kids and parents?

In cooperative video games, parents can play with their children and have benefits that go beyond teaching the importance of teamwork. Check out some of them below:

Kids feel more secure:

Having an activity that encourages group work can help the child's trust in his partner, especially with his family members. Especially if your child is a more reclusive, shy child. These video games help develop and improve interpersonal relationships, a skill that will be used in school or even in the child's professional future.

Helps in logical thinking and acting:

Thinking about strategies with other players can significantly improve children's logical reasoning. And especially in cooperative games, children will understand that some things like cheating, tricking or taking advantage of the other are practices that are not legal and will not help them reach the final goal.

In many cooperative video games, it is necessary to find the right solution, stimulate logical thinking. To overcome the obstacles of the video game, it is necessary to take the right actions, which favors logical thinking. The will to win prevents the child from simply giving up in the face of difficulty. Furthermore, the improvement is progressive, since each phase is a little more difficult than the previous one.

Getting ready for the video game

Video games often require reflection, but especially speed to achieve the objectives set. It is then necessary to optimize its performance in the use of the mouse and the keyboard, as well as its controller. Optimizing your click speed is an asset to increase your performance. Maximizing your CPS is a decisive factor in the game. In this sense, a the clicker test is a very easy to access online tool that allows you to measure your number of clicks per second.

The clicker test is a race against time. To measure your click speed, you have to place your mouse cursor on a specified area and make clicks on it as fast as possible. Not all online cps tests are free. However, choosing a free site does not mean that your test result will be biased. It is still suggested to use a trustworthy site, at least to avoid malwares.

Builds a profile of a problem-solving child:

During the games, the little ones are able to get a better view of their limitations and also their abilities, as well as their partners. This helps improve their ability to solve problems and defeat obstacles.

Promotes social values:

Who has never invited a friend to play at home? Well, since cooperative video games are now the trend, it's worth calling them to play. Games can also be played online nowadays, which stimulates contact with other people and even new knowledge.

Because cooperatives video games are mainly more didactic, children learned that you have to overcome differences among your team to reach the final goal. This automatically brings into focus social values such as empathy, respect, and cooperation.

Punctuality when playing games cannot be overstated

Playing video games is a fun and exciting activity for kids, but it is important to remember that it should not take precedence over other important aspects of their daily lives. It's crucial to respect the daily needs of the children, such as designated meal times, prayer time, and other essential activities for the physical and emotional well-being of the children, and it's essential to make time for these activities every day. By being punctual and making sure that the kids are following their daily schedule, you can ensure that they are receiving the proper care and attention they need.

Punctuality is also essential when it comes to managing the kids' expectations. If you promise to play video games with them at a certain time, it's crucial to follow through on that promise. Failure to do so can lead to disappointment and a loss of trust, which is why it's important to always keep your word when it comes to spending time with the kids.

In conclusion, being punctual when playing video games with kids is more than just a matter of good manners. It's a way of showing respect for the children and their daily needs, as well as setting a positive example for them to follow. Whether it's following the designated meal times, making time for prayer, or simply keeping your promises, punctuality is a critical component of effective and responsible parenting.

Cooperative games vs. competitive games

It is important to highlight the difference between cooperative games and competitive games before you go out looking for multiplayer video games.

The main purpose of competitive games is to generate competition among the players. This is where we see the main difference, since in cooperative video games there is no winner or loser or any elimination character. The goal is basically to stimulate the ability to cooperate and help overcome problems alongside the other players.

Just as there are cooperative games for computers, you can also find several video games in this category for consoles (Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox) and even in the "offline" format. Remember: participating a little more in the gaming world with your child is essential to bring the family closer together and help develop social-emotional and cognitive skills.

This post comes from the TODAY Parenting Team community, where all members are welcome to post and discuss parenting solutions. Learn more and join us! Because we're all in this together.